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Howcutts at Northampton Infirmary
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In
1743, Dr James Stonhouse and Rev Philip Doddridge founded an infirmary at
George Row, Northampton with the noble policy of admitting "the Poor,
Sick, Lame and no money, gift or reward is taken of them or their friends on
any account whatever". It was one of the first six voluntary hospitals
established in England.
By
1793, new premises had been built on an 8-acre site that at the time was on
the eastern edge of the town. No
fewer than eight admissions of people with the Howcutt/Howcott surname have
been found in the records covering 1774-1846. The earliest of these was on 29
January 1780 when Sarah Howcott aged 41 of Brixworth arrived with an abscess
in her back. She remained for nearly a month and did not become an outpatient
until 26 February. On
31 May 1783, treatment started for Joseph Howcott, who had been bitten by a
mad dog. It is not clear exactly who this individual was, as no parish or age
is recorded. He was finally discharged on 15 November for
"non-attendance". James
Howcutt of Brixworth (1764-1828) was admitted on 30 October 1802 with a
bruise on the shoulder resulting from an accident. He was finally discharged
on the following 29 January, having been cured. Elizabeth
Howcutt of Brixworth entered the hospital on 19 January 1822. Her age,
ailment and discharge date are not known. She was either the wife or daughter
of Thomas Howcutt, who were aged 41 and 14 respectively at that time. The
next Howcutt to arrive from Brixworth - on 8 December 1826 - was William
(1809-1833). No record survives of his complaint. He was transferred to be an
outpatient on 24 February 1827. Four days later, Thomas Howcutt (either
William's brother or their father) presented with a fractured collar bone. It
is not known for how long he was treated at the hospital. Elizabeth
Howcutt of Brixworth was admitted on 7 September 1839, but the duration and
reason for her stay is now a mystery. Nor is it known whether the Elizabeth
Howcutt of Brixworth who was an in-patient from 4 January to 15 February 1840
was the same individual, as Thomas' wife and still unmarried daughter
Elizabeth were both Brixworth residents at that juncture.
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