The Insane Asylum Admission; The Life of Maria Ramona Planellas Ferrer

Introduction

Maria Ramona Planellas Ferrer: Today, I came across a newspaper clipping about a woman named Ramona Planellas Ferrer, who was sadly a patient in an insane asylum. Curious about her story, I delved into it, as my family often conceals such histories. It was not uncommon for women to be committed to mental institutions, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when societal expectations were strict. Puerto Rico was no exception, and women from all social classes were affected, having minimal rights, even regarding their mental health.

Historical documents reveal that the reasons for admitting women to institutions were often dubious by today’s standards. Causes like religious enthusiasm, laziness, novel reading, epilepsy, and suppressed menstruation were common. An insanity diagnosis could easily strip a woman of her rights, a matter society took lightly. It is difficult to determine whether these women genuinely needed to be institutionalized or if their admittance was a reflection of their lack of control over their lives, heavily influenced by social attitudes.

A Woman’s Case in Puerto Rico

Family loss

While researching her family tree, I discovered that Maria Ramona Planellas y Ferrer experienced significant loss throughout her life. Born on September 23, 1854, in Cidra, Puerto Rico, she was the fifth of nine children of Don Agustin Planellas y Costa from San Feliu de Guixols, Girona, Catalonia, Spain, and Dona Maria Victoria Ferrer y de Santiago from Cidra, Puerto Rico.

At the age of five, Maria Ramona lost her baby sister, Maria Pilar. A year later, her father passed away when she was just six years old, leaving her mother pregnant. The baby, also named Maria Pilar, was born a few months later but tragically died at the age of four. When Maria Ramona was eighteen, her oldest brother, Don Agustin Jr., died at twenty-five.

At thirty-seven, she lost her brother, Juan Francisco, and a year later, another brother, Francisco Miguel, also passed away. In 1912, she endured the loss of her older sister, Dona Teresa. It’s hard to fathom enduring such a series of profound losses in one’s lifetime.

A possible reason for her admission

The article describes her as “alienated and wealthy,” raising questions about who committed her to the asylum and why. Did she inherit her parents’ estate? Could her surviving siblings have conspired to have her committed and seize the family fortune? Or was she perhaps unable to manage the family estate, leading to a loss of property? In those times, a woman losing property could easily be labeled as mentally unfit and subsequently committed to an asylum.

Don Baltazar’s Involvement

Why did Don Baltazar take an interest in her release? What was his involvement, and what connection existed between these two families? My research may show how these families met, leading to Doña Ramona’s release.

At the time, Don Baltazar was active in politics and had significant influence. In 1909, he petitioned for Doña Ramona’s release from the asylum, and his efforts were seemingly successful. According to the 1910 US Census, Doña Ramona lived with her niece, Doña Elisa Vidal y Planellas. Doña Elisa’s parents were Don Justo Vidal y Santiago and Doña Teresa Planellas y Ferrer. Don Justo, an industrial company owner, was married to Doña Teresa, Doña Ramona’s older sister.

In 1910, Don Baltazar Mendoza lived in Pueblo Sur in Cayey, Puerto Rico, the same area as Don Justo and Doña Teresa. It is likely that these two wealthy families crossed paths socially. The topic of Doña Ramona’s situation may have arisen in their conversations. Perhaps Don Justo, on behalf of his wife, Doña Teresa, sought Don Baltazar’s influential support to secure his sister-in-law’s release.

Final Thoughts

The date of Doña Ramona’s admission to the asylum is unknown, but she enjoyed nearly four years of freedom after her release. She spent her remaining years with her family and passed away at the age of fifty-five at 6 p.m. on July 3, 1913, in Cayey. The cause of death was anemia, as certified by Dr. José Martín. Her brother-in-law, Don Justo Vidal y Santiago, was the informant but omitted her parents’ names. Additionally, there is no mention of a spouse, children, or will.

We will never know what led to Doña Ramona’s admission to the asylum. While there may have been a justified reason for her entry, her subsequent release raises questions. Was she blind, insane, inadequate, or hungry? None of these seem to apply to Doña Ramona, and my research did not uncover a definitive reason. I believe the cause was depression. She endured so much loss in her lifetime, which could explain her condition.

Newspaper Clippings

Below are newspaper clippings documenting various women committed to asylums between 1899-1909. These snippets are just a few examples that appeared in the newspapers. You might discover a mention of a relative you’re missing—perhaps they were in an asylum, and you were unaware.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries in Puerto Rico, it was common for women to be admitted to mental institutions for behaviors that male society disapproved of. Could this have been the case with Doña María Ramona Planellas y Ferrer? Women from all social classes were affected, and historically, they had minimal rights, even regarding their mental health.

Historical documents reveal that the reasons for admitting women to institutions were often questionable by today’s standards. Reasons included religious enthusiasm, laziness, novel reading, epilepsy, and suppressed menstruation.

An insanity diagnosis could easily strip a woman of her rights, often taken very lightly. Did these women genuinely need to be admitted, or was their admittance a reflection of their lack of control over their own lives, heavily influenced by societal attitudes?

Genealogy

Don Agustín Joan Benet Planellas Costa was born on October 11, 1817, in San Feliu de Guixols, Girona, Catalonia, Spain, and was baptized on the same day. His parents were Miguel Planellas Suris and Francisca Costa Nadal. His paternal grandparents were Joan Planellas and María Suris, and his maternal grandparents were Joan Costa and Theresa Nadal (Source: Ancestry, FHL Film #1039473, Reference ID: 2).

He passed away on August 22, 1861, in Cidra, Puerto Rico (Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LD4 1857-1861 Núm 450 f.102 Testo). On November 29, 1845, he married Doña María Victoria Ferrer Santiago, daughter of José Ferrer Ferrer and Doña Pilar de Santiago, in Cidra, Puerto Rico (Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico, LM? (# not indicated) 1819-1850 Image #744 f.152v). She was born around 1825 in Cidra, Puerto Rico, and died in Puerto Rico, though her death record could not be located in Cidra Defunciones records (Source: Ancestry).

Extended Genealogy on the Children

Don Agustin Planellas Y Costa and DA. María Victoria Ferrer Y Santiago had the following children:

• Don AGUSTIN MARÍA PLANELLAS Y FERRER was baptized 14 Mar 1847 in Cidra, Puerto Rico Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LB3 1840-1850 LB3 1840-1850 Blancos & Pardos Image #812 f.143. This record is too light, and it is difficult to make it out completely; therefore, I could not pinpoint the actual date he was born. He died on 31 Mar 1873 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. He married Da. Lucia Muñoz Y Gallart in Apr 1866 in Cidra, Puerto Rico Source: Cidra, Puerto LM 1820-1867 Image #433 Núm 619 f.163(337) Testigos: D. Manuel Alvarez Y D. B. Vega. She was born in Cidra, Puerto Rico. Note: This couple has a child named Manuel Ignacio Planellas Y Muñoz, who is married to Da. María Gertrudis Pastrana Y Cortes, this is the Pastrana connection.
• Da. TERESA PLANELLAS Y FERRER was born on 09 Oct 1848 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. She died on 04 Apr 1912 in Cayey, Puerto Rico. She married Justo Vidal Y Santiago about 1869 in Puerto Rico (Cannot locate the marriage in Cidra, and it appears the marriage books for Cayey are not filmed for the year 1869). He was born about abt. 1837 in Puerto Rico. He died on 08 July 1916 in Cayey, Puerto Rico. Teresa Planellas Y Ferrer was baptized on 09 Dec 1848 in Cidra, Puerto Rico Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LB3 1840-1850 (Blancos Y Pardos) f.180 Padrinos: D. Julian Y Da. María de La Paz de Santiago
• Don FRANCISCO MIGUEL PLANELLAS Y FERRER was born on 05 Oct 1850 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. He died on 28 Jul 1900 in Cayey, Puerto Rico Source: Cayey, Puerto Rico LD19 1900-1915 Image #2213 Núm 24 f.4v. (Have a newspaper clipping. See below) He married (1) MARÍA ESTRELLA YAÑEZ Y BELLO, daughter of Don Manuel Yañez and Doña Josefina Bello on 09 Apr 1874 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LM5 1868-1893 Image #842 Núm 287 f.98 Testigo: D. Justo Vidal Y D. Escolastico Ferrer ). She was born about 1855 in Galicia, Spain. She died on 23 Jan 1910 in Cayey, Puerto Rico. Francisco Miguel Planellas Y Ferrer was baptized on 15 Dec 1850 in Cidra, Puerto Rico (Cidra, Puerto Rico LB4 1847-1871 f.36v Padrinos: D. Felipe Y Da. Merced Vidal
• Don FRANCISCO PLANELLAS Y FERRER was born on 28 Dec 1852 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. He died on 15 Jan 1892 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico Civil Registration Book Def. 1887-1907 Image#658 F.8
  Francisco Planellas Y Ferrer was baptized on 20 Jan 1853 in Cidra, Puerto Rico Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LB4 1850-1853 Image #1168 f.129 Padrinos” Don José Planellas Y Da. Josefa?
• Da. MARIA RAMONA PLANELLAS Y FERRER was born on 31 Aug 1854 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. She died on 03 Jul 1913 in Cayey, Puerto Rico. Source: Cayey, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Civil Registration Records, Cayey Def. 1911-1916, Image #654 Núm 300 f.518. She was baptized on 23 Sep 1854 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LB5 1853-1856 Image #1255 f.66 Padrinos: D ? Y Da. Rosario Ferrer.
• D. JULIAN PLANELLAS Y FERRER was born on 15 Dec 1857 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. He died on 15 Jan 1859 in Cidra, Puerto Rico Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LD4 1857-1871 Image#2221 Núm 73 f.19). Julian Planellas Y Ferrer was baptized on 01 Jan 1858 in Cidra, Puerto Rico Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LB6 1856-1859 f.88v Padrinos: D. Julian Ferrer Y Da. Carmen Soto.
• D. JUAN FRANCISCO PLANELLAS Y FERRER was born on 15 Dec 1858 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. He died on 24 July 1899 in Cayey, Puerto Rico. Source: Cayey, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations 1896-1900, Image #2095 Núm 278 f.343.
  Juan Francisco Planellas Y Ferrer was baptized on 03 Jan 1859 in Cidra, Puerto Rico Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LB7 1859-1864 Image #1533 Núm 10 f.4 Padrinos: Don Juan Costa Y Da. María del? Ferrer
• DA. MARÍA DEL PILAR LUNA PLANELLAS Y FERRER was born on 28 Feb 1860 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. Doña María del Pilar Luna Planellas Y FERRER was baptized on the 17th of Mar 1860 • Cidra, Puerto Rico. Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico, LB7 1859-1864 Núm 334 f.78 Padrinos: D. Marcos Perez Y Da. Eduvigis Ferrer. She died on 23 Mar 1860 in Cidra, Puerto Rico Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LD4 1857-1871 Image #2244 Núm 290 f.65.
  
• DA. MARÍA DE PILAR PLANELLAS Y FERRER was born on 11 Dec 1861 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. She died on 08 Apr 1864 in Cidra, Puerto Rico Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LD4 1857-1871 Image #2297 Núm 742 f.169 Listed as Doña).
  Doña María de Pilar Planellas Y Ferrer was baptized on 22 Dec 1861 in Cidra, Puerto Rico Source: Cidra, Puerto Rico LB7 1859-1864 Núm 768 f.198 Padrinos: D. Julian Ferrer Y Da. Eduvije Ferrer).

Personal Research

GENEALOGY OF DON BALTAZAR MENDOZA MARTINEZ

Here is a brief three-generation chart on Don Baltazar Mendoza Martinez. I will publish a separate article on the complete genealogy of Don Baltazar and his family, as I have much information about them.

GENEALOGY OF Da. AMERICA APONTE Y ANDINO DE PLANELLAS

The below chart shows the genealogy of the Planellas and Aponte families. These two families seemed to go back a few generations. Dona America’s parents are related. The chart below outlines the connection between the two. They are descending from half brothers. Doña America, my 6th cousin, 3x removed and descends from my tenth great grandparents, as shown below.

Newspaper Clippings

The following articles appeared in La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico. I discovered them while researching Maria Ramona Planellas y Ferrer. Below are various clippings related to the Planellas and Aponte families. Please read the captions for each article below for reference.

Sources

• FamilySearch
• Ancestry
• Church Records and Indexes