Have you anyone recorded in the census as lunatic, imbecile or idiot in your family tree?

Question

And have you discovered anything about their life?

Answer 1

Yes, I have.  It was in the 1850 or 1860 census.  I think the use of those terms were common to that time and could cover a lot of different things, ie, lower intellect, any psych illness, pms, etc.  Mine wasn't intstitutionalize, there was a place close by, so I really had no way to determine if it was more to it.

Answer 2

actually while tracing my family tree on my fathers side I found out that my grandfather and also my greatgrandfather was placed in the Lexington lunitic asylum in the 1930s.

My greatgrandfather was placed there at the age of 73 for being of unsound mind today it would be called dementia and is treated much differently. My grandfather was placed there by his wife because he was very religious and she wanted to drink and party. So instead of divorce which was taboo she had him committed, when the asylum found him to be sane, he refused to leave and go home but instead he became the undertaker at the asylum until his death.

Answer 3

No I haven't, but I have always wondered how they determined which was which

Answer 4

i think I might be the idiot in my family tree !!!!!!!