Janet McNAY (1861-1886)
Family Stories > 5th GENERATION > John McNay's Family
4. Janet McNay (1861 - 1886)
1. Nola Irene Warren
2. .... George Ernest Edward Warren & Iris Ella Ford
3. .... .... Leonard Leslie Warren & Burdett Launder
4. .... .... .... Charles James Warren & Agnes McNay
5. .... .... .... .... John McNay & Elizabeth Rogerson
... Children 1. George McNay & Mary Rachael Kerr
2. John McNay & Maria Kildre3. Elizabeth (Agnes) McNay & Charles James Warren
4. Janet McNay
Janet McNayBorn 1861, February 22 at Oakbank, SAFather UnknownDeath 1886, July 16 at Adelaide Parkside Hospital, in SAAge at Death 25 yearsCause of Death Epilepsy
1861 - Birth
Janet McNay was a baby born to Elizabeth McNay, nee Rogerson on February 22 in 1861, three years after the death of Elizabeth's husband, John McNay. Who Janet's father was is not known as Elizabeth did not enter a father's name on the birth document, so little Janet was labelled 'bastard child' from her first breath.
Janet suffered from Epilepsy and did so for her entire life. It is not known whether she attended the local school with her older siblings.
1870 - Remarriage of Mother
Her mother looked after her children in the tiny cottage in John Street, Oakbank until Elizabeth remarried in 1870. It is presumed that at the age of nine, Janet went to live with her mother and step-father, David Chamberlain, at a small farm in Nairne.
1875 - Death of Mother
When her mother, Elizabeth, died in 1875, just five years after her marriage, Janet was 14 years old. Her older sister, Agnes, left the home of her step-father around ...... presumably not in amicable circumstances judging the advertisements David Chamberlain placed in several newspapers at the time stating that he refused to he held accountable for debts incurred by Agnes. Perhaps Janet stayed with her step-father for a while or perhaps she was turned out - we can only guess. What is clear that after leaving her step-father's house, Janet made her way to Port Adelaide.
She tried to support herself working as a domestic servant, but with severe epilepsy, it would have been difficult for her to maintain employment.
At age 16 years, Janet McNay was admitted to Adelaide Hospital in May of 1876 and treated for Epilepsy. She was discharged on June 24 of that year. She was to suffer from and extreme case of Epilepsy for her whole life.
Janet was admitted to the hospital at least one other time when the admission report lists her relatives as her step-father, David Chamberlain whose whereabouts were unknown at the time and her sister, Agnes, Mrs. Charles James Warren. Charles was a baker in Houghton at the time. Also listed was her brother, John McNay of North Adelaide. Her religion was noted as Protestant.
We can only wonder if Agnes and John were in touch with Janet during these tough years. I just wish I could reach back through the years and extend my hand to this young woman in her need.
Prior to 1886 - Destitute Asylum
At some time prior to 1886, Janet was admitted to the Port Adelaide Destitute Asylum, so it is possible that she had previously been living on the streets, scrounging for food and shelter as best she could.
1886, February - Lunatic Asylum
Janet was admitted to the Port Adelaide and Parkside Lunatic Asylum on February 9 in 1886. The Asylum housed destitute people, as well as sick, homeless, and insane. Her hospital admittance report indicated that she was in good health, although her body was 'skeletal' with 'numerous scars about her face.' There was a particular note about her lip being scarred from 'falling in a fit'.
She was described as having 'dementia from epilepsy' and that she became 'quite stupid and helpless when the fits were happening.'
It was reported that she was unable to care for herself or occupy herself outside the Asylum. Nevertheless, it appears that she was discharged from the Asylum.
1886, May - Severe Epileptic Fit
She was again admitted to the Asylum in May, 1886, however, on July 16 of that year, she died during another seizure. Janet was just 25 years old.
Burial
It was customary to bury deceased Asylum inmates in unmarked graves in ground near the Asylum however, it appears that Janet was laid to rest at the West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide according to an entry in the Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave® Index, 1800s-Current.