An Overdose and Heart Failure | The Deaths of Mrs Yellowlees & Mrs Pringle.

A view of Angelton Asylum. 

In this blogpost, I explore the lives of two women; Margaret and Jessie. Known simply as Mrs Yellowlees and Mrs Pringle, they were the first wives of Dr David Yellowlees and Dr Henry Turnbull Pringle of Angelton Asylum. 

On the surface, it would seem that the only connection they have is that they were both 'just' doctors wives. Although they died 27 years apart there is a much deeper connection between them. Margaret and Jessie both lived in the same house, walked the same corridors, ate with the same dinner guests and both tragically died young. 

Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, the lives of Margaret and Jessie have not been documented in great detail. The following information has been drawn together from various certificates, newspaper articles, and archive material. 

Margaret Eliza Yellowlees (née Spence)

Margaret Eliza Spence was born in Otley in 1840. She was one of five children and the only surviving daughter of Dr John Spence and his second wife Eliza. 

The 1841 Census tells that Margaret was living with her family at Westgate, Otley. She lived there with her father Dr John Spence, who was a local surgeon, her mother Eliza and five of her siblings. Her brothers John and William (from her father's first marriage) are both listed as being in the medical profession, John being an apprentice surgeon and William being an assistant medical doctor. 

Westgate, Otley.

The 1851 Census tells us that Margaret, her parents and two of her siblings were living at Westgate. The census also tells us that Peter Stark (assistant surgeon to Dr John Spence) was living with the family.  At this time the Spence family employed a Groom, House Servant and Cook.

The 1861 Census tells us that Margaret and her mother Eliza were staying at Royal Well Terrace in London. This could have been to visit Dr Seymour. Throughout her life, Margaret had been treated for 'Tic Douloureux' by Dr Seymour. 

Tic Douloureux: ".. a painful disorder of the trigeminal nerve, characterized by severe pain in the face and forehead on the affected side, extending to the midline of the face and head, triggered by stimuli such as cold drafts, chewing, drinking cold liquids, brushing the hair, or washing the face.”

On the 29th of December 1863, Margaret married Dr David Yellowlees at St Oswald's Church in Otley. Born in 1837, Dr David Yellowlees was the son of David and Margaret Yellowlees of Stirling. The 1861 Census tells us that David was living at West Terrace, Otley. It was there that he worked as a doctor in private practice. 

Margaret's signature.

In the same year of their marriage, David became medical superintendent of the newly built Angelton Asylum. Soon after marriage, Margaret joined him in Bridgend and the young couple took residence at Angelton House on the outskirts of the asylum.

On the 18th of October 1865, Margaret died suddenly aged 25 years old at Angelton House. The circumstances surrounding Margaret's death led to an inquest.

The inquest into Margaret's death was held before Howel Cuthbertson Esq on the 20th of October at Angelton Asylum. Those who gave evidence were Margaret's husband Dr David Yellowlees and local chemist John Jones.

Below are extracts of evidence given by Dr David Yellowlees during the inquest into the death of his wife. 

“About twenty minutes past six o'clock in the evening I went into the house to tea, by arrangement.....When I came back to the room, there was a loud knocking at the ceiling. I went upstairs immediately and found deceased seized with fainting.

I fetched her a cup of tea, which she refused; then there came on a severe convulsive fit and complete insensibility, and jerking and rigidity of the limbs. This passed off, and she was put off to bed.

The convulsive twitching continued and I offered her some toddy. She said she could not swallow it but she did swallow a little. I sent for Dr Pritchard and the head attendant at the asylum. The convulsive spasms continued, and she died in a few minutes. She had had fainting fits before repeatedly – the only cause was, I believe weakness.

The Death Certificate of Margaret. 

She had been suffering from tic that day and previous had been under treatment for it many a time. I believe she has to take morphia for it under the direction of Dr Seymour of London. I have no doubt, from what I have heard, that she had taken some lately. She used to conceal it from me. I believe she died from a fit caused by an overdose of morphia.

I found a bottle after her death; it was brought to me by the housekeeper at the asylum, who had found it under the deceased's bed. Never saw deceased take morphia; she always did it secretly.

The morphia bottle found is much stronger that is usually given. Did not see any glass used for taking the morphia. If she had taken in a tumbler, I should have tasted it. A person in the habit of taking morphia could take a stronger dose than an ordinary person. Deceased took it twice a day under Dr Seymour's prescription."

The jury determined that cause of death as “died from an overdose of Morphia inadvertently taken.”

Margaret was buried in the Spence family vault at St Oswald's Church, Otley. 

Dr David Yellowlees & Dr Henry Turnbull Pringle (Wellcome Collection)

Jessie Isabella Pringle (née Smith)

Jessie Isabella Smith was baptised at St Mary's Church, Nolton on the 5th of August 1855. She was one of four children and the only daughter of local bank agent Thomas George Smith and his wife Jessie Halkett Smith.

The 1861 Census tells us that Jessie was living with her parents, siblings and paternal grandmother at 'The Bank' in Adare Street. (This building still survives and is now Natwest) The census also shows that the family employed two house servants. 

'The Bank' Adare Street.

The 1871 Census tells us that Jessie and her family were living at 'The Bank' in Adare Street. The census shows that the family employed one servant, named Ann Davies.

On the 17th of August 1875, Jessie married Dr Henry Turnbull Pringle at St Mary's Church, Nolton.

Born in November 1840, Dr Henry Turnbull Pringle was the son of Robert and Charlotte Pringle of Hawick.

Jessie's Signature.

The 1871 Census tells us that Henry was working as the Assistant Medical Attendant of Angelton Asylum. In 1874 Dr Henry Turnbull Pringle became the Head Medical Superintendent of the asylum and on their marriage, the couple took residence at Angelton House.

Jessie and Henry had six children, five of whom survived infancy.

• Stuart Henry who was baptised in July 1877 but sadly died eleven weeks later. 
• Arthur Douglas who was baptised in March 1800. 
• Gladys Isabel Douglas who was baptised in July 1881. 
• Kenneth Douglas who was baptised in March 1883. 
• Norman Douglas who was baptised in May 1884. 
• Moira Douglas who was baptised in May 1885. 

The 1881 Census tells us that Jessie and her mother were staying in Cheltenham. The census also tells us that her husband Henry and her son Arthur were living at Angelton House. At this time the family employed a housemaid and a nursemaid, the latter presumably to look after Arthur as he was just over a year old at the time the census was taken. 

The 1891 Census tells us that Jessie, her husband and five children were living at Angelton House. As well as employing a housemaid and a nursemaid, the census shows that the family employed a governess, a parlour maid, a cook and a seamstress. 

In March 1892 Jessie travelled with her husband to Edgbaston for an operation. The operation was unsuccessful. She succumbed to the complications of the operation on the 6th of March, aged 36.  She left behind her husband and young family - her youngest child being seven years old.

Her cause of death is recorded as "Peritonitis" and "Heart Failure." 

Jessie Isabella Pringle was buried at St Mary's Church, Coity on the 11th of March 1892. 

The Death Certificate of Jessie.

(Sources: NLW - BritishNewspaperArchive - Wellcome Collection)