Matteawan State Hospital for Insane Criminals – Men & Women.
1916 Matteawan State Hospital.
Beacon, Dutchess County, New York.
Matteawan State Hospital 7 Names – Find A Grave.
1. South Flank Pavilions-Matteawan
2. Administration Building-Matteawan
3. Entrance Hallway-Matteawan
4. South Interior Court-Matteawan
5. Matteawan
6. Public Kitchen-Matteawan
7. Laundry Building-Matteawan
8. Boiler House and Dynamo Building-Matteawan
9. Front View-Matteawan
Twenty-Third Annual Report Of The Medical Superintendent Of The State Asylum For Insane Criminals, Matteawan, N.Y., For the Year Ending September 30, 1892.
[Post-Office, Fishkill-On-The-Hudson.]
OFFICERS OF THE ASYLUM 1892.
Manager:
Hon. AUSTIN LATHROP, Superintendent Of State Prisons.
Resident Officers:
H.E. ALLISON, M.D., Medical Superintendent.
J. ELVIN COURTNEY, M.D., First Assistant Physician.
LUTHER C. JONES, M.D., Second Assistant Physician.
JAMES F. HOWELL, Steward.
R.B. LAMB, M.D., Resident Clinical Assistant.
REPORT.
Hon. Austin Lathrop, Superintendent of State Prisons:
Sir.— The following pages which, in accordance with the statute, I have the honor to submit, constitute the first annual report issued from this new institution, which was created by act of the Legislature for the relief of the overcrowded asylum at Auburn, and is the thirty-third of a series presented annually since the original establishment of the State Asylum for Insane Criminals.
This new hospital structure of modern architecture, commandingly situated and furnished with every convenience for the care of its inmates, was occupied during the latter part of April of the present year; the first patients having been received by transfer from Auburn on the twenty-fifth of that month. The entire population of the Auburn asylum, a total of 261 patients, were moved into their present quarters and the new asylum organized and put in operation within a period of five days. Fortunately the transfer was made safely, without the slightest accident or any attempt at escape. The buildings and grounds at Auburn, which were occupied for more than thirty years, are now entirely relinquished, and the oldest of asylums for insane criminals is domiciled in these new quarters as its permanent abode.
Owing to the increased accommodations afforded by the opening of these new buildings, we have been able to provide for those patients who had, up to this time, been retained in the various State hospitals awaiting transfer to our custody, and who had previously been refused admission to Auburn for the lack of room. Because of this large and rapid influx the total number of admissions has more than doubled that of any previous year. During the year the various courts of the State have also, to a larger extent than heretofore, committed patients to this asylum directly. The practice, however, still exists of sending patients charged with crime to the general hospitals of the insane, where their presence is objectionable, and whence they are transferred to us under the provisions of chapter 515, Laws of 1884; the superintendents of the various State hospitals applying under this law to justices of the Supreme Court for orders permitting such transfers. We hope, when the scope and character of this institution become more widely known, that commitments in the future will be made to us directly in all cases where the plea of insanity prevails as a defense for criminal acts. It is the purpose of this hospital to care for all insane persons competed or unconvicted, who are charged with crime, whether the disease of insanity is known to exist at the time of arraignment or trial, or subsequently develops while undergoing sentence.”
SOURCE: Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, One Hundred and Sixteenth Session, 1893, Volume I, Nos. 1 to 6, Inclusive, Albany: James B. Lyon, State Printer, 1893. Pages 203-208.
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The Inmates of Willard 1870 to 1900 / A Genealogy Resource 
My name is Jeannine McClellan. I have a portrait of my grandmother, Carrie Mae Boat-Rafferty. It was painted at Matteawan in 1900 on a window blind, because that is all the inmate had for a canvas. My great grandmother, Carrie Mae York-Boat was a friend a nurse their and on a visit to her one day, this inmate asked to paint my grandmother. I’ve always wanted to know the name of the artist. The painting looks almost Dutch or German. Hopefully, someone there can assist me with this. Thank you!
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My Grandmother worked at the hospital probably in the 40’s, as a cook in the kitchen. My Grandfather worked there the same time. I am wondering if they would show up on any lists of personnel that I could look through. There is an interesting story of my Grandfather. He would let the inmates (illegally) help him wash the cars, well one day one of the inmates hit him on the head and put him in the trunk of the car and a manhunt was on. There has to be newspaper article about that episode somewhere but I do not know the name of the local paper.
Your help is greatly appreciated!
Sheila
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WOW, what a story! I’m not sure if your grandmother’s name would show up in the census as working at Willard but you can check. For your grandfather, check Seneca County, New York USGENWEB. They have lots of old newspaper articles. Also, just put Ovid, Seneca County or Willard State Hospital in Google and see what pops up. Good Luck and let me know what you find!
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Well I found him! He was a headliner for the newspaper for several weeks. The Poughkeepsie Eagle News 22 Sept 1937 gave me the real story. He did not get struck and placed in the trunk. He invited the inmate illegally to come check out his car that was making noises. He was threatened and allowed the inmate (who was in for passing bad checks!) to take him and his auto off campus, they drove around, he gave the inmate money to make a phone call, then sat and had TWO beers with the guy! My Grandfather was left on the side of the road, as the inmate drove into town, wanting to change autos went to a dealership and convinced the owner of the shop to test drive another car! (this guy was gooooooood!). On that ride he threatened the man and assaulted him. Got away for awhile! Grandpa got 6 months for aiding and abetting a criminal to escape. Newspapers.com is where I found my information. My family must have been so embarrassed they changed the story abit to fit their needs.
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Dear Sheila, Great story! I’m so glad that you actually did some digging! Many people ask me to find their loved one for them and I can’t. I’d be sitting on the computer all day and all night. Genealogy is not easy but there are so many tools available now that weren’t available even five years ago. I’ve been working on my family tree for 20 years. It’s much more gratifying to be the one who uncovers their family history. Thank you and God Bless! Sincerely, Lin Stuhler
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I enjoy the hunt! I think I missed my calling. Feel like cold case detective might have been a “thing” for me! One day I will take the time to understand the DNA aspect! The newspapers have found me a murder and suicide in the family tree (one family with two suicides)😔. Still good info to know.
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Hi Sheila, Check out this page as well. https://inmatesofwillard.com/genealogy-links/
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My great grand uncle, Johnny Cassidy was a patient at Matteawan from 1933 to his death in 1964. I was able to get his records which told a very sad story of poor mental health.
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Can you tell me how you went about tracking down his records? I’m trying to do the same for my great grandfather who was also a patient there.
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My great grandfather was an inmate there. I have found his draft registration card which put Mattewan as his place of residence and listed him as “insane”.
Does anyone know how I could go about finding his patient files or anything related to his stay there? I know that he was there in 1918 and beyond.
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I’m looking for an inmate named Elizabeth Edmunds was convicted of 1st degree assault in 1914 and was still at Mattewan as late as 1940. Her original sentence was 9 years. Guess she suffered from poor mental health and was just deemed insane. I’d like to find her records while at Mattewan.
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My dad was an assisstant director at that hospital..we lived for 3 years..his name was jacob Schneider. Went to forestall school then went to the jr sr high school..we played ball on the grounds for gym.
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Been looking for more information on an inmate of Matteawan. It is my great-great grandfather, Thomas Trzepkowski. I have heard the story that was told of how he got there, but no one has the details of what happened. He ended up there and died there too. The family described Matteawan as a “social hospital”. Just curious on how to find more information.
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