OUTSIDE THE ASYLUM

Can you help George Marshall Medical Museum with a spot of family history research to find out about some people who were admitted to the Worcester City and County Lunatic Asylum in the 19th century?

Our aim is to share more patients’ stories, and to find out about their lives before admission and (where possible) after discharge.

edwin garry

find out more about edwin cockburn garry

At the age of 40, Edwin Cockburn Garry was admitted to Powick Lunatic Asylum on 7 May 1861 for melancholia, the cause of which was ‘reverses in life and misfortunes over mental exertion’. He was discharged as recovered just a year later. The first page of his case notes describes his physical appearance, stating that his hair and eyes were black, and his skin dark. Interestingly, it lists his occupation as Professor of Phrenology and Mesmerism.

Very little information could be found about Edwin in the census returns, and it was newspapers that gave some helpful information. He was married to a Miss Eliza Rumsey in Feckenham on 31 May 1866, although this was not to last!

On 21 July 1869, the Western Daily Press, of Yeovil, reported upon a charge of bigamy: ‘Edwin Garry, alias Edwin Charles Cockburn Garry, alias Paul Adolphe, described described as a lecturer, pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy at Coleshill, on the 8th of July. It appeared that the prisoner formed an imprudent marriage in the first instance, and had lived very comfortably with the woman with whom he subsequently went through the ceremony of marriage, and who was very unwilling that he should be prosecuted. The learned judge sentenced him to four months’ hard labour’.

It was further reported upon in Berrows Worcester Journal, which stated that ‘he feigned insanity, and made a long rambling statement reflecting upon the character of his first wife, which was altogether groundless.’

Having found Edwin’s alias of Paul Adolphe, it was possible to find more information about him in the newspapers, including several examples of his having given talks. The Gloucester Journal reporter on 17 April 1869 that ‘a very interesting and instructive entertainment was given at the Town Hall, on Wednesday last, by M. Paul Adolphe, professor of Medical mesmerism, Phrenology, and Physiognomy’.

Unfortunately, due to his use of aliases, it has not been possible to find more information about Edwin in the censuses or newspapers, neither has it been possible to find out when or where he was born.

Research by Maddie Hale, 2025

To view Edwin’s patient records, click here.

Go back to find out about more people who were patients at the asylum.