Patient No: 6215 - John Farraway – Sub-Postmaster/Grocer
Cause of Insanity – Hereditary
John Farraway was born around 1833 in Reed near Royston
Hertfordshire, he married Emma Dellow in 1857 and they
settled down in Reed. John first worked as a woodman and
later took over as the Sub Postmaster running a grocer’s shop.
John and Emma were a big part of Reed Congregational
Church and on the 29 May 1885 John was elected as Deacon,
Johns attendance at church up until his illness was 100%.
In 1890 John lost his brother James to Phthisis (TB)
aged just 47. On the 20th May 1891 John was admitted to
the Three Counties Asylum, he was described as looking
somewhat vacant, he scarcely spoke and would not answer
questions. He thought he had seen a big dog in his bedroom
when one had not been there. His wife Emma had been
advised to keep a strict eye on him and was not to leave
him alone. She said he had threatened to murder her and to
destroy himself. He was afraid to be by himself and was now
sleepless. On Saturday last, he attempted to strip himself
naked in the kitchen and yesterday he attempted to throw
himself from an upper window. He often thought he heard
the devil in his shop. He stared vacantly and kept his hands
in an incessant movement, he displayed marked hesitation
in answering ordinary questions and did not know if he had
left the house or where he was now or during the day or
not. He admitted he had not eaten his proper quantity of
food. His wife informed us that yesterday he got up early
and in a very excited way searched the pockets of her
dress then attempted to get out of the chamber window at
the same time being noisy.
Upon admission, he was a heavy stout man in fair
bodily health, his heart sounded clear. There is an
extensive scaly eruption upon the lower part of the body,
he was very quiet, silent and indisposed to speak fancies
he is brought in to be killed.
On the 21st May it was reported that he had slept fairly
well but he was very depressed and answered questions
reluctantly but on the 28th he had become restless and
sleepless, and took to standing at the door of his room, his urine is
clear of albumen and fancies he is going to be burned. There was
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on the button issue 59 July 2017 |
01462 834265 |
An unsent letter written by John Farraway, who was admitted to the asylum on the
20th May 1891 aged 58.
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