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Story
May 6, 1854
The Weekly Minnesotian
Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota
What is this article about?
A musician from Ruffin's band in Richmond reunites with his long-lost mother, a woman confined for 23 years in Williamsburg's eastern lunatic asylum, during a performance for inmates. He takes her home after confirmation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The Virginia Gazette relates an incident which beats the spirit rappings:
Whilst Ruffin's band, from Richmond, was playing at the eastern lunatic asylum in Williamsburg, Va., for the gratification and amusement of the inmates, one of them, a negro woman, who had been confined for many years, suddenly stepped forward, and pointed out a member of the band, and exclaimed, "There is my son, whom I have not seen since he was two years old." The musician was greatly surprised at first, but, upon enquiring, he was convinced that his mother stood before him—a being whom he had never known before, and whom he had no recollection of ever having seen. He asked permission of the board of directors to have his parent restored to him, which was granted, and he has taken her home to Richmond, after a confinement of 23 years.
Whilst Ruffin's band, from Richmond, was playing at the eastern lunatic asylum in Williamsburg, Va., for the gratification and amusement of the inmates, one of them, a negro woman, who had been confined for many years, suddenly stepped forward, and pointed out a member of the band, and exclaimed, "There is my son, whom I have not seen since he was two years old." The musician was greatly surprised at first, but, upon enquiring, he was convinced that his mother stood before him—a being whom he had never known before, and whom he had no recollection of ever having seen. He asked permission of the board of directors to have his parent restored to him, which was granted, and he has taken her home to Richmond, after a confinement of 23 years.
What sub-type of article is it?
Family Drama
Extraordinary Event
Personal Triumph
What themes does it cover?
Family
Recovery
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Family Reunion
Lunatic Asylum
Mother Son Recognition
23 Years Confinement
Williamsburg
Richmond
What entities or persons were involved?
Member Of Ruffin's Band
Negro Woman
Where did it happen?
Williamsburg, Va., And Richmond
Story Details
Key Persons
Member Of Ruffin's Band
Negro Woman
Location
Williamsburg, Va., And Richmond
Story Details
During a performance at the eastern lunatic asylum in Williamsburg, a confined negro woman recognizes her son, a musician in Ruffin's band from Richmond, whom she hasn't seen since he was two. After 23 years of confinement, he takes her home.