Rita Louise Trombly (abt. 1922 - 1953) and “The Craig Colony for Epileptics“

Question

We need collaboration in finding her exact date of birth. Did she marry a Mr. Bull? She had one son a Robert W. Bull who passed in 1998 and did not marry. She passed away at about 31 years of age sadly. Any help in sourcing her is appreciated.

Thank you

Answer 1

Rita Trombly

in the 1940 United States Federal Census

Name:	Rita Trombly
Age:	18
Estimated Birth Year:	abt 1922
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Birthplace:	New York
Marital Status:	Single
Relation to Head of House:	Inmate
Home in 1940:	Groveland, Livingston, New York
Map of Home in 1940:	Groveland, Livingston, New York
Inferred Residence in 1935:	Plattsburg, New York
Residence in 1935:	Plattsburg, New York
Sheet Number:	37B
Institution:	Craig Colony (for Epilepties)
Attended School or College:	No
Highest Grade Completed:	Elementary school, 8th grade
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census:	03

Comments

Oh she had epilepsy maybe? This is interesting!

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Andrew:

Take a look at this link:

https://www.museumofdisability.org/blog/entry/the-craig-colony

 It has an interesting discussion of the facility.

                            Roger

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Robert Bull did have intellectual disabilities. So this is very interesting genealogy history of Rita Trombly and son. I’m curious if Rita had a disability.

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Just wanted to mention the parents of Rita in 1940 were also living in Plattsburgh but Rita isn’t in their household. She is 18 and living in this epileptic colony. 

1940 census of her family without her 

Event Place: Ward 6, Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh City, Clinton, New York, United States

Gender: Male

Age: 39

Marital Status: Married

William Trombley Head M 39 Vermont

Annette Trombley Wife F 36 Massachusetts

Paul Trombley Son M 13 Massachusetts

Janette Trombley Daughter F 12 Massachusetts

Gloria Trombley Daughter F 10 Massachusetts

Alfred Trombley Son M 7 New York

Alonzo Trombley Son M 5 New York

Jean Trombley Daughter F 3 New York

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It appears per 1940 census Rita is living in the colony. 18 years old. Her son Robert Bull was born 25 Jan 1940 in Plattsburgh, Clinton, New York, United States. So she was about 17 when pregnant in this colony. I wonder if Robert’s father lived in the colony too ? 

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So the three situations for Rita could have been:

1) went into the colony pregnant at 17

2) became pregnant by an inmate

3) became pregnant by one of the staff.

Without proper nutrition, prenatal care, and on anti-seizure meds, Robert could have been born with intellectual disabilities.

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It should be noted that epilepsy was once considered a mental illness, often noting the person in documents such as census returns as "imbecile".

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Yes. Per family knowledge he was and this explains why Robert was the way he was. I’d like to get her admit date into the colony. I know in the 1930’s the depression which is what I’ve been told caused some of the siblings to go into a Catholic orphanage. Thank you this helps 

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I am amazed I never knew that a great insight for research

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My great-grandfather's brother shows in at least one English census return as an "imbecile", and in another his attendant is noted as "nurse to epileptic".

Such things were not understood well, if at all, so someone then characterised as having "intellectual disabilities" may not have.

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I have a cousin back in the mid-19th century where the word "lunatic" was written next to his name.

Look at this website:

https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/issues/colony-epileptics-1916/

It describes the life of the patients.

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I was able to find her gravestone and photograph it. Very difficult with the leaves and being a flat stone. I’m still looking for Alfred Trombly who is buried there also per his obit. The gravestone has year of birth as 1921. 

edited: I also couldn’t find Robert Bull her son yet in the cemetery but he is buried there per obit. If it’s a flat stone almost impossible with them being buried in leaves.

Answer 2

Andrew, I figured if you weren't able to find more then I wouldn't either, but I looked anyhow.  All I could find that isn't already on her or her son's profiles is her son's birth certificate:

Ancestry.com. New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.

   Name: Robert W Bull
   Birth Date: 25 Jan 1940
   Birth Place: Plattsburg, New York, USA
   Certificate Number: 1064

I realize that's no help because you already had his exact birth date and place - sorry I couldn't do more.

Comments

I don’t think his father married Rita. This is him though. Thank you 

Answer 3

Hello Andrew, I find on Ancestry.com that there is more than one woman named Rita Trombly, both of them born about the same time in the same area.   I will do more searching.

Rita Trombly

in the Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2012

No record image

•  Order document

Name:	Rita Trombly
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Marital Status:	Never Married (Single)
Birth Date:	abt 1922
Residence:	Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut
Death Date:	16 Feb 1953
Death Place:	Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut
Age:	31 Years
State File #:	02598

Comments

Thank you Patricia.