Further to the story of George, it seems that after attempting to commit suicide on the 12th June 1886, he was admitted to the Medway Union workhouse. Then on Tuesday 15th June he was “taken by a Police Constable to the County Magistrate’s Office”. On the 1st July he was convicted and on the 2nd July he was certified to be insane. He was admitted on the 5th July to the Kent County Lunatic Asylum at Barming, near Maidstone. I am not sure if he remained there or if he was released at some stage. The next record I can find for him is from the Kent County Asylum records which show he was admitted on 18th October 1889 and remained there until his death in March 1898. This period of time from 1886 to 1898 may have been one period of incarceration with yearly continuation orders keeping him there. To ascertain that I would need to access the records of Kent County Lunatic Asylum.
Point of interest – Elizabeth & George had been together since about 1861 (first child born then) but had never married. There is a question mark over the parentage of the last few children (including my grandfather Aaron) as the father is not named on their birth certificates – indeed, there was a rumour that their father was an Irish eel fisherman!! but I can find no evidence of that. I think it much more likely they were fathered by a local man. In fact, in 1887, one year after George was incarcerated, Elizabeth married James Eaton Barty, a local widower.
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February 25, 2023 at 6:09 pm
Sean Edwards
Hi I’m using Ancestry I’m an Edwards and think I may have gone wrong somewhere the George Hutchings mentioned in your blog was linked to me as a smart link to be my 4th great grandfather but his last name was obviously Hutchings not Edwards the wife is down as Elizabeth Edwards so it may be that some of her children were registered under her maiden name?
I just wondered if you knew anything more about her?
Thanks
February 26, 2023 at 8:38 am
storial
Hi Sean, you are right in assuming that some of Elizabeth Sarah Edwards’ children were either baptised, registered or known by her maiden name – she & George Hutchings were never married and it seems to be fairly random as to which name the children chose to use. I have much more detail on my Ancestry.com site so if you are an Ancestry member I can send you the details of my family tree there. Otherwise, I could email you some details re her life, children etc. The most likely candidate for passing down the Edwards name seems to be her son John Edmund Edwards (1861-1927) – does this fit in with anything you know about your family history? Anyway, let me know if and how I can help you and I will be happy to do so if I can. Cheers, Alice F.
March 9, 2023 at 9:11 pm
Sean Edwards
Hi Alice sorry have only just seen this yes John Edmond Edwards is my 3rd great grandfather on my ancestry account.
Thanks anything else you can share would be great.
Sean
March 9, 2023 at 9:08 pm
SEAN EDWARDS
Hi do you know where George Hutchings was buried , I have looked on find a grave but can find no sign of him.
George I have found out through ancestry is my 4th great grandfather.
I am wondering if he was buried at the asylums cemetery it’s now abandoned apparently there are 7000 patients buried there some are unfortunately unmarked graves.
My email address is mr.sedwards1992@gmail.com let me know if you know anything more would love to know.