How would I.....

Miss Poohs · Post by **Miss Poohs** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:00 pm

go about finding out where my Grandfather spent a huge chunk of his life before going to Woodilee as an "informal patient" in Nov 1960?

My mum said he went away when she was very young, just after her sister was born, so it would have been around 1932 ish.

I was always under the impression he went straight to Woodilee, but apparently not.

Can anyone offer any pointers?

Thanks

Janice

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:42 pm

Hi Janice
I don't think I can help with this one - more recent records are far more difficult to get at. The only thing which springs to mind are electoral rolls..but then you would need to know where he was in order to find him! Probably not much use.

I'm sure you have chased this angle up and I have a funny feeling Woodilee has been discussed on the boards before, but I wonder if there were any records on his admission which might give any clues - a long shot, and I have a sneaking suspicion the records may not exist, if memory serves me right (which some of the time, it doesn't!)

If he went away 1932-ish, is there any chance some WW2 records may exist?

Sorry I've nothing more concrete to offer.
Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **joette** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 1:39 pm

I wonder if he had long term mental health problems & did as one of mine did & went on the Tramp.
This cousin or nephew of my Granny's had Post-Traumatic Stress after War Service shell shock as it was known then.He would appear at my Granny's every so often clean & sober & have a meal & a bath & maybe a bed for the night before setting off again.
I know he had been married with children but I don't know what happened to him.I think he just could not settle & just travelled around getting casual work & sleeping rough if neccesary.I will have to ask my Mum for details.
I am sure you may be able to access his records for family medical reasons.
At my last visit to the Mitchell a family were attempting to do something similiar so it must be possible to do so.
Is it possible he went abroad? Do the Ellis Island records go as late as 1932?Worth a check as I know with the Depression lot went abroad looking for work.