A daughter of Rev. Thomas and Sarah (nee Usher) Cranfield; Eliza was born in about 1803.
She married Dr. William Henry Abbott, a public health officer in Dublin. In early 1834, the 'Twelfth Report of the Inspects General of Prisons in Ireland' was printed for the House of Commons, announcing that Mr. and Mrs. Abbot had been appointed Managers of the newly-built District Lunatic Asylum at Maryborough (now Portlaoise). It is significant that they were both named and appointed as a couple.
At a time when women were expected to be neither educated, intelligent, or capable, Eliza was evidently all those things. Not only did she raise her children and run her own household, she worked in tandem with her husband in his career as well.
A decade after their co-appointment, another governmental report showed the pair were still at Maryborough Asylum--Dr. Abbott as Governor, and Eliza as Matron--earning a joint annual salary of £250 in addition to being provided with private quarters on the grounds. The next person listed in the hierarchy of the facility--the infirmary surgeon--was paid £100 yearly.
Built on 22 acres, Maryborough Asylum was designed to house 140 patients. Self-contained, it had its own kitchen, laundry, baths, and offices as well as work-rooms, infirmary, and water source. In 1836, it admitted 868 patients and its dispensary administered to another 8,650 non-resident patients in the surrounding King's and Queen's Counties.
At least two of her children were born at Maryborough; her husband died there as well.
After her husband's death, Eliza retired to Edinburgh where she lived with her son, William H. Abbott. In 1876 she died there at her home in Bruntsfield Crescent; her Will was administered at Dublin.
[Operating as St. Fintan's Psychiatric Hospital, Maryborough Asylum was still in use as late as March, 2012. You can view a modern photo of the original building here: www.portlaoisepictures.com/stfintans.htm]
She married Dr. William Henry Abbott, a public health officer in Dublin. In early 1834, the 'Twelfth Report of the Inspects General of Prisons in Ireland' was printed for the House of Commons, announcing that Mr. and Mrs. Abbot had been appointed Managers of the newly-built District Lunatic Asylum at Maryborough (now Portlaoise). It is significant that they were both named and appointed as a couple.
At a time when women were expected to be neither educated, intelligent, or capable, Eliza was evidently all those things. Not only did she raise her children and run her own household, she worked in tandem with her husband in his career as well.
A decade after their co-appointment, another governmental report showed the pair were still at Maryborough Asylum--Dr. Abbott as Governor, and Eliza as Matron--earning a joint annual salary of £250 in addition to being provided with private quarters on the grounds. The next person listed in the hierarchy of the facility--the infirmary surgeon--was paid £100 yearly.
Built on 22 acres, Maryborough Asylum was designed to house 140 patients. Self-contained, it had its own kitchen, laundry, baths, and offices as well as work-rooms, infirmary, and water source. In 1836, it admitted 868 patients and its dispensary administered to another 8,650 non-resident patients in the surrounding King's and Queen's Counties.
At least two of her children were born at Maryborough; her husband died there as well.
After her husband's death, Eliza retired to Edinburgh where she lived with her son, William H. Abbott. In 1876 she died there at her home in Bruntsfield Crescent; her Will was administered at Dublin.
[Operating as St. Fintan's Psychiatric Hospital, Maryborough Asylum was still in use as late as March, 2012. You can view a modern photo of the original building here: www.portlaoisepictures.com/stfintans.htm]
A daughter of Rev. Thomas and Sarah (nee Usher) Cranfield; Eliza was born in about 1803.
She married Dr. William Henry Abbott, a public health officer in Dublin. In early 1834, the 'Twelfth Report of the Inspects General of Prisons in Ireland' was printed for the House of Commons, announcing that Mr. and Mrs. Abbot had been appointed Managers of the newly-built District Lunatic Asylum at Maryborough (now Portlaoise). It is significant that they were both named and appointed as a couple.
At a time when women were expected to be neither educated, intelligent, or capable, Eliza was evidently all those things. Not only did she raise her children and run her own household, she worked in tandem with her husband in his career as well.
A decade after their co-appointment, another governmental report showed the pair were still at Maryborough Asylum--Dr. Abbott as Governor, and Eliza as Matron--earning a joint annual salary of £250 in addition to being provided with private quarters on the grounds. The next person listed in the hierarchy of the facility--the infirmary surgeon--was paid £100 yearly.
Built on 22 acres, Maryborough Asylum was designed to house 140 patients. Self-contained, it had its own kitchen, laundry, baths, and offices as well as work-rooms, infirmary, and water source. In 1836, it admitted 868 patients and its dispensary administered to another 8,650 non-resident patients in the surrounding King's and Queen's Counties.
At least two of her children were born at Maryborough; her husband died there as well.
After her husband's death, Eliza retired to Edinburgh where she lived with her son, William H. Abbott. In 1876 she died there at her home in Bruntsfield Crescent; her Will was administered at Dublin.
[Operating as St. Fintan's Psychiatric Hospital, Maryborough Asylum was still in use as late as March, 2012. You can view a modern photo of the original building here: www.portlaoisepictures.com/stfintans.htm]
She married Dr. William Henry Abbott, a public health officer in Dublin. In early 1834, the 'Twelfth Report of the Inspects General of Prisons in Ireland' was printed for the House of Commons, announcing that Mr. and Mrs. Abbot had been appointed Managers of the newly-built District Lunatic Asylum at Maryborough (now Portlaoise). It is significant that they were both named and appointed as a couple.
At a time when women were expected to be neither educated, intelligent, or capable, Eliza was evidently all those things. Not only did she raise her children and run her own household, she worked in tandem with her husband in his career as well.
A decade after their co-appointment, another governmental report showed the pair were still at Maryborough Asylum--Dr. Abbott as Governor, and Eliza as Matron--earning a joint annual salary of £250 in addition to being provided with private quarters on the grounds. The next person listed in the hierarchy of the facility--the infirmary surgeon--was paid £100 yearly.
Built on 22 acres, Maryborough Asylum was designed to house 140 patients. Self-contained, it had its own kitchen, laundry, baths, and offices as well as work-rooms, infirmary, and water source. In 1836, it admitted 868 patients and its dispensary administered to another 8,650 non-resident patients in the surrounding King's and Queen's Counties.
At least two of her children were born at Maryborough; her husband died there as well.
After her husband's death, Eliza retired to Edinburgh where she lived with her son, William H. Abbott. In 1876 she died there at her home in Bruntsfield Crescent; her Will was administered at Dublin.
[Operating as St. Fintan's Psychiatric Hospital, Maryborough Asylum was still in use as late as March, 2012. You can view a modern photo of the original building here: www.portlaoisepictures.com/stfintans.htm]
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
