1

In the last few years of his life, Dr. Hutchison's health slowly declined. He suffered several bouts of what was commonly called apoplexy, a term used to describe any death that began with a sudden loss of consciousness, such as heart attacks or strokes.

Even shortly after arriving in Peterborough the doctor was prone to having attacks. During a visit to the Rice Lake reservation Sandford Fleming describes an incident:

1845, June 27
"….We missed the steamer and set off on foot for Peterboro about 12 miles. It being so warm the Dr took us into a friends to rest, he had been an old military officer and was very frank to us, got our dinner there. Set off again about 8 P.M. but the Dr took rather unwell so he and I stopped in an inn 8 or 9 miles below Peterboro and David went on to send down a wagon next morning. He had a dark walk through the woods & was like to lose the road sometimes."

In 1845 while in Hamilton, Dr. Hutchison had a massive attack. Fleming describes the episode in his diaries. The doctor was in such bad shape that word had gotten back to Peterborough that he had actually died. When meeting Martha and James in Cobourg, Fleming was able to reassure them, that while he was very ill, he was in fact still alive. It took nearly two weeks for Hutchison to recover enough for the journey home. Everyone was very happy to see him, having heard before that he was dead.

1845, Oct 31
"…got the letter and read thereby the following: 'Dr Hutchison has taken suddenly ill at Press's Hotel so that his life is despaired of. He expressed a wish to see you and please return with the bearer. We have written for his family to come in haste. Your &c C.H. Webster.'…..I called at Mr Websters shop where the shopman said the Dr had been conveyed to Mr Websters house. I went there and saw Mr Webster before I entered. The Dr had been almost gone in the morning but was much better now & considered out of danger if a 3rd fit of apoplexy did not attack him. I got instructions not to talk much to him. He knew me at first sight. Sat up all night along with Dr Grainger & Mr Hubbard who came up in the afternoon boat. The Dr was delirious all night."

1845, Nov 1
"Mr. McPhail left yesterday morning for Mrs. Hutchison and James. I started for Cobourg to meet them and tell of the Dr. getting better. I saw her at the Globe Hotel, with James & McPhail. They had just come in about ten minutes before me she was very much affected & in a mistake thought I said the Dr. was dead, but were all much relieved when they knew the true case."

2

1845, Nov 3
"Continued the journey to Hamilton, David also with us. We arrived there between 11 & 12 oclock. Mrs Hutchison almost fainted at the sight of the Dr, he was so pale & his eyes sunk. On Saturday after I left he would not stay in the house, he had another attack on the street more severe than ever & was carried to the house. This is the first day he has been in his senses."

1845, Nov 5
"Dr. still continuing to better and walks out a little every day..."

1845, Nov 11
"Set out for Peterborough, the roads are very rough. The Peterborough folks are all inquiring for the Dr. and very glad to see him, it having been said he was dead."

1846, April 19
"Went up with James to meet the Dr. He had taken sick up the river. He is now better but weak having been bled. The Dr.'s dog went mad today."

3

Dr. Hutchison's health was never truly great after the attack in 1845 and he continued to suffer attacks that weakened his constitution up until he died.
Frances Stewart comments on his continued ill health to an Aunt in a letter home in 1847 only three months before his death:

To Her Aunt Mrs Waller in Ireland
May 7 1847
" - poor Dr Hutchison has had another bad attack of apoplexy- I have not heard for some days- but his life hangs by a cobweb- Dr. Hay attends him-"

4

Sketch of Bridget O'Donnel and her Children, from the London Illustrated News
22 December 1849
Ireland

Credits:
London Illustrated News December 22 1849.

5

Between 1845 and 1852, Ireland experienced a period of great devastation, and its effects rippled out across Europe and the British Empire. In 1845 a disease affecting potatoes, called potato blight, destroyed crops across Europe; as a result of the potato shortage millions of people, especially in Scotland and Ireland, suffered from starvation and disease. One third of Ireland's population depended on potatoes as a primary food source. This event continues to be known as the Great Famine, and it contributed greatly to the large presence of Irish Diaspora in certain areas around the world. As a result of the famine, mass emigration out of Ireland occurred. About a million Irish died and another million emigrated to North America and Australia. Of the 100,000 Irish that sailed to Canada in 1847, one fifth died from disease and malnutrition. Many of them brought the disease to their new homes.

Many communities across the British Empire endeavored to raise funds to aid in the relief of the problems plaguing Ireland and Scotland. Peterborough was one such community. Beginning in March, 1847, the town held public meetings and created committees to raise subscriptions for famine relief. Several leading citizens helped in raising £364 for Scotland which was forwarded by town treasurer James Wallis, Esq. Unfortunately, the House Committee that was in charge of collecting funds for Ireland never applied for their portion of the raised funds. It was decided in a public meeting in September,1847, that the funds set aside for Irish relief would be used to help the newly arriving Irish immigrants still suffering from the effects of the famine.
Of the immigrants who traveled from Ireland, many were suffered a malignant fever called typhus upon arrival in Peterborough. To deal with this situation a Health Committee was created consisting of Thomas Chambers, Charles Forest, Joseph Shaw, Robert Stenson and James Harvey, Esqs. They set up a temporary hospital on the Otonabee river on the southern edge of the town for those arriving in "destitute" conditions. Several doctors, including Dr. Hutchison and Dr. Burnham, were commissioned by the Emigration Department to tend to the sick. Many of the town's leading citizens cared for the sick at the "fever sheds", including Thomas A. Stewart.

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Irish Potato Famine, Skibbereen, by Cork artist James Mahony (1810-1879)
19th Century, Circa 1847
Cork, Ireland

Credits:
Illustrated London News, 1847

7

Emigrants leave Ireland by Henry Doyle
19th Century, 1868
Ireland

Credits:
Illustration from Preface to the First Edition of an Illustrated History of Ireland from AD 400 to 1800 by Mary Frances Cusack, illustrated by Henry Doyle.

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At least thirty-three Irish and several of the aid workers died in the fever sheds, including Thomas A. Stewart. Unfortunately, due to a weak constitution from previous illnesses, Dr. Hutchison succumbed to typhus himself. While his passing was noted by several newspapers, there seems to be some confusion as to which date he actually died. A small mention was even included in the 'Fifeshire Advertiser' in his hometown of Kirkcaldy Scotland.

Obituary Notice in Peterborough Dispatch
"Died- Sunday July 1 1847 of typhus fever, caught while in attendance at the immigrant sheds, John Hutchison, Esq. M.D., aged 50 years. This melancholy event cast a gloom over the entire community, to whose interest he, both as a friend and physician has long been faithfully devoted."

From the Archives of Ontario: The Banner, Fri. Aug 20, 1847
"…in less than five days we believe from the first appearance such is rarely enjoyed by gentlemen of his profession. It is needless to add that the funeral of one so deep and universally regretted who numerously attended with every mark of profound and mournful respect. The shops of the town were all closed and all who were able to be present made a point of joining the melancholy procession to the graveyard and some of the funeral solemnities in accordance in the rights of the Scottish Church of which we believe Dr. Hutchison was a member were impressively performed at the dwelling house of the deceased by the Reverend Mr. Roger, after which the respected remains where consigned to the last home amid a large circle of sorrowing friends." Peterborough Gazette

9

Dr. Hutchison's Death Notice in the Fifeshire Advertiser
2 October 1847
Kircaldy, Fife, Scotland

Credits:
The Fifeshire Advertiser, Kircaldy District Council, Scotland

10

Obituary Fife-
The local paper reported an obituary in the Peterborough Dispatch August 5, 1847:
"On Sunday the 1st instant, of Typhus Fever, caught while in attendance at the emigrant sheds, John Hutcheson Esq. MD, aged 50 years formerly of Kirkcaldy, in Fife, North Britain, and a resident in America since the year 1815. This melancholy event has cast a gloom over the entire community, to whose interest he, both as a friend and physician, has long been faithfully devoted. The writer trusts that some of his most intimate associates will pay a just and fitting tribute to the memory and merits of our departed friend as it would be both unbecoming and ungrateful that talent and worth such as Dr. Hutchison's should pass from the busy stage of life without something beyond a passing notice."

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His illness and death was described in a letter by Frances Stewart to Mrs. Waller in August of 1847. Her husband Thomas would succumb to typhus two weeks later.

To Mrs Waller Aug 9
" This has been a time of deep anxiety and alarm. The typhus fever and dysentery have reached even this remote place. Wherever those wretched immigrants came they brought with them sickness and death. Some of the members of the board of health have already fallen under its malignant influence, and also our dear, long-tried friend Dr. Hutchison. His illness was short, and from the first his life was despaired off. His constitution had been much injured from long exposure in the arduous discharge of his duties to the immigrants, and he had had an attack of apoplexy some time before which made the complaint more fatal and hopeless. His poor wife, who had little help, never left his bed-side; E. R-, was the only person who would venture to put the shroud on him. The panic was so great that neither man nor woman could be got to undertake this. Mrs. Hutchison and E- were left alone with the large young family; in this deeply trying time something had to be done without delay. E. R-, with a degree of resolution almost superhuman, threw the shroud over the body and put the arms into the sleeves. The funeral had to take place without delay. No bad results followed this painful task which these two loving friends had to fulfill for the dead."

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Copy of the reciept of payment by the Board of Health of Peterborough to the estate of Dr. Hutchison
11 April 1849
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Hutchison House Museum, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

13

While some of his obituaries indicate that he passed away July 1st, 1847 it is more likely that Dr. Hutchison passed away August 1st, 1847. Martha was issued payment for his services at the fever sheds up to August 2nd, 1847. His current headstone also dictates that he died in Peterborough, Upper Canada. Aug 1, 1847 Aged 50.


Dr. John Hutchison was buried in the burial ground in Peterborough when he died. A little over a year later, Sandford Fleming writes about visiting the gravesite and planting a willow tree in honor of his beloved cousin.

1848, Oct 11
: "… In the afternoon along with Hugh MacPhail planted a weeping willow over poor Dr. Hutchisons grave…."

This tree would have stood until many of the graves were moved to Little Lake Cemetery.

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Section of the map of Peterborough, drawn by Sandford Fleming indicating the Burial Ground.
2 June 1846
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Hutchison House Museum, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada