HARRIETT COURT

Subject Name :  Harriett Court (b 1853 – d 1915)

Researchers :  Mike Brock and Carol Thompson

Harriett Court’s life was blighted by a mental health disorder and after losing her mother very early in life, it was her father and her two grandmothers, despite serious health issues of their own, who helped Harriett grow up in a stable family environment.

Harriett Ann Court was born in Compton, Surrey on 6th February 1853, the only child of James, a ‘paper maker’, and Henrietta Court, nee Mills (1).  The birth came just a few weeks after her parents had been married at Godalming’s St Peter and St Paul Church on 11th December 1852 (2). Henrietta was 19, and James in his early thirties (3, 4).

Although Harriett’s health at birth was not documented at the time, later records showed that all was not well with her.  This was made starkly clear in the 1868 Lady Day (25th March) Guildford Union Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, which recorded that her father James was receiving assistance not just for himself as a ‘cripple’, but also for his ‘child idiotic’, who was the unfortunate Harriett (5).

James had been a widower since Harriett was just three years old as her mother Henrietta had passed away in Farncombe on 30th December 1856, age only 23, of a ‘diseased liver’ (3).  At that time, James was still a labourer at the paper mill, so it seems certain that he would have turned to his family to care for Harriett so that he could continue working.

The 1861 Census confirmed this had indeed happened. James, 40, ‘mill labourer’, was lodging at the Stag Inn adjacent to the Eashing Paper Mill while Harriett, age 8, was living with her widowed maternal grandmother, Harriett Mills, age 60, in Compton, about an hour’s walk from the mill (4, 6).  Harriett’s grandmother was a ‘rag sorter paper factory’.

The Guildford Poor Law Union Accounts only exist for the period between 1864 and 1871, but they illustrate in detail the story through poor relief payments of Harriett’s care during her teenage years. 

Unfortunately for the family, the health of both of Harriett’s father and both of her grandmothers was failing. By March 1864, Harriett’s maternal grandmother Harriett Mills, age 63 and living in Compton, was in regular receipt of ‘outdoor relief’ (assistance with living and medical costs) for ‘infirmity’ (7, 8). This continued after she moved to Godalming later in the year (9).  Moving into 1865, things had become much worse.  As well as Harriett’s grandmother receiving assistance, her father James, age 47 of Godalming, was now receiving assistance as a ‘cripple’ (10).  Whether this had been caused by an injury or was a medical condition is not known, but it would seem likely that he had moved in with his daughter and mother-in-law.

As Harriett entered her teens, both her father and maternal grandmother continued to receive assistance (11). By mid-1866, her grandmother was ‘wholly disabled’, her address given as Meadrow, Godalming (12).

The 1867 Michaelmas (September) accounts were the first time that relief is shown specifically for Harriett.  Her father James, of the Mint, Godalming, was receiving help for his daughter, as well as himself as ‘cripple and child’ (13).  Also living at the Mint and receiving assistance for ‘infirmity’ was 73-year-old Mary Court, James’ mother and Harriett’s paternal grandmother (13, 14).  It is most probable that Harriett was living with them at the Mint during that time, although her maternal grandmother Harriett Mills was still at Meadrow, just a short walk away (15).

Mary Court died in September 1868 (16). James continued to receive help for both himself and Harriett, while living at the Mint until at least September 1869 (17).

The next six-monthly accounts, ending March 1870, showed that Harriet, now 16 and categorized as ‘idiotic’, was receiving assistance under her own name (18).  She was living in nearby Farncombe, almost certainly with her maternal grandmother again (19).  James was still at the Mint, but now just receiving poor relief for himself (20).     

The 1871 Census confirmed Harriett, 17, an ‘imbecile from birth’, was living with her 69-year-old ‘invalid’ grandmother Harriett Mills, in Farncombe (21).  They had a lodger, 46-year-old Martha Garland, a ‘rag cutter paper mills’ who maybe was able to help the two Harrietts.  Just a few months later, on 6th January 1872, Harriett Mills died in Farncombe, age 71, from ‘paralysis’ (22).

Harriett’s father James’ situation at this time appeared to have improved, as in the 1871 Census, he was noted as a 52-year-old boot and shoemaker living by himself at the Mint (23).  No mention was made on the Census of him having any disability, although the last three Poor Law accounts records available (1870/71) showed him receiving help because of ‘abcesses’ (24).  Whether Harriett moved back to live with him after the death of her grandmother in January 1872 is not known.

Just over seven years later, on 26th March 1879, Harriett’s last remaining relative, her father James, passed away at the Mint, Godalming. He was age 57, and died from ‘bronchitis and asthenia’  (lack of energy and strength) (25).

If Harriett was not already in the Guildford Union Workhouse, it seems certain she would have been now with no immediate relatives to care for her.  In the 1881 Census, she was a 26-year-old unmarried inmate, with no occupation, born in Godalming, listed as an ‘imbecile from birth’ (26). 

Harriett remained in the Workhouse until on 4th December 1900 she was admitted to Brookwood Asylum (27, 28).  Her admission notes reveal a little about how the 46-year-old’s life had been in the Workhouse and why she had been moved to the Asylum. 

On admission, Harriett was classified as ‘insane from birth, dangerous to others’.  At the Workhouse she had been ‘very quarrelsome with the other inmates, frequently assaulting them’, and on the day before her admission ‘had deliberately broken a window’.  One of the Workhouse inmates had also reported that a day earlier, Harriett had ‘kicked her violently and bit her right hand’.  Physically, Harriett was ‘somewhat thin’, weighing just 6 stone (38kg) and 4ft 11in (150cm) in height. Her health was ‘very fair’ but she was ‘prematurely aged’.

Harriett’s move to Brookwood though had a remarkable effect on her character and behaviour.  A report made just two days after her admission said that Harriett ‘likes the ward in which she has been placed and has met some of her former friends from the Guildford Union. She is quiet, eats well and sleeps well’.   

Reports on Harriett continued to indicate she was settled there, although in November 1901 she was said to be ‘at times excited and spiteful and is then obstinate and troublesome’.  However, nothing was ever reported that compared with her problems in the Guildford Union.

Over the years, Harriett’s condition weakened until by March 1909 she was ‘quite helpless to do anything for herself’.  In September 1911, she sustained a broken arm when she was pushed over by another patient.  She was noted then as being of ‘rather feeble health’. Two years later, she was knocked down again, suffering an injury to her right elbow.

On 2nd April 1915 Harriett was taken ill suddenly and passed away the following day from pneumonia. The Brookwood Asylum death notice gave her age as 60, although she was actually 62.  Harriett was buried at Brookwood Cemetery on 9th April (29).

May 2023

References

  1. Harriett Ann Court 1853 England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915; Jan-Feb-Mar Quarter; Guildford; vol 2A; p52.
    Copy original from General Register Office gro.gov.uk
  2. James Court & Henrietta Mills 11 Dec 1852 Surrey Church of England Marriages and Banns, Godalming St Peter & St Paul 1851-1875, Ref GOD/2/5, page 19. Surrey History Centre, Woking / Ancestry.co.uk
  3. Henrietta Court 13 Dec 1856 England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915; Jan-Feb-Mar Quarter; Guildford; vol 2A; p41.
    Copy original from General Register Office gro.gov.uk
  4. James Court 1861 England Census return for Eashing, Godalming, Guildford, Class RG 9; Piece 429; Folio 4; p10. Ancestry.co.uk
  5. James Court of Godalming, Mint Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1.  Half Year Ended Lady Day 1868, page 18. Surrey History Centre, Woking
  6. Harriett, Elizabeth Mills, Harriett Court 1861 England Census return for Compton, Godalming, Guildford, Class RG 9; Piece 429; Folio 155; p15. Ancestry.co.uk
  7. Richard, Harriet, William, Henrietta, James, Jesse, Elizabeth Mills 1851 England Census return for Compton, Godalming, Guildford, Class HO107; Piece 1594; Folio 815; p6. co.uk
  8. Harriett Mills of Compton Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Lady Day 1864, page 15. Surrey History Centre, Woking.
  9. Harriett Mills of Godalming Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1864, page 14. Surrey History Centre, Woking.
  10. Harriett Mills of Godalming. James Court of Godalming Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Lady Day 1865, pages 15 and 31. Surrey History Centre, Woking.
  11. Harriett Mills of Godalming. James Court of Godalming Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1865, pages 15 and 31
    Harriett Mills of Godalming.  James Court of Godalming, Mint Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Lady Day 1866, pages 14 and 30.
    Surrey History Centre, Woking.
  12. Harriett Mills of Godalming, Meadrow. Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1866, page 19. Surrey History Centre, Woking.
  13. James Court of Godalming, Mint. Mary Court of Godalming, Mint Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1867, page 17. Surrey History Centre, Woking.
  14. Jas, Mary, James, Phillip, Elias, Alfred, Walter Court 1851 England Census return for Eashing, Godalming, Guildford, Class HO107; Piece 1594; Folio 660; p11. Ancestry.co.uk
  15. Harriett Mills of Godalming, Meadrow. Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1867, page 18. Surrey History Centre, Woking.
  16. Mary Court 7 Sep 1868 Godalming Joint Burial Committee, Burials at Nightingale Cemetery 1857-202, Book/Entry No N1/0815, page 41. Godalming-tc.gov.uk
  17. James Court of Godalming, Mint. Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1.
    – Half Year Ended Lady Day 1868, page 18.
    – Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1868, page 18.
    – Half Year Ended Lady Day 1869, page 17.
    – Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1869, page 34.
    Surrey History Centre, Woking
  18. Harriett Court of Godalming, Farncombe. Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1870, page 17. Surrey History Centre, Woking
  19. Harriett Mills of Godalming, Farncombe. Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1870, page 18. Surrey History Centre, Woking
  20. James Court of Godalming, Mint. Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1. Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1870, page 17. Surrey History Centre, Woking
  21. Harriett Mills, Harriett Court. Martha Garland 1871 England Census return for Farncombe, Godalming, Guildford, Class RG 10; Piece 814; Folio 30; p25. Ancestry.co.uk
  22. Harriett Mills 6 Jan 1872 England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915; Jan-Feb-Mar Quarter; Guildford; vol 2A; p47.
    Copy original from General Register Office gro.gov.uk
  23. James Court 1871 England Census return for Mint, Godalming, Guildford, Class RG 10; Piece 814; Folio 102; p55. Ancestry.co.uk
  24. James Court of The Mint Guildford Poor Law Half Yearly Accounts, 1864-1871, BG6/33/1.
    – Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1870, page 17.
    – Half Year Ended Lady Day 1871, page 15.
    – Half Year Ended Michaelmas 1871, page 17.
    Surrey History Centre, Woking
  25. James Court 26 Mar 1879 England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915; Jan-Feb-Mar Quarter; Guildford; vol 2A; p78.
    Copy original from General Register Office gro.gov.uk
  26. Harriett Court 1881 England Census return for Guildford Union Workhouse, Guildford, Class RG 11; Piece 778; Folio 90; p2. Ancestry.co.uk
  27. Harriet Court 1891 England Census return for Guildford Union Workhouse, Guildford, Class RG 12; Piece 560; Folio 203; p9. Ancestry.co.uk
  28. Harriett Court 4 Dec 1900 Brookwood Asylum, Woking, Female Case Books 1867-1900, reference 3043/5/9/2/29, pages 65, 66 and 74. Surrey History Centre, Woking.
  29. Harriet Court 9 Apr 1915, Burial, Brookwood Cemetery. Deceasedonline.com