NORCAL-L Archives

Archiver > NORCAL > 2007-06 > 1182582286


From: "Roland Elliott" <>
Subject: Re: [NORCAL] State Mental Asylums
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:04:46 -0700
References: <mailman.83767.1182564211.3852.norcal@rootsweb.com><003401c7b563$a5dd9320$02fea8c0@HOME3>


Socal was Camarillo
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marge Campbell" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 11:56 PM
Subject: [NORCAL] State Mental Asylums



Stockton State Asylum was the first facility dedicated to hold only the
insane. It started about 1850. The first facility was a ship in the port
of Stockton. People from all over the state were sent there. In about 1854
(I am speaking from memory here, so dates may be a little off) Capt. Weber
granted land for the Stockton State Asylum.

I do think Napa was next...then one down by Los Angeles. Sonoma also had a
facility...and they often exchanged inmates with Stockton.

On reasons for being committed...check the 1860 Stockton, San Joaquin co CA
fed. Census (listed at the end of Stockton listings). They gave reasons on
that census, but none after.
In my research I have come up with some very scary reasons for committal:

Wife committed due to being crazy with jealousy was very common.

One man had his wife committed because he had caught her more than once
reading "Those trashy romance novels."

Also, when a woman became older, and had missed 5 menses...she was deemed
"Crazy with old age." (musta been PMS).

One man came to CA to find gold, he did...and excitedly went to stake his
claim. You guessed it...he was put into the Stockton Asylum..."Crazy with
gold fever!"...someone else got his claim.

Another is really sad: Lady saved for years, doing without so she could
bring her niece & nephew here from Ireland...they came...saw what she
had...she was committed..."crazy with happiness." Her niece & nephew got
all her wealth, home, etc...

Some were committed due to being ill..and family could not care for them.
That's what happened to Mattie Myers..she died in the state Asylum in
1906...Crazy with illness. Her children were left with others & her husband
went back to Oakland. Mattie had cancer.
Her grand daughter is still trying to locate Mattie's remains.


Margie Campbell
Campbell's http://www.lmcam1.com/
(under construction)

NuStyle 2100
Visit my Webshots Albums
http://community.webshots.com/user/margecam52





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