John Graham FORREST (1875-1921): Difference between revisions

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Rev '''John Graham FORREST''', Clerk in the Holy Orders, was born on 20th Apr 1875 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire<ref>[[Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth, Ref. BXCC 913530]]</ref>. He was the first third child of '''[[John FORREST (1841-1910)|John FORREST]]''' and '''Eveline RODGER'''.  
Rev '''John Graham FORREST''', Clerk in the Holy Orders, was born on 20th Apr 1875 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire<ref>[[General Register Office, Births, Cheltenham, GRO Ref. 1875/Q2/6A/437]]</ref>. He was the first third child of '''[[John FORREST (1841-1910)|John FORREST]]''' and '''Eveline RODGER'''.  




He was educated at Uppingham School, Uppingham, Rutland<ref>[[Uppingham School Roll, 1824-1905 – Uppingham School (1906) p263]]</ref> and in 1897 he received a 3rd Class Bachelor of the Arts in History from Oxford University followed by, in 1900, a Master of the Arts<ref>[[The Oxford and Cambridge Yearbook (1904) p214]]</ref>. The following year, he became the curate at Rushden Church in Northamptionshire<ref>[[1901 England Census: Northamptonshire, Rushden, District 20, Image 36 of 40]]</ref>.
He grew up in Cheltenham<ref>[[Public Record Office, England Census, PRO Ref. RG11/2574/23/9]]</ref> and was educated at Uppingham School, Uppingham, Rutland<ref>[[Public Record Office, England Census, PRO Ref. RG12/2549/13/20]]</ref><ref>Uppingham School Roll, 1824-1905 – Uppingham School (1906) p263</ref> and in 1897 he received a 3rd Class Bachelor of the Arts in History from Oxford University followed by, in 1900, a Master of the Arts<ref>The Oxford and Cambridge Yearbook (1904) p214</ref>. The following year, he became the curate at Rushden Church in Northamptionshire<ref>[[Public Record Office, England Census, PRO Ref. RG13/1441/94/36]]</ref>.




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[[image:Chiswick_House.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Chiswick House c1890]]
[[image:Chiswick_House.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Chiswick House c1890]]
On 3rd Feb 1909 he was admitted to Chiswick House asylum in Chiswick, Middlesex. The grand house, previously owned by the 8th Duke of Devonshire, had become an asylum in 1893 and was run by brothers Dr Thomas Seymour Tuke and Dr Charles Molesworth Tuke. Dr Thomas’ obituary stated that ''“his personal tact with patients led to them looking upon him as a trusted friend even more than a Doctor”'' and Dr Charles’ obituary noted that ''“he worked to make the atmosphere of Chiswick House that of a private country house, and to disassociate it from all appearance of an institution”''<ref>[[Chiswick House & The Tukes 1892 – 1928 – Pamela Bater (unpublished note) (2004)]]</ref>.  
On 3rd Feb 1909 he was admitted to Chiswick House asylum in Chiswick, Middlesex<ref>[[Public Record Office, England Census, PRO Ref. RG14/6933/128/5/6/185]]</ref>. The grand house, previously owned by the 8th Duke of Devonshire, had become an asylum in 1893 and was run by brothers Dr Thomas Seymour Tuke and Dr Charles Molesworth Tuke. Dr Thomas’ obituary stated that ''“his personal tact with patients led to them looking upon him as a trusted friend even more than a Doctor”'' and Dr Charles’ obituary noted that ''“he worked to make the atmosphere of Chiswick House that of a private country house, and to disassociate it from all appearance of an institution”''<ref>Chiswick House & The Tukes 1892 – 1928 – Pamela Bater (unpublished note) (2004)</ref>.  


John spent 11 years at Chiswick House, his medical notes recording that he suffered from delusions that he was being ''“followed by detectives”'', that his father had ''“accused him of keeping a mistress”'' and that others found his presence ''“offensive”''. The doctors encouraged sports and hobbies and he composed music on the piano, and actively played cricket, tennis and croquet. Even though two of his brothers (George and Charles) died a short time apart he became mentally well enough to go out alone and visit friends and family.  
John spent 11 years at Chiswick House, his medical notes recording that he suffered from delusions that he was being ''“followed by detectives”'', that his father had ''“accused him of keeping a mistress”'' and that others found his presence ''“offensive”''. The doctors encouraged sports and hobbies and he composed music on the piano, and actively played cricket, tennis and croquet. Even though two of his brothers (George and Charles) died a short time apart he became mentally well enough to go out alone and visit friends and family.  


On 31st Aug 1921 John went to Cheltenham on leave to visit a Dr. Liddondale. Reports were positive and on the 13th Oct a further one month’s leave of absence was granted to him. John wrote to Dr Tuke expressing his satisfaction of the extension, however at 6pm on 20th Oct 1921 the police found a body in the river Severn near Tewkesbury which was identified as John Graham Forrest.  
On 31st Aug 1921 John went to Cheltenham on leave to visit a Dr. Liddondale. Reports were positive and on the 13th Oct a further one month’s leave of absence was granted to him. John wrote to Dr Tuke expressing his satisfaction of the extension, however at 6pm on 20th Oct 1921 the police found a body in the river Severn near Tewkesbury which was identified as John Graham Forrest.<ref>[[General Register Office, Deaths, Tewkesbury, GRO Ref. 1921/Q4/6A/509]]</ref>




The verdict recorded by the coroner was “suicide by drowning whilst of unsound mind”. In keeping with his seeming low opinion of himself, in his Will he requested that “I am not buried in the Church yard of Lacey Green but in a public cemetery near to the place where I shall die and that no memorial window or monument of any kind be anywhere erected to my memory”<ref>[[Last Will and Testament of John Graham Forrest (2nd Jul 1908)]]</ref>.
The verdict recorded by the coroner was “suicide by drowning whilst of unsound mind”. In keeping with his seeming low opinion of himself, in his Will he requested that “I am not buried in the Church yard of Lacey Green but in a public cemetery near to the place where I shall die and that no memorial window or monument of any kind be anywhere erected to my memory”<ref>[[Last Will and Testament of John Graham Forrest (14th March 1922)]]</ref>.


== References ==
== References ==


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<references />

Revision as of 21:04, 30 September 2009

Rev John Graham FORREST, Clerk in the Holy Orders, was born on 20th Apr 1875 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire[1]. He was the first third child of John FORREST and Eveline RODGER.


He grew up in Cheltenham[2] and was educated at Uppingham School, Uppingham, Rutland[3][4] and in 1897 he received a 3rd Class Bachelor of the Arts in History from Oxford University followed by, in 1900, a Master of the Arts[5]. The following year, he became the curate at Rushden Church in Northamptionshire[6].


John Graham was noted for living a hardworking life and giving up his income to help others and was keen to become a vicar. However, a few days before he was to be ordained he suddenly broke down, and became depressed and started questioning his own moral character and developed anxiety towards his father. He was seen by a number of doctors until he became a paying guest for a year with physician Dr C.S. Segundo in Gloucester Place in London[7].


Chiswick House c1890

On 3rd Feb 1909 he was admitted to Chiswick House asylum in Chiswick, Middlesex[8]. The grand house, previously owned by the 8th Duke of Devonshire, had become an asylum in 1893 and was run by brothers Dr Thomas Seymour Tuke and Dr Charles Molesworth Tuke. Dr Thomas’ obituary stated that “his personal tact with patients led to them looking upon him as a trusted friend even more than a Doctor” and Dr Charles’ obituary noted that “he worked to make the atmosphere of Chiswick House that of a private country house, and to disassociate it from all appearance of an institution”[9].

John spent 11 years at Chiswick House, his medical notes recording that he suffered from delusions that he was being “followed by detectives”, that his father had “accused him of keeping a mistress” and that others found his presence “offensive”. The doctors encouraged sports and hobbies and he composed music on the piano, and actively played cricket, tennis and croquet. Even though two of his brothers (George and Charles) died a short time apart he became mentally well enough to go out alone and visit friends and family.

On 31st Aug 1921 John went to Cheltenham on leave to visit a Dr. Liddondale. Reports were positive and on the 13th Oct a further one month’s leave of absence was granted to him. John wrote to Dr Tuke expressing his satisfaction of the extension, however at 6pm on 20th Oct 1921 the police found a body in the river Severn near Tewkesbury which was identified as John Graham Forrest.[10]


The verdict recorded by the coroner was “suicide by drowning whilst of unsound mind”. In keeping with his seeming low opinion of himself, in his Will he requested that “I am not buried in the Church yard of Lacey Green but in a public cemetery near to the place where I shall die and that no memorial window or monument of any kind be anywhere erected to my memory”[11].

References

  1. ↑ General Register Office, Births, Cheltenham, GRO Ref. 1875/Q2/6A/437
  2. ↑ Public Record Office, England Census, PRO Ref. RG11/2574/23/9
  3. ↑ Public Record Office, England Census, PRO Ref. RG12/2549/13/20
  4. ↑ Uppingham School Roll, 1824-1905 – Uppingham School (1906) p263
  5. ↑ The Oxford and Cambridge Yearbook (1904) p214
  6. ↑ Public Record Office, England Census, PRO Ref. RG13/1441/94/36
  7. ↑ Medical Notes of John Graham Forrest, Chiswick Asylum (1884-1925) – Wellcome Library, London Ref MSS.6222-6227
  8. ↑ Public Record Office, England Census, PRO Ref. RG14/6933/128/5/6/185
  9. ↑ Chiswick House & The Tukes 1892 – 1928 – Pamela Bater (unpublished note) (2004)
  10. ↑ General Register Office, Deaths, Tewkesbury, GRO Ref. 1921/Q4/6A/509
  11. ↑ Last Will and Testament of John Graham Forrest (14th March 1922)
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