Martha (“Marthy”) Ann
Riddell/Riddle Dawes/Daus
Commitment Order (31 Jan 1882).
Estill Circuit Court Order Book Z, 1881-1884, pages
73-74, from Kentucky State Archives, Frankfort, Ky.
Submitted By Bill Dozier
(bdozier1@yahoo.com)
Estill Circuit Court
6 Day of April Term, 8 Day of April,
1882
Upon motion of the Atty. For the
Commonwealth it is ordered that a writ of de idata
inquirendo issue in the case of Marthy Dawes a
lunatic returnable immediately to enquire into the
state of mind as well as Estate of said Dawes and it
is ordered that J. M. Riddell be appointed counsel
for her where upon came the following Jury to wit:
John Wallace, Joseph Wagers, B. J. C. Sale, John
Miantigue, Claud Smith, Jorden Neal, John Ellington,
Dilard Centers, Wm. Reynolds, John S. Howard, J. J.
Tipton, and Y. G. Price who being sworn according to
law and having heard the evidence returned the
following verdict. We the Jury empanelled and sworn
under a writ issued by the Judge of the Estill
County Court directing us to enquire if Marthy Dawes
of Estill County be of unsound mind and having had a
view of said Marthy in open Court and having heard
evidence in relation to the condition of her mind as
well as Estate find that said Marthy is a Lunatic,
was not destitute of mind from birth. She was born
with a good mind but has had occasional spells of
lunacy or crazyness for a number of years. About
thirteen (13) months ago, She lost her mind almost
entirely and is now a lunatic. She was born in
Estill County Ky. Is about 47 years of age. She
resides in Estill County with her husband Abraham
Dawes. She has no Estate either in possession
revision or remainder her husband has no Estate to
support her. She was not brought into this state by
anyone to owe to become a charge on the Commonwealth
and is incapable of laboring to any extent for a
Support has never heretofore been found a lunatic by
the verdict of a Jury or the Judgment of a court
witness our hands and seals this 01st
January 1882.
B. J. C. Sale (Seal)
Y. G. Price (Seal)
J. A. Wallace (Seal)
J. J. Tipton (Seal)
Claud Smith (Seal)
Joseph Wagers (Seal)
Jorden Neal (Seal)
John Ellington (Seal)
John S. Howard (Seal)
Wm. Reynolds (Seal)
D. D. Centers (Seal)
John Miantigue (Seal)
In the pursurvance of the foregoing
Judgment it is adjudged that the said Marthy Dawes a
Lunatic
It is therefore ordered that the
sheriff of Estill County convey the said Marthy
Dawes to the Eastern Lunatic Asylum at Lexington,
Kentucky and deliver her to the Superintendent there
of given under my hand as Judge of the Estill County
Court this 31st day of January 1882.
W. B. Benton J.E.C.C.
Notes from Bill
Dozier:
Martha Ann Riddell
Dawes/Daus was a native of Estill Co., Ky. (born-22 April 1833, per Family
Bible-died ? (perhaps 1887?). The word “Dead” appears on her ESH patient card,
per 2006 phone call to ESH Records Department.
Notes sent in an
e-mail dated-Tuesday, January 02, 2007 4:26 PM
--Her name was Martha
Ann Riddell/Riddle Daus/Dawes (c. 1830-1887).
--Her first husband
was Absoleum Turner, and they divorced after a brief marriage that produced one
daughter, Mary Catherine.
--In 1853, Martha
married her second husband, Abraham Daus/Dawes, and they had about ten or so
children. They lived at Wisemantown, Estill Co., KY.
--In Jan. 1882, an
Estill Co. jury finds Martha to be a lunatic and that Abraham lacks the means to
care for her. Judge Benton commits Martha to Eastern Lunatic Asylum--six months
later her commitment is recorded in the Estill Co. Order Book.
--Also in 1882,
Abraham's future wife gives birth to a daughter, the father of whom I believe to
be Abraham.
--In 1887, the Estill
Co. Circuit Court grants Abraham his petition for divorce from Martha. Martha is
not present at the hearing. Witnesses for Abraham state they have not seen
Martha in five years. Abraham states that Martha is living with relatives in IN.
No mention is made of her commitment to the hospital.
--In 1887, following
his divorce, Abraham marries his second wife and fathers, I believe, two
additional children by her.
--An inventory of the
Estill Co. cemeteries does not include the grave of Martha Ann Riddell/Riddle
Daus/Dawes, nor have I encountered a family tradition that locates her burial
place.
Census Data:
Source Citation: Year:
1860; Census Place: Estill, Kentucky; Roll: M653_365; Page: 0; Image: 221.
Name: Abraham Dowes
Age in 1860: 30
Birth Year: abt 1830
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1860: Estill, Kentucky
Gender: Male
Post Office: Irvine
Name Age Sex Relation Occupation Birthplace
Abraham Dowes 30 M Head Blacksmith Ky.
Martha Dowes 25 F Ky.
Joseph Dowes 6 M Ky.
Isac A. Dowes 4 M Ky.
Sarah Dowes 2 F Ky.
Matilda F. Dowes 3.12 F Ky.
Mary Riddle 7 F Ky.
Source: Year: 1870; Census Place: Crooked Creek, Estill, Kentucky; Roll:
M593_459; Page: 493; Image: 247.
Name: Abraham Daws
Estimated birth year: abt 1830
Age in 1870: 40
Birthplace: Kentucky
Home in 1870: Crooked Creek, Estill, Kentucky
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Irvine
Name Age Sex Relation Occupation Birthplace
Abraham Daws 40 M Head Blacksmith Ky.
Martha A. Daws 38 F Wife Keeping house Ky.
Mary C. Daws 19 F Ky.
Joseph W. Daws 17 M Farm Laborer Ky.
Isaac A. Daws 15 M Farm Laborer Ky.
Sarah B. Daws 12 F Ky.
Matilda F. Daws 10 F Ky.
John W. Daws 8 M Ky.
Anne E. Daws 3 F Ky.
Thos. A Daws 1 M Ky.
Sylvania 5 F Ky
Source: Year: 1880; Census Place: Crooked Creek, Estill, Kentucky; Roll: T9_412;
Page: 73.4000; Enumeration District: 39; Image: 0337.
Name: Abraham Daws
Home in 1880: Crooked Creek, Estill, Kentucky
Age: 51
Estimated birth year: abt 1829
Birthplace: Kentucky
Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head)
Spouse's name: Martha A.
Father's birthplace: VA
Mother's birthplace: VA
Occupation: Blacksmith
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members:
Name Age Relation
Abraham Daws 51 Head Ky.--Va.--Va.
Martha A. Daws 46 Wife Ky.--Ky.--Ky.
Pensylvana Daws 14 Daughter Ky.--Ky.--Ky.
Analiza Daws 12 Daughter Ky.--Ky.--Ky.
Thomas A. Daws 10 Son Ky.--Ky.--Ky.
Charlie Daws 8 Son Ky.--Ky.--Ky.
Lauragreen Daws 7 Daughter Ky.--Ky.--Ky.
Abraham Daws 3 Son Ky.--Ky.--Ky.
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