Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Auckland Hospital Records.
Anthony Corvan's first appearance in the Auckland Provincial Hospital records was in February of 1872.He was admitted on February 22 and released on February 29, and the cause of his being admitted was 'contusion'.
When you consider that he had already faced the local Court on January 26 and February 16 of 1872 for drunkenness, it doesn't take much imagination to figure out just how Anthony acquired his 'contusion'...falling down drunk would certainly be top of the list of possible reasons. The following month he was sentenced to six months hard labour in Mount Eden Gaol for habitual drunkenness.
The records for Auckland Hospital provide fabulous additional information...for example, at the time of Anthony's first admission, he was 53 years old and his occupation was "cook". His place of abode was Auckland and, surprisingly since he was a Catholic, his religion was given as Church of England.
Two and a half years passed before Anthony was admitted as a patient to Auckland Provincial hospital again. Like the first time, he was admitted under the name 'Anthony Cowan'. He was still living in Auckland with "cook" as his employment, and was 55 years old.He was admitted for rheumatism by Dr. Kenderdine on August 25, 1874, and released on September 2. Anthony was 55 years old, and again stated that his religion was Church of England.
Anthony had spent twelve months prior to that August in Mount Eden Gaol, having been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour on July 19, 1873. He had been found guilty of being a common vagrant with no visible means of support, and since he had 35 previous convictions recorded against him to that point in time, he received a gaol sentence.
Almost two years later Anthony was again in hospital, this time with colic. He was admitted on May 6, 1876, and released on May 12.His age was incorrectly given as 60 years and his employment as 'labourer'. This time his religion had changed again to 'Wesleyan'. Again, Anthony was admitted to hospital after a long stint in gaol. On April 14, 1875 he had been sentenced to another 12 month's imprisonment for having no visible means of support and being "a convicted idle and disorderly person'.
Several days after being released from hospital Anthony was again sent to Mount Eden for nine days for drunkenness.Just over two weeks later he was back behind the stone walls of Mount Eden Gaol for six month's incarceration for vagrancy. The Court stated " Four previous convictions were recorded against him,and this was his 45th appearance before the Court.Sentenced to six month's imprisonment."
The year 1878 saw Anthony being admitted to Auckland Provincial Hospital in November for "general debility". He was admitted on November 1 and released on November 11. His age was given as 60 years, his employment 'labourer' and his religion for the second time was Wesleyan.
Because the online Auckland newspapers cease in 1876, I have no more accounts of his court and gaol appearances. Anthony does, however, appear in the Hospital registers in 1879 and twice in 1892. There is an entire decade- 1879 until 1892- where I have found no mention of Anthony at all.
On May 2, 1879, Anthony was admitted to the Auckland Provincial Hospital for dislocation of his shoulder.His patient details were the same as for his previous visit-living in Auckland, 60 years old, a labourer and Wesleyan.He was discharged as a patient on May 13, 1879.
Almost 13 years pass before we find Anthony in hospital again. On March 10 he was hospitalised in Auckland Hospital for "hysteria".For the first time, his surname was almost written correctly as "Corvin" rather than "Cowan". Records show that he was 73 years old,a native of England,religion Church of England,his occupation was back to being a cook, and he had been in New Zealand for 30 years. His residence was given as "care of Mrs Hamilton, Khyber Pass".He was released on March 18, 1892.
Khyber Pass was in an area just south east of the main part of Auckland, which is now known as the suburb of Newmarket.
The last record of Anthony 'Corvin' confusingly states that he was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on March 10, 1892(the previous entry had him being admitted on March 10 1892 and being discharged on March 18). This time his injury was very serious, especially for a man of his advanced years.Anthony fractured the neck of his femur(thigh bone), a very serious injury to a 73 year old man these days with modern medical advances, let alone an old alcoholic in 1892 whose diet over the years had most likely been atrocious.
Wikipedia states "In the vast majority of cases, a hip fracture is a fragility fracture due to a fall or minor trauma in someone with weakened osteoporotic bone.Femoral neck fracture (sometimes Neck of Femur (NOF),denotes a fracture adjacent to the femoral head in the neck between the head and the greater trochanter. These fractures have a propensity to damage the blood supply to the femoral head, potentially causing avascular necrosis( which is blood loss to an area of bone, causing bone tissue death and collapse of the bone).Hip fractures are very dangerous episodes especially for elderly and frail patients. The risk of dying from the stress of the surgery and the injury in the first few days is about 10%. If the condition is untreated the pain and immobility imposed on the patient increase that risk. Problems such as pressure sores and chest infections are all increased by immobility. The prognosis of untreated hip fractures is very poor."
Anthony Corvan was in hospital for six months with this hip injury.Information given in his admission record is as follows:
Discharged: 23 September, 1892
Native of: England
How long in NZ: 30 years
Age: 73
Occupation: Hawker
Late residence: care of Mrs. Hamilton,Khyber Pass
Religion: Church of England
Disease: Fracture of neck of femur
Days in Hospital: 197
If Anthony was unable to adequately care for himself before the accident that broke his hip, I shudder to think how he survived for the next few years.
Luckily for him, he was admitted into the Costley Home.On 24th April,1890, the Costley Home for the Aged Poor in Auckland had been opened by the Governor, the Earl of Onslow. There were six wards with accommodation for 178 males and 58 females. The 148 people were admitted when the Home was opened. It was described thus: " The Home is beautifully situated on thirteen acres of volcanic soil, and is surrounded by undulating and charming scenery."
The Costley Home Committee Minutes Book has three mentions of Anthony..twice referred to as 'Corrin' and once as 'Corvin'.
September 25, 1894: Inmates under review. Committee began examination of all cases of men in the home and dealt with the following as noted:
Anthony Corrin (seen) Remain in home Chronic
23 October 1894:Committee met at the home at 2.30 p.m. Inmates under review:
A Corrin Remain Chronic
23 January 1895: Committee met at the home at 3.00 p.m. Patients under review:
A Corvin to have three days leave to look for work
There were no more entries for Anthony in the records of the Costley Home, so at the moment his activities in the thirteen months between leaving the Home and his death are unknown.
I am awaiting with great anticipation Anthony Corvan's death certificate. Potentially it offers so much promise, but realistically a death certificate is totally dependent on the informant who gave the information and how well he knew the deceased.I have a fear that many of the columns will be filled in with the word that genealogists dread..."Unknown"
When you consider that he had already faced the local Court on January 26 and February 16 of 1872 for drunkenness, it doesn't take much imagination to figure out just how Anthony acquired his 'contusion'...falling down drunk would certainly be top of the list of possible reasons. The following month he was sentenced to six months hard labour in Mount Eden Gaol for habitual drunkenness.
The records for Auckland Hospital provide fabulous additional information...for example, at the time of Anthony's first admission, he was 53 years old and his occupation was "cook". His place of abode was Auckland and, surprisingly since he was a Catholic, his religion was given as Church of England.
Two and a half years passed before Anthony was admitted as a patient to Auckland Provincial hospital again. Like the first time, he was admitted under the name 'Anthony Cowan'. He was still living in Auckland with "cook" as his employment, and was 55 years old.He was admitted for rheumatism by Dr. Kenderdine on August 25, 1874, and released on September 2. Anthony was 55 years old, and again stated that his religion was Church of England.
Anthony had spent twelve months prior to that August in Mount Eden Gaol, having been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour on July 19, 1873. He had been found guilty of being a common vagrant with no visible means of support, and since he had 35 previous convictions recorded against him to that point in time, he received a gaol sentence.
Almost two years later Anthony was again in hospital, this time with colic. He was admitted on May 6, 1876, and released on May 12.His age was incorrectly given as 60 years and his employment as 'labourer'. This time his religion had changed again to 'Wesleyan'. Again, Anthony was admitted to hospital after a long stint in gaol. On April 14, 1875 he had been sentenced to another 12 month's imprisonment for having no visible means of support and being "a convicted idle and disorderly person'.
Several days after being released from hospital Anthony was again sent to Mount Eden for nine days for drunkenness.Just over two weeks later he was back behind the stone walls of Mount Eden Gaol for six month's incarceration for vagrancy. The Court stated " Four previous convictions were recorded against him,and this was his 45th appearance before the Court.Sentenced to six month's imprisonment."
The year 1878 saw Anthony being admitted to Auckland Provincial Hospital in November for "general debility". He was admitted on November 1 and released on November 11. His age was given as 60 years, his employment 'labourer' and his religion for the second time was Wesleyan.
Because the online Auckland newspapers cease in 1876, I have no more accounts of his court and gaol appearances. Anthony does, however, appear in the Hospital registers in 1879 and twice in 1892. There is an entire decade- 1879 until 1892- where I have found no mention of Anthony at all.
On May 2, 1879, Anthony was admitted to the Auckland Provincial Hospital for dislocation of his shoulder.His patient details were the same as for his previous visit-living in Auckland, 60 years old, a labourer and Wesleyan.He was discharged as a patient on May 13, 1879.
Almost 13 years pass before we find Anthony in hospital again. On March 10 he was hospitalised in Auckland Hospital for "hysteria".For the first time, his surname was almost written correctly as "Corvin" rather than "Cowan". Records show that he was 73 years old,a native of England,religion Church of England,his occupation was back to being a cook, and he had been in New Zealand for 30 years. His residence was given as "care of Mrs Hamilton, Khyber Pass".He was released on March 18, 1892.
Khyber Pass was in an area just south east of the main part of Auckland, which is now known as the suburb of Newmarket.
The last record of Anthony 'Corvin' confusingly states that he was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on March 10, 1892(the previous entry had him being admitted on March 10 1892 and being discharged on March 18). This time his injury was very serious, especially for a man of his advanced years.Anthony fractured the neck of his femur(thigh bone), a very serious injury to a 73 year old man these days with modern medical advances, let alone an old alcoholic in 1892 whose diet over the years had most likely been atrocious.
Wikipedia states "In the vast majority of cases, a hip fracture is a fragility fracture due to a fall or minor trauma in someone with weakened osteoporotic bone.Femoral neck fracture (sometimes Neck of Femur (NOF),denotes a fracture adjacent to the femoral head in the neck between the head and the greater trochanter. These fractures have a propensity to damage the blood supply to the femoral head, potentially causing avascular necrosis( which is blood loss to an area of bone, causing bone tissue death and collapse of the bone).Hip fractures are very dangerous episodes especially for elderly and frail patients. The risk of dying from the stress of the surgery and the injury in the first few days is about 10%. If the condition is untreated the pain and immobility imposed on the patient increase that risk. Problems such as pressure sores and chest infections are all increased by immobility. The prognosis of untreated hip fractures is very poor."
Anthony Corvan was in hospital for six months with this hip injury.Information given in his admission record is as follows:
Discharged: 23 September, 1892
Native of: England
How long in NZ: 30 years
Age: 73
Occupation: Hawker
Late residence: care of Mrs. Hamilton,Khyber Pass
Religion: Church of England
Disease: Fracture of neck of femur
Days in Hospital: 197
If Anthony was unable to adequately care for himself before the accident that broke his hip, I shudder to think how he survived for the next few years.
Luckily for him, he was admitted into the Costley Home.On 24th April,1890, the Costley Home for the Aged Poor in Auckland had been opened by the Governor, the Earl of Onslow. There were six wards with accommodation for 178 males and 58 females. The 148 people were admitted when the Home was opened. It was described thus: " The Home is beautifully situated on thirteen acres of volcanic soil, and is surrounded by undulating and charming scenery."
The Costley Home Committee Minutes Book has three mentions of Anthony..twice referred to as 'Corrin' and once as 'Corvin'.
September 25, 1894: Inmates under review. Committee began examination of all cases of men in the home and dealt with the following as noted:
Anthony Corrin (seen) Remain in home Chronic
23 October 1894:Committee met at the home at 2.30 p.m. Inmates under review:
A Corrin Remain Chronic
23 January 1895: Committee met at the home at 3.00 p.m. Patients under review:
A Corvin to have three days leave to look for work
There were no more entries for Anthony in the records of the Costley Home, so at the moment his activities in the thirteen months between leaving the Home and his death are unknown.
I am awaiting with great anticipation Anthony Corvan's death certificate. Potentially it offers so much promise, but realistically a death certificate is totally dependent on the informant who gave the information and how well he knew the deceased.I have a fear that many of the columns will be filled in with the word that genealogists dread..."Unknown"
Drum Roll Please...Anthony's death has been found!!!
The brick wall has come tumbling down around our ears, all thanks to a marvellous New Zealand researcher by the name of Jeni Palmer who has located when and where our Anthony Edward Corvan died. It is so wonderful to be able to complete his story with a definite ending, but there are still so many gaps to fill in his tale that I'm sure this particular ancestor will keep us busy for years!
Getting down to business...Anthony Edward Corvan died in Auckland on February 15, 1896, at the age of 77 years. Because my last sighting of him was in an 1879 newspaper, stating that he wasn't in a particularly healthy mental state, I am amazed that he lived for another 17 years beyond that point.
The reason for me not being able to find Anthony myself in the New Zealand death index became clear when Jeni explained the following:
"I found his death registered in 1896 aged 77 years. It is written as CORVIN on the microfiche but as CORRIN in the online registers."
'Corrin' is one of the many Corvan variations that I usually search under-in this instance I must have neglected to use it. Unfortunately, the NZ index search requires you to use a surname, so I couldn't search for any Anthonys who had died post 1879. Using this method has allowed me to pick up Anthony Corvan in other index searches as it is not a particularly common name.
Jeni Palmer also checked records from the Auckland Hospital, and more treasures were to found here. It seems as though Anthony was admitted to the Auckland hospital at least seven times between 1872 and 1892, for conditions ranging from rheumatism to a fractured neck of his femur.
In 1894 Anthony appears in the records of the Costley Home, which was a home for the aged poor in Auckland.He was still there in January of 1895, and then died the following year. I have applied for his death certificate, which should arrive next week, hopefully containing more precious information.
Getting down to business...Anthony Edward Corvan died in Auckland on February 15, 1896, at the age of 77 years. Because my last sighting of him was in an 1879 newspaper, stating that he wasn't in a particularly healthy mental state, I am amazed that he lived for another 17 years beyond that point.
The reason for me not being able to find Anthony myself in the New Zealand death index became clear when Jeni explained the following:
"I found his death registered in 1896 aged 77 years. It is written as CORVIN on the microfiche but as CORRIN in the online registers."
'Corrin' is one of the many Corvan variations that I usually search under-in this instance I must have neglected to use it. Unfortunately, the NZ index search requires you to use a surname, so I couldn't search for any Anthonys who had died post 1879. Using this method has allowed me to pick up Anthony Corvan in other index searches as it is not a particularly common name.
Jeni Palmer also checked records from the Auckland Hospital, and more treasures were to found here. It seems as though Anthony was admitted to the Auckland hospital at least seven times between 1872 and 1892, for conditions ranging from rheumatism to a fractured neck of his femur.
In 1894 Anthony appears in the records of the Costley Home, which was a home for the aged poor in Auckland.He was still there in January of 1895, and then died the following year. I have applied for his death certificate, which should arrive next week, hopefully containing more precious information.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
No luck with the Orphanage research.
No luck with finding the Corvan girls in a Victorian orphanage in the period 1860-1862, I'm afraid. I have enquired about the existence and whereabouts of records from 1856-1860, and will hire a researcher if need be to prove once and for all whether Rosa, Ellen and Mary did indeed spend time in an orphanage. Every cell in my body believes it to be so...I've just got to find the proof!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
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