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About Rebecca Parnell
More than likely suffered from post natal psychosis as a result of childbirth and life stresses, including the journey to New Zealand in 1852, the Wairarapa Earthquake on 23 January 1855 earthquake measuring 8.2 on the richter scale, her three young children and an impending marriage. After admission to the asylum with her third child (a baby) this may have lead to her suffocating her child. She most likely later developed bipolar affective disorder, which lead to mania as a result of the previous stresses and events.
The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake occurred on 23 January at about 9 p.m., affecting much of the Cook Strait area of New Zealand, including Marlborough in the South Island and Wellington and Wairarapa in the North Island. In Wellington, close to the epicenter, shaking lasted for at least 50 seconds. The moment magnitude of the earthquake has been estimated as 8.2, the most powerful recorded in New Zealand since systematic European colonisation began in 1840. Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1855_Wairarapa_earthquake
Karori's 27 patients were moved to new premises, Mount View Asylum, where Government House now stands. One was Rebecca Parnell, who had recently given birth after being raped at Karori Asylum. An attendant was charged, but the court was unable to rule on his guilt as she was 'mostly comatose', and men had been allowed free access to the women's quarters. Parnell had been one of Karori's first patients, admitted in in 1857 aged about 30. Diagnosed with 'mania (occasionally violent)' by Dr France, reports in the National Archives referred to her being strapped to a chair even after the move to Mt View. She never left the asylum system. When Mt View closed in 1900 she was moved to its replacement, Porirua Hospital, where shed died three years later of throat cancer. 'Once in, you'd never leave,' says Ridley-Smith. Source: Lunatics Past by Megan Lane. In Capital (2015, May 21) https://issuu.com/capitalmag/docs/capital__19.
Covers the family genealogy and life of the first female patient admitted to the Karori Lunatic Asylum. Describes the poverty of her parents James Bingham Parnell and Kitty Parish, their daughter's hasty marriage to Alfred Rickman, and her mental condition after an 1855 earthquake in Wellington. Provides details on mental hospitals in Wellington, including complaints made about the treatment of patients, especially women, at the Karori Lunatic Asylum. Rebecca Parnell by Margaret Major (2015). Stockade, 2015; n.47:p.10-19 https://natlib.govt.nz/records/36722870
William Stewart was charged with having committed a rape upon Rebecca Parnell, an inmate of the Karori Lunatic Asylum on or about the 15th April. On the application of the Inspector of Police the prisoner was remanded until Tuesday next. Source: Wellington Independent (29 January 1873, p. 2) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18730129.2.12. William Stewart appeared on remand on the charge of having committed a rape upon the person of Rebecca Parnell, in the Lunatic Asylum at Karori. Source: Wellington Independent (8 February 1873, p. 2) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18730208.2.15.
Coroner's Inquest I am Medical Superintendent at Porirua Asylum. Deceased was received at Karori Asylum on 16 June 1857 on the order of Judge Wakefield and the Medical Certificates of Dr's Monteith and Johnson. Removed to Mount View Asylum and on 5 June 1900 transferred to Porirua Asylum. Admission papers all marked Nr 3, which indicates that she was the third patient admitted in the Province and I believe the first female patient. Admission age is not stated but I guess about 75. I have known her since 1888 and until recently her state had been that of chronic mania. She was erratic, excitable and ? noisy. She enjoyed fairly good bodily health until 6 or 7 months before death when she developed a cancerous tumor in the neck. It was deep seated and would not have been safe to attempt it's extraction. She gradually became more frail and emaciated. Finally ? to her bed about 4 months ago she gradually ? and died on 10th May 1903 at 12.10 am in the presence of the matron ???? the fact that the tumor in the neck had affected the liver? thus ??? The cause of death was cancer of the neck and liver. She has a son in Wellington who has visited her and has been informed of her death. - Gary Hassell. Emma Tuersley being sworn saith I am Matron and Porirua Asylum. Deceased received every attention ? from nurses and doctors, she has been quiet and ? through her illness. She had special diet chiefly milk, eggs and ? She died quickly in my presence at 12.10am on Sunday morning the 10th. The doctor had seen her quite late in the evening. I think 10.30 to 11.00. She has never been subject to artificial restraint. - Emma Tuersley
Karori's 27 patients were moved to new premises, Mount View Asylum, where Government House now stands. One was Rebecca Parnell, who had recently given birth after being raped at Karori Asylum. An attendant was charged, but the court was unable to rule on his guilt as she was 'mostly comatose', and men had been allowed free access to the women's quarters. Parnell had been one of Karori's first patients, admitted in in 1857 aged about 30. Diagnosed with 'mania (occasionally violent)' by Dr France, reports in the National Archives referred to her being strapped to a chair even after the move to Mt View. She never left the asylum system. When Mt View closed in 1900 she was moved to its replacement, Porirua Hospital, where shed died three years later of throat cancer. 'Once in, you'd never leave,' says Ridley-Smith. Source: Lunatics Past by Megan Lane. In Capital (2015, May 21) https://issuu.com/capitalmag/docs/capital__19.
Sources
- Evening Post (4 February 1873, p. 2). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18730204.2.5
- Evening Post (7 February 1873, p. 2). Residents Magistrate's Court https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18730207.2.6
- Lane, Megan (2015, May 21). Lunatics Past. In Capital https://issuu.com/capitalmag/docs/capital__19.
- Major, Margaret (2015). Rebecca Parnell. Stockade, 2015; n.47:p.10-19 https://natlib.govt.nz/records/36722870
- New Zealand Mail (15 February 1873, p. 4) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZMAIL18730215.2.9
- New Zealand Mail (4 May 1873, p. 4). https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZMAIL18720504.2.4
- Wellington Independent (29 January 1873, p. 2) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18730129.2.12
- Wellington Independent (5 February 1873, p. 2) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18730205.2.11
- Wellington Independent (8 February 1873, p. 2) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18730208.2.15
- Wellington Independent (30 April 1872, p. 2) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18720430.2.13
- Wellington Independent (6 May 1872, p. 2) https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18720506.2. 14
- Wikipedia: 1855 Wairarapa Earthquake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1855_Wairarapa_earthquake
- Lane, Megan (2015, May 21). Lunatics Past. In Capital https://issuu.com/capitalmag/docs/capital__19.
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Rebecca Parnell's Timeline
| 1832 |
December 23, 1832
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Brockenhurst, Hampshire, England (United Kingdom)
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1832
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Brockenhurst, Hampshire, England (United Kingdom)
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| 1852 |
November 26, 1852
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Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
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| 1854 |
October 15, 1854
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Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
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| 1856 |
September 1856
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Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
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| 1873 |
January 17, 1873
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Karori Lunatic Asylum, Karori, Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
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| 1903 |
May 10, 1903
Age 71
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Porirua Asylum, Porirua, Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
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May 13, 1903
Age 71
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Porirua Cemetery, [Public Lawn Area, Row C Plot 14], Porirua, Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
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