MICHAEL CAPELLA

find out more about MICHAEL CAPELLA

Michael Capella was admitted to Powick Asylum on January 1st 1855. He was diagnosed with acute mania and discharged a little over three months later on the 9th of April.  

The first time Michael Capella appeared in British records was in 1839. In 1839 Michael married a widow, Martha Campini, in Edgbaston. Census records show Michael was not born in the United Kingdom. He named ‘Sant Berland’ as his birthplace meaning he travelled over from either Norway or France.  

The 1841 Pigot’s Directory of Birmingham recorded Michael as a Picture Frame Maker based at 104 Digbeth Road. Michael worked as a Picture Frame Maker his whole life as he consistently appeared in Birmingham Trade Directories under Carvers, Guilders, Picture Frames and Looking Glass Makers. In 1849 Michael was recorded on the Jurors List as a Carver and Guilder living on Digbeth Street. The Jurors List was a list of people eligible for jury duty; to be eligible, one had to be employed, own a property, and be aged between 21 and 60. This indicates that Michael Capella owned his house at 104 Digbeth Street.

On the 12 June Michael completed his ‘initiation’ into the Faithful Lodge known as the Entered Apprentice stage. The Faithful Lodge was part of the United Grand Lodge of England Freemasons. Michael became a Fellow Craft on the 11th of September when he completed his ‘passing’ and finally a Master Mason on the 11th of December when he completed his ‘raising.’ The UGLE is a fraternal-type organisation that claims it found its roots and ideals in medieval stonemasons. The organisation still exists today and hold regular meetings within their lodges; Michael was an active member of this society and community.  

Michael and Martha Capella had two children. The eldest Mary Ann was born in 1842 and seemed to live apart from them for a period of her childhood. Mary Ann was recorded as a pupil living with Governess Caroline Beech in 1851 and several other children between the ages of six and nineteen. Michael and Martha’s son Anthony, born in 1847 lived with the pair at 104 Digbeth Street. The family also lived with Michael’s picture frame maker apprentice Frederick Baugh, gilder William Sedwell, and porter Thomas Belling.  

In 1855 on the 1st of January Michael Capella entered Powick Asylum. His case notes confirm his profession as a Picture Frame Maker and state he was married with a family. His acute mania was believed to have developed during a lawsuit in which he owed money for bills. The lawsuit was said to be “praying heavily on his mind.” Also noted was Michaels “habit of drinking very freely.” Both his money troubles and drinking habits was said to have caused his “delusions” of the devil hunting and attempting to eat him. Michael was said to have a “craving for stimulants” during his stay. Michael was believed to be recovered just three months later and was discharged as so at the beginning of April.

Sadly, Michael Capella died in 1857. Newspapers reported at the time that on the 5th of December Michael had been attending his club at the White Lion Inn in Digbeth. After Capella left the club room, his friend Mr Rainsforth found him falling down some stairs. His head was described by Rainsforth as “bent” after the fall and his friends quickly took him home. Capella was visited by a surgeon on the 6th, and again on the 7th, and both prescribed him medication. Sadly, he passed away from his injuries. An inquest was held into his death and it was concluded “death had resulted from dislocation of the neck from falling down the stairs.” Mr Rainsforth testified that Capella “was not drunk at the time nor was he sober.” Martha claimed, “formerly her husband was a great drinker but for two years past his ill state of health had made him more abstemious.” It is difficult to know whether his death was partially a result of the problems identified two years prior at Powick.

Michael Capella’s will shows his £600 of property was left to his wife Martha. Martha continued to bring up her children and employ staff as Picture Frame Makers to continue her husband’s work, one of which being Joseph Gluzla. William Sedwell also continued to live with the Capella’s. Four years after the death of her husband, Martha passed away on the 18th of July 1861. Michael and Martha’s daughter Mary Ann married her husband Thomas Burton in 1867 and lived in Edgbaston where the pair owned the Anchor Inn.  

Michael and Martha’s son Anthony lived as a lodger with her mother’s former employee Joseph Gluzla at the home of Emily Parsons, a governess. In 1872 Anthony married Sarah Reeves and the pair gave birth to their first daughter in 1873. Anothony named his daughter Martha Pasquelina Capella, after his mother. 

Research by Alice Fairclough, 2024.

To view Michael’s patient records, click here.

Go back to find out about more people who were patients at the asylum.