From the Highland Archive Centre: A tale of wrongful incarceration
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THE Highland Archive Centre is home to several large collections of family papers, full of information about that particular family, their friends and acquaintances. Sometimes, contained within these larger collections are one or two items that seem unrelated but can highlight stories that might otherwise have remained hidden.
In this case, a small bundle of papers found in the larger Munro of Novar collection relates to the alleged wrongful incarceration of Helen Mackenzie-Ross in an asylum in 1860.
According to Helen, she was, “compelled, at the risk of [her] life, by inhaling chloroform, chained and handcuffed like a condemned felon, dragged down two flights of stairs, thrown into a cab, and driven off to Saughton Hall Madhouse.”
Helen was the daughter of Murdoch Munro-Mackenzie of Ardross and Christian Ross. She married Simon Mackenzie-Ross of Aldie, and they lived on his family estate, near Tain, until Simon died in 1852. This left Helen widowed and childless at 37.
After a spell on the continent, a letter from a Margaret Lewis in Aberystwyth, Wales, stated that for a period around 1859-1860, Helen resided in her house, describing Helen as, “perfectly lady-like, and quiet in her manner”.
Within months of leaving Aberystwyth, Helen found herself incarcerated in an asylum against her will. Initially in Saughtonhall, near Edinburgh, and then Crichton Asylum in Dumfries, a place she described as a “disgusting kennel (only fit for hogs – and that Scotch ones).”
A series of physicians diagnosed Helen’s condition, noting, ‘insanity’, ‘excitement’, ‘violence’, and ‘delusions’ to describe her state of mind. She claimed workers made sure to deprive her of sleep, “caterwauling at night”, in the hope it would cause her to cut a less respectable figure in front of doctors. One family member wrote of her determination to remain calm, “she was never more cool and collected than whilst confronting the flinty-hearted scoundrels”. Helen described it as “vile, mad, crazy, imbecile conduct of the mad doctors here as also the matron, Mrs Leslie”. Helen alleged that the letters she sent were destroyed, although she made her own copies of each.
During her time there she wrote these letters which give an insight into her mindset, and along with letters written by physicians, friends, and family, were copied and printed in 1863. They possibly do not tell the whole story, however from what can be gathered Helen firmly pointed the finger of blame at her eldest brother, Hugh Munro-Mackenzie of Ardross and Dundonnell. In a letter Helen wrote to Hugh she said she did not have the words to “express the disgust and abhorrence [she felt] in being obliged to address so debased, unprincipled, unfeeling a brute”.
Helen was eventually freed from the asylum but whether the justice she sought was ever served is unclear from these documents, although the letters survive to tell her version of events. Helen Mackenzie-Ross lived to the age of 75, dying in 1887 in Dunoon.
n Saturday, September 3 sees the return of an in-person Doors Open Day at the Highland Archive Centre.
“Join us on a behind-the-scenes tour at 11am, 1pm or 3pm (please call, message or email to book onto a tour) or drop in to see a display of our favourite historic documents and chat about family history and document conservation from 10am-4pm,” said a spokesperson. “We’re really looking forward to seeing you!” Call 01349 781130 or email archives@highlifehighland.com for details.
