From James Symon, third of six sons and one daughter born to David Symon [32] and Elizabeth Kelt [33], and elder brother of Peter Symon [16], and his spouse Isabella Haggart, descends a branch of the Symon family in the United States.  James's son William Haggart Symon emigrated to Connecticut where he worked as a stonemason.  No confirmed likeness of James Symon or Isabella Haggart has been identified but James may figure in  photographs of groups of curlers at Murie and Errol curling ponds around the year 1900.  Isabella was admitted to Murthly lunatic asylum from the family home at Inchcoonans brick and tile works. 

Family Group Sheet

Notes: 1861 Brick & Tile maker, living with wife Isabella and 2 sons David and William, Cowgate, Errol. 1871 son James living with grandparents David & Elizabeth Symon. 1891 salmon fisher, employer, at Flisk Point fishing lodge (Fife side of River Tay, opposite Errol), with nephew James Scotland Symon, 19 years, salmon fisher, worker (presumably by his uncle James). 1901, aged 66 yrs, married, head of household, drainer, worker, living alone at High Street, Errol, next to household headed by brother Peter Symon (who lived at address known as Bower View). Known as Uncle Jeemie by David Symon (1912-1996).  Death notice in Perthshire Advertiser, 1923.

Notes:  19 May 1868, admitted to Murthly Lunatic Asylum.  Her brother William was also a patient in Murthly asylum.  Died there in 1905.  [Archives Services, University of Dundee, Tayside Health Board records, Murthly Asylum Fonds, patients records series (THB/30/3)]

Updated by Peter Symon 23 May 2012.

References:

The grave of James Symon and Isabella Haggart or Symon, in the old burying ground in Errol village, may be found by locating the memorial stone for Andrew Carstairs, who died at Flatfield, 1904, and Mary Wannan, and a Sharp.  It is at the east end of the burying ground.  Carstairs's memorial stone stands immediately next to the road that runs along the north side of the burying ground between the two gates at the east and west ends.  The stone for Carstairs is one of the headstones nearest the east gate.  From there, walk south over five rows of graves aligned west-to-east.   Each row measures eight feet from north to south.  There are only a few headstones and most graves are unmarked.  The fifth east-west row is occupied by a headstone, broken in two horizontally, one half leaning upright against the remaining lower part standing on the ground.  That stone is for Haggart family members who are buried in the grave, lair number 413.  Immediately next to it, on the south side, in an unmarked grave, is lair number 412, in which lie James Symon and Isabella Haggart or Symon.   The grave is approximately 40 to 48 feet from the south edge of the road (or slightly less, because the road has encroached on the northmost lairs, over the years).

What affected the mental state of Isabella will never be known, but it is possible that two factors played a part. One was the possible stillbirth of a child. The other was the proximity of the house she was living in, to the brick and tile works, where her husband worked, and which was probably noisy and certainly would have been smoky. Other relevant risk factors may have been her gender, her income relative to outgoings, and overcrowding and home living conditions.

I recently (November 2017) discovered an edition of "The Pilgrim's Progress", by John Bunyan (London: T. Nelson and Sons, 1871), among the old books belonging to my family in Errol. Inside the back cover of the book is written in ink, in neat handwriting, "William Symon, Errol, 1879". William would have been 19 years old in 1879, learning his trade as a mason, some two or three years before he went to settle in America, marry and start a family.  Inside the front cover, is written in ink, also in neat handwriting, "James Symon, High Street, Errol, 1883". No doubt this was either William's father, James, or else his cousin, James Simpson Scotland Symon, who would have been 11 years old in 1883.  In his earlier years, young Scot Symon may have gone by his given name, James, and in some cases he also wrote "Scott". 1883 was also the year that William got married, in New Haven, Connecticut. He had given his book to his father or his young cousin. At that time, both his father, James "Jeemie" Symon, and his cousin, were living in the High Street: Scot (or James) with his parents Peter and Margaret Symon in Bowerview, and James, next door, on the north side of the High Street. James's and Peter's parents, David and Elizabeth Symon, were living in Fernbank Cottage, facing their houses, on the south side of the High Street.  Written in pencil on the same inside page of the book that bears the name of James Symon, is "Maggie M.G. Symon, High Street, Errol". Maggie was one of the younger James Scot Symon's  sisters. She had also been an "owner" of ths book. Her middle initials stand for Melville Goodall. The name Melville Goodall was given to a number of children born in Errol village during the second half of the 19th century. The person it was named after, Melville Goodall, was alive during the 19th century, but not much is known about him.

 Isabella Haggart

Daughter of Haggart, Errol.

Married James Symon

Three sons born; were any other children born and subsequently died? 

David Symon b. 7 Oct 1858 Errol (named after paternal grandfather) ; married Margaret Mushet Mitchell 9 Oct 1884, Chapelton, Rescobie, County of Forfar (3 daughters, never married and no known children)

William Symon b. (named after maternal grandfather); moved to America; took mother’s name as middle name (William Haggart Symon); stone mason.  

James (named after father); moved to America with brother William in 1890s.  New Haven, CN, then Hartford, CN.   No record after 1890s. 

Isabella Haggart: inpatient in Murthly Asylum, Perthshire, Scotland. Admitted May 19, 1868, aged 33 years; died there, February 26, 1905, aged 70 years (so born about 1834-35).

PETITION TO THE SHERIFF TO GRANT ORDER FOR THE RECEPTION OF A PATIENT INTO AN ASYLUM (THB 30/3/1/84)

Certified and signed by James Will, Inspector of Poor for Errol [also Schoolmaster of Errol School and Parish Registrar] on May 12, 1868.  

STATEMENT

Dated May 12, 1868.  Signed by James Will, Inspector of Poor. 

Isabel Haggart or Symon, female, 33 years, married.

Condition of Life, and previous Occupation (if any): married & living with her husband and family; House servant

Place where Found and Examined: In her own house at Brickwork, Errol

8. Length of time Insane: about five years

9. Whether first Attack: During the five years often better than at other time

Never before under Examination and Treatment

13. Supposed cause: can’t say

14. Whether subject to Epilepsy: no

15. Whether Suicidal: no

16. Whether Dangerous to others: inclined to that

18. Date of becoming Chargeable: 12 May 1868

19. Nearest Relative, and whether any Member of her Family known to be or to have been insane: James Symon her husband; She has a brother William Haggart in Murthly Asylum

[William Haggart was to spend even longer in Murthly asylum than his sister Isabella.  He died in Murthly in December 1911, aged 72 years, and was buried in Errol burying ground on the 27^th of that month.  Having already been admitted at the time his sister was admitted in 1868, when he was then aged about 28 or 29, he must have spent upward of 43 years in the lunatic asylum.] 

MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, No. I.

Dated May 9, 1868.  James Wylie, practising as physician & surgeon, today examined Isabella Haggart or Symon, pauper, wife of James Symon, “hereby certify, on soul and conscience, that … the said Isabella Haggart or Symon is a Lunatic and a proper person to be detained under Care and Treatment”.  Grounds:

“1. Facts indicating Insanity observed by myself: Under the delusion that she is tortured by her husband and by her neighbours they throwing stuff over her head, by people coming into her bed during the night and fancies that she has money – very incoherent”

“2. Other facts (if any) indicating Insanity communicated to me by others: She treatened [sic] one of her neighbours one time with an axe, and an other with a knife – She cut the boards of the floor to get at her tormentors, and very noisy in the night”. 

MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, No. II.

Dated May 11, 1868.  George Webster Absolom, General Practitioner, Perth  … examined Isabella Haggart or Symon, pauper, … Lunatic … Grounds:

“1. Facts indicating Insanity observed by myself: Labours under delusions, amongst others, that her neighbours are constantly abusing her, that they have undermined her bed and erected a mill in the excavation which is worked at night, so that she cannot sleep

“2. Other facts (if any) indicating Insanity communicated to me by others: That she is frequently violent – on one occasion threatened her husband with a poker. Sometimes under the delusion that she is the Queen’s sister etc.”

ORDER TO BE GRANTED BY THE SHERIFF FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION OF THE LUNATIC

Dated May 13, 1868. 

Physicians Casebook, vol. 2 (indexed) patients admitted 24^th Mar 1865 – 23^rd Dec 1868

(THB 30/3/7/1/2)

[p. 393]

Symon, Mrs. Isabella Haggart or, cet.33.

Admitted 19 May 1868. No. in Register 420.

[left hand margin note: Dementia]

A pauper from parish of Errol where she lived with her husband and family. This is the first attack which has existed about 5 years but during that time she has often been in better mental state that she is at present. Cause of attack unknown. Is not epileptic or suicidal but is “inclined” to be dangerous. Her brother Wm. Haggart is at present a patient in this asylum.

…

When admitted she was quiet but lively, talking readily & enumerating her grievances. Refused to be called by her husband’s name, preferring her own. Knew that she was in the asylum & that her brother was her but did not enquire about him. Bodily health & condition satisfactory.”

1^st February 1870. She is now melancholic and delusional. Imagines she is tormented by a woman in the roof at night who, she says, has the face of a nigger. Her common greeting is ‘Oh Gentlemen are you no going to take that woman off me’; this she says in a whiny tone and with a most miserable expression of face … She is said to be much thinner than on admission, but labours under no bodily disease …”

1^st January 1871. There is no change in the general conduct and habits of this patient. She is occasionally troublesome at night owing to her incessant talking and scolding of some imaginary persons …

1^st January 1872 … she has not improved mentally but … enjoys good health.

1^st January 1873. Remains in all respects as on last notice. 

[p. 394]

1^st January 1874.  Mrs Symon remains the same idle & useless dement. She goes daily to the laundry but does no work. Continually pacing up & down singing a monotonous song of indistinguishable words. She always addresses new-comers with the same request – “to be helped out”. She takes no interest in her brother. Physically in fair health.”

1^st January 1876. … She is not free from the habit of overfeeding, and afterwards regurgitating the food. She is thin and pale. Physically she is feeble. 

1^st January 1877.  During the past year, Mrs Symon has been found to be harmless and inoffensive. She is not free from the habit of regurgitating her food. Her power of digestion was defective. Bismuth was tried occasionally. It did her great [sic] deal of good. She does not employ her time usefully. Her bodily health is very feeble.”

1878 Janry 1. It would seem that this patient has improved to some extent. She has not been under medical treatment at all events during the latter half of the year and the regurgitation appears to be very nearly “a thing of the past”. She is a quiet and harmless eccentric, and does a little laundry work every day.”

[p.434]

1882 in good bodily health

1883 laundry, happy, industrious

1 Jan 1884 … She has been employed in the laundry, but is not very industrious. The mental improvement noted above has not progressed, rather the reverse.

[no great change through the 1880s]

Sept. 20^th 1889. About 10 days ago this patient complained of faintishness, and shortness of breath. There was marked anaemia, and she also complained of stomachic pain. Treatment was directed at the correction of the abdominal symptoms, which readily yielded, and with the subsequent [exhibition, or administation?] Ferrugineous medicine patient is likely to do well.”

Jan. 1^st 1890. This patient is lapsing now into a state of complete dementia. She is now idle, sits all day in the Infirmary in the same position, moving her left arm up and down for hours on end. She is taciturn and when addressed, either does not [p. 435] answer at all, or only in monosyllables. Her habits are clean. Appetite fairly satisfactory, but her bodily health is failing. She was transferred a few days ago to the cottage.

[p. 446]

Jan 1^st 1891. No marked change … since she was sent to the cottage, a year ago she has become much more industrious …

Jan. 1 1892.  No marked change mentally

January 1^st 1893.  She is in the Front Gallery. Quite demented but very industrious. Hardly ever speaks. Physical health unstable.  

[p. 446]

1905 Feb. 15^th  Mrs. Symon was knocked over [or out?] yesterday by Mrs. Gonni McGregor & has got an intracapsular fracture of right femur. She is …. when … Considerable shortening. No qu…… imp ……

                                    Died. Feb. 26^th 1905.

                                    Senile exhaustion 2 weeks

                                                Cardiac failure.

Isabella Haggart was buried in Errol burying ground, March 1^st, 1905. 

No memorial stone records either her name or that of her husband James Symon. 

Isabella Haggart is buried, according to the Register of Burials for Errol Burying ground, in Division no. 412 (belonging to Thomas Haggart, Cowgate, Errol, at creation of divisions in 1841).  She is named “Mrs. Jas. Symon”, res. “Murthly”, age “71”.  Her husband, James Symon, died in 1923 and was buried, in the same lair, “6 feet deep”, on August 25, 1923, aged 88 years. 

Her brother, William Haggart, died in 1911 and was buried in the neighbouring lair to the south, division number 411 (“Belonging to Mr. Willm. Haggart, Weaver, Errol”, res. “Murthly”), age 72, “6 feet deep”, on Dec. 27, 1911.  William, born about 1839, so making him some 5-6 years younger than Bel, had already been admitted to Murthly asylum when Bel was taken in in 1868, when he would have been about 29 years old. 

A memorial stone, broken in several pieces, lies at the head of Division number 413, immediately to the north of lair number 412, where Isabella Haggart and James Symon lie buried.  It reads: 

ERECTED BY

MARGARET HAGGART

IN LOVING MEMORY OF HER SISTER

ISABELLA HAGGART

WHO DIED 21 JUNE 1907 AGED 70 YEARS

ALSO HER MOTHER

ISABELLA WIGHTON

WHO DIED 30 APRIL 1879 AGED 67 YEARS

AND HER FATHER

ROBERT HAGGART

WHO DIED 8 APRIL 1881 AGED 69 YEARS

BOTH OF WHOM ARE INTERED [sic]

IN EASTERN CEMETERY DUNDEE

The Register of Burials for Errol burying ground would need to be consulted to check whether or not this stone formerly stood a few feet to the south, at the head of lair number 412, where the said Isabella Haggart was buried in 1907, according to the Register for that lair, or whether the Haggart family also had lair number 413. 

Emigration of brothers William Haggart Symon and James Symon to United States

James Symon appears to have arrived in America by 1895 although William H Symon was married in 1883 in New Haven to Christina Roy Grigor [or Gregor or McGregor]. 

James Symon was listed in the New Haven directory in 1895, as a boarder at the address where William Symon lived, 13 Summer.  The same information is listed in the 1896 directory [she notes that the 1896 entry needs to be doublechecked].  In 1897 the directory had no William Symon and said that James Symon had removed to Hartford.  She had no notes for 1898.  In 1899 William was back in New Haven. 

(Betty Demond, email to Peter Symon, 30 Dec 1995)

Isabella Haggart was the daughter of William Haggart and Helen WIghton, both of Errol.  Not much is known so far about their family but William and Helen's provisional family group sheet is below.

Family Group Sheet

Notes:  Sheeting weaver (1870, 1871)

Notes:  Surname written “Wightman” on daur Christina’s death cert.

References: