Susannah Lattin
Encyclopedia
Susannah Lattin was an American woman who died of a postpartum infection at an illegal abortion clinic at 6 Amity Place in New York City
, operated by Henry Dyer Grindle
. Her death led to an investigation which resulted in regulation of abortion clinics and adoptions in New York in 1868.
on Long Island
, the daughter of Henry K. Lattin (1806-1894) and Julia Wood (1813-1873). Her siblings included: Mary E. (1833-1874); George (1837-?); Juliett (c. 1840-?); William H. (1842-1871); Phoebe Maria (c. 1845-?); Smith (1849-?); Charles G. (1850-1869); Jarvis Andrew (1853-1941); and Deborah Jane (1858-1861) who died as a child. One of Lattin's sisters also died in 1868.
Around 1867, Lattin moved from Farmingdale to Williamsburg
in Brooklyn
, where she lived with her cousin Andrew Wood.
. He paid $50 to Dr. J.C. Harrison to perform an abortion
, but Lattin did not go through with it. She was still hoping that Houghton would marry her. Houghton then quit his job and moved to Philadelphia to escape the situation. Lattin next went to her cousin, George H. Powell who worked as a butcher at the Washington Market to help her. He pretended to be her husband and arranged for her, as "Mrs. Smith", to see Dr. Henry D. Grindle, who ran an unauthorized "lying-in" hospital that allowed pregnant woman to have their children and have them illegally adopted. The doctor wanted her to pay $150, but she could only pay $100 and he accepted it.
She was later buried in the family plot in Powell Cemetery in Farmingdale.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, operated by Henry Dyer Grindle
Henry Dyer Grindle
Henry Dyer Grindle was a Manhattan physician and abortion provider in the 1870s who worked under the name H.D. Grindle. -Birth:...
. Her death led to an investigation which resulted in regulation of abortion clinics and adoptions in New York in 1868.
Early life
Lattin was born in FarmingdaleFarmingdale, New York
The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, the daughter of Henry K. Lattin (1806-1894) and Julia Wood (1813-1873). Her siblings included: Mary E. (1833-1874); George (1837-?); Juliett (c. 1840-?); William H. (1842-1871); Phoebe Maria (c. 1845-?); Smith (1849-?); Charles G. (1850-1869); Jarvis Andrew (1853-1941); and Deborah Jane (1858-1861) who died as a child. One of Lattin's sisters also died in 1868.
Around 1867, Lattin moved from Farmingdale to Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, where she lived with her cousin Andrew Wood.
Unplanned pregnancy
Lattin became pregnant by George C. Houghton; he was a clerk at Whitehouse's boot and shoe store on Fulton Street, BrooklynFulton Street (Brooklyn)
Fulton Street, named after engineer Robert Fulton, exists mainly in two parts in what are today two boroughs of New York City which Fulton linked by his steam ferries, and each segment has its own distinct identity. This entry deals with Fulton Street in Brooklyn, which now begins at the...
. He paid $50 to Dr. J.C. Harrison to perform an abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, but Lattin did not go through with it. She was still hoping that Houghton would marry her. Houghton then quit his job and moved to Philadelphia to escape the situation. Lattin next went to her cousin, George H. Powell who worked as a butcher at the Washington Market to help her. He pretended to be her husband and arranged for her, as "Mrs. Smith", to see Dr. Henry D. Grindle, who ran an unauthorized "lying-in" hospital that allowed pregnant woman to have their children and have them illegally adopted. The doctor wanted her to pay $150, but she could only pay $100 and he accepted it.
Death
Lattin checked into the lying-in hospital on August 5, 1868, then a few weeks later she delivered a healthy baby boy who was adopted anonymously without any record kept of the adoptive parents. Around August 18, 1868, she developed a postpartum infection. The medical student who attended to her realized Susannah was in serious condition and was not likely to survive, and he persuaded her to tell him her real name so he could notify her family. The message got to her parents after she had died.
From: 6 Amity Place, Manhattan. To: Mr. Henry Lattin. Dear Sir: You daughter is at No. 6 Amity Place, very sick with typhoid fever, and I do not expect her to live twenty-four hours. She inquires about her mother frequently, and wants her to come immediately. Yours truly, E. Daun. P.S. take the Fulton Street cars at the ferry and they will take you to the house. E. Daun.
She was later buried in the family plot in Powell Cemetery in Farmingdale.
Inquest verdict
Susannah Lattin came to death by metroperitonitis, the result of child-birth at D.H. Grindle's establishment at No. 6 Amity Place on August 27, 1868. We further censure Dr. Grindle for the irregular method of operating his business, relative to taking in women to confine, and also the method of adopting children so delivered. We further recommend the Legislature to so enact a law whereby all such establishments shall be under the supervision of the Board of HealthMetropolitan Board of HealthThe New York City Metropolitan Board of Health was the first modern municipal public health authority in the United States. It was founded in 1866 by the New York Academy of Medicine, following a campaign led by Dr. Stephen Smith...
, or any other recognized authority. We further condemn the practice of any regular medical college recognizing students connected with any such establishments.