| Notes |
- . Adopted by Mr. Thompson & raised with children of Sir Allan Napier MacNabb, Prime Minister of Ontario (Upper Canada), Dundurn Castle, Hamilton;
She resided & married at Dundurn Castle, 1838.
(Further research may reveal more info.)
Ref: 1821 May 6, York, Allan Napier MacNabb, half pay 48th Regt., married at York by John Strachan, St. James Cathedral to Elizabeth Brooks, Wit. A MacNabb, W R Macaulay & Daniel Brooke, Senior.
> Note1: Mrs. Elizabeth MacNabb would known Jane Thompson during her stay at Dundurn Castle. Prime Minister of UC from 1855 & 56, Sir Allan N McNab, b. 1798, at (Newark) Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., died 1862, Hamilton, ON.
Did Jane's parents died at Niagara, or Toronto where the MacNabbs also first had a house? - PJA 2011.
* 1838 UPPER CANADA MARRIAGE BOND # 6796
William Watkins of the town of Hamilton in the Gore District & the above said province, Cordwainer,
& JOHN WALKER of the said place, Wagon maker, are Bonded 6 May 1838.
For joining together in Holy Matrimony John Walker of the Town of Hamilton aforesaid, blacksmith &
Jane Thompson of the same place, spinster.
Signed, William Watkins, John Walker [i.e. his father, John Thomas Walker, Sr.]
Reverse side: Bond, William Mathins / Watkins & John Walker
Dated, 8 May 1838.
Ref: RG5 B9, Vol. 5 Reel C6787, Archives of Canada.
Note2: A Cordwainer makes shoes etc. from fine soft Cordovan leather. The cobbler repairs shoes. in March 1838 All McNabb received knighthood for his participation in the War of 1812, esp. bring forces to combat Mackenzie at Montgomery's Tavern. - PJA.
. HAMILTON QUARTER SESSIONS OF PEACE:
[Further research needed]
Walker, Thomas, 1838 June, Plaintiff, Page 12,
Walker, John, 1839 March 14, Plaintiff
Walker, John, 1847 /8 DEC 24, Plaintiff
Thomson, Jane, 1843 June 12, Plaintiff, *
Note3: Jane Thompson who was married in May 1838.
Ref: Page 18, Hamilton Quarter Sessions.
. 1840 Assessment Hamilton Town., Ontario
John Walker, Frame One Story; 1 Male; 1 Female; Total 2.
. 1841 May Assessment Hamilton Town: 2 story Framed house 1@ 60£. Total 85£.
. 1843 Assessment Hamilton Town. [Separate Entries:]
John S Walker, 2 Lots, 2 Story, Additional fireplace, Mr. £200
Thompson [Thompson crossed out] Mrs. Walker, 1 female, Martial landlord, £60.
Note4: But where are the two children, Edward, b. 1840, & William H. Walker, born 24 Feb 1843. -PJA
. 1846 Aug 22 - Provincial Lunatic Asylum was when erected, wholly in the country, 20 minutes from Yonge street, on Queen St. W.
Ref: Robertson Landmarks of Toronto, Vol 3.
. 1856 Dec 13, Toronto - The new Provincial Lunatic Asylum was erected in 1845 & the drawing in the Globe Newspaper shows a giant yellow brick hospital with trees, fresh air & a fine view of Lake Ontario. Situated at 999 Queen Street, 3 miles from City Hall. The high brick walls were noted erected at this time. Warming & ventilation devised by the architect incorporated steam heated pipes in every room. 2 flights of stone steps & goldstone landing to the entrance, Board room, suite of waiting, examining 7 consulting rooms. Opposite are 2 large wards adapted to extreme surgical cases. Resident surgeon, nurses & stewards on1st floor. A liberal supply of baths, washrooms. The theatre is under the mortuary. 22 wards with 12 patients per ward.
Ref: Globe Newspaper, Toronto, features a very lengthy description of the new building.
. 1847 Jan 9, Sat. - LUNATIC BALL (Abbreviated): We were not a little taken aback a few days ago receiving a card of invitation to attend a Ball in the Parliament House "to Lunatics," on the Thurs. night, 7th instant. On inquiry we found the manager of the Asylum endeavors to rouse the dexx of patients in the institution & encouraged tea parties among them ...extended their invitations to members of the learned profession of the University & other citizens.
We got to the Parliament House, on entering the Ball-room we found patients of both sexes, sitting on benches at the spacious apartment, while a number of citizens with their families, occupied with music presently "struck up: & forthwith a dozen of couples, tripping it most energetically to the music… Nearly all those conversed with entered readily into their history, probably their afflictions, the changes, hopes of returning to their families. Especial care was asked each one how was treated by Doctors & servants, & were delighted at the hearty manner in which they express the kindness shown them by all at the Institution. 50 patients at present in the Asylum, to be removed into the premises in the East wing of the Parliament that they now reside there. At 8 pm the inmates sat down to supper & afterward resumed dancing until half past nine & returned to the Institution.
Ref: The Toronto Globe Newspaper.
Note5 Jane had just arrived here a few weeks previously. -PJA
. 1848 Feb 19, Ball at the Lunatic Asylum - One of these interesting affairs came off on Tues. evening last. A considerable number of visitors were present, inc. Rev Dr. Strachan, Rev. Jennings & Barclay, the Chief Justice. Every thing went off well & a number marked improvement from last year, was observed in the dancing of patients.
Note6 Jane will be released in a few weeks. - PJA.
* 1861 University Branch of Prov. Lunatic Asylum p1129, St. Patrick's Ward, City of Toronto, York Co.
Jane Walker, born Ireland, Age 44 /b 1818, Church of England, married, Lunatic. Page Totals: Influencre from assis., consumption, Brain soft, Consn. [?]
Comments by Enumator: The Hosptial occupies a block of land (bounded on south by Don St, East by Sumack & west by Pine St) in St. Davids Ward. {Additional staff of 68 workers, inc. Medical staff, nurses, farmers, fireman, gardners, Keepers, servants, clergy.)
. 1861 Feb 2 Census Erin Village, Wellington
John S Walker, B 1819 England, Blacksmith, 2 half Acres, Concrete 2 stories house.
* Walker, b. 1821 Ireland;
Margaret, b. 1858; Robt., b 1853; Sarah Jane, b. 1857; Mary Walker b. 1858;
Arthur Walker, Apprentice, Age 17, Residing with Wm M Kennedy, tinsmith, Erin.
> Note7: * Jane Thompson Walker was recorded present on the Erin Census 1861, which directly conflicts with Jane's recorded medical history which puts her in the Toronto Lunatic Asylum since 1853. Youngest son, Robert Walker, was born in 1853.
(But, Jane is also not present on the Erin 1871 Census.)
. Ontario Death Registration #029227. Wellington Country, District Village of Erin ON. Pg. 263.
WALKER, JANE - Died: 1881 February 10.
Female 62 years [ b1819 ] widow, Born Ireland,
Cause of Death: An Insane Person. Physician: Dr. Clark Insane Asylum, Informant.
Rev. Isaac Crane, Methodist Minister, Erin.
Registered: 1881 February 12. Religion of deceased: Methodist Ch. Canada.
Registrar, Wm. Tyler.
Remarks: This death may have been registered by Dr. Clark. The pt. Insane Asylum Toronto. She was brought here & her sons had it put on her record. WT.
Note8: Toronto Lunatic Asylum was a new hope for the treatment of mental problems. Jane Thompson Walker was admitted on 22 Dec 1847 for her first attack of excitement over pecuniary matters. On 18 Mar 1848, two months & 29 days later, husband John Walker took her back improved to their home in Erin, Ontario.
> Observation: Jane Thompson Walker was born in Ireland, 5 feet 4 inches tall, fair hair with blue eyes; sanguine* of temperament & had a good disposition & intellect. FIVE children. Pecuniary (money) matters caused her to be melancholic or depressed.
Note9: Jane lived with an instability of life as an orphan & then living in the mansion of the Prime Minister of Ontario where there were many servants coming & leaving. - PJA 2010
Note10: *One of the four ancient temperaments. Sanguine quick, impulsive, & extroverted personality. The others were phlegmatic, self-content, prefer stability; choleric ambition, energy & passion & the melancholic is a thoughtful ponder.
. Six years later, on 26 Apr 1853 she was readmitted by her husband who paid 5 shillings per week for her maintenance. At this time Jane's records say she had SEVEN children. She was Sobrient & intemperate [steady, non-drinker (?) but uncontrolled or excessive.] 28 years later Jane died in the Toronto Asylum of gangrenes.
Note11: In 1922 grandson Edward John C Walker thought his grandmother's name was Margaret Thompson. Rather, perhaps he was thinking of his paternal grandmother, Margaret Sibbald Walker.
Recorded for further research:
. Died Jane Walker, Age 60, Died 9 Feb 1881, Toronto.
Ref: Guelph Weekly Mercury .
Transcriptions & research by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -
- Page 2: Jane Thompson
. IMPROVEMENT IN LUNATIC DISCIPLINE:
1848 July describing the annual Orange Parade in terms of a lunatic procession. He begins by remarking what appears to have been a regular urban spectacle, of female patients from the Lunatic Asylum being driven in a carriage around the city, seeing & no doubt being seen. This time, however, the whole Asylum population appeared to be on parade. The editor expresses his great pleasure at having recognized several citizens whom he had not previously thought mad, & one whose obvious shame & embarrassment indicated returning reason. His only regret is that Dr. Park had not chosen a day when his lunatics would not have been mistaken for Orangemen in a 12th of July procession.
In the July 21st paper, under the heading "Twelfth of July," the Editor apologizes, albeit facetiously, to those readers whom he has offended by what he calls his "little jeu d'esprit." Rather disingenuously he claims to have been hoaxed by a contributor, whose article he set verbatim in editorial type.
By pretending to correct mistakes in the last piece, he only makes the Orange ritual more ridiculous, & reinforces its similarity to a lunatics' procession. Yes, he admits, as if he were not increasing the damage, the procession described in the last issue as "an excursion of lunatics from the Asylum," was indeed a "bona fide Orange procession" what was described as a large beer barrel was really a "genuine Protestant big drum."
Possibly anticipating one of his favourite ploys in the Annual Reports, the Editor exploits & playfully reverses the opposition between the Asylum & the rest of the world by reporting the inmates' indignation at being identified with anything as "mad" as the Orange Procession:
We regret to learn that the inmates of the Asylum have also been seriously offended by the same article; & have expressed great astonishment that we could possibly have been deceived into the belief that they would act so irrationally as to expose themselves to the derision of the citizens of Toronto, by any such childish proceedings as those which characterized the procession of the 12th instant.
The Editor pretends to have equally offended those he (accidentally) depicted as lunatics, & those who are (or at least are treated) as lunatics. Of course, the real target is not the inmates of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum, but the inhabitants of the supposedly sane City.
... The Editor of the Mirror first indicates his awareness of the quarrel between Dr. Park & the Commissioners ( E F Whittemore & Brewer) of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum in an article headed simply "The Lunatic Asylum" in the edition of October 20, 1848. Glancing at the alleged "mistake" regarding the Orange Procession last July 12, 1848.
Ref: Troping the Asylum, by John Thomas Rowland, 1999. - - -
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1818 - 1881 (63 years)