Susannah Lattin



Susannah Lattin (January 7, 1848 - August 27, 1868) was a young woman who died post-partum at an illegal adoption clinic at 6 Amity Place in New York City, operated by Henry Dyer Grindle. Her death lead to an investigation which resulted in regulation of abortion clinics and adoptions in New York in 1868.

Birth and siblings
Susannah was born in 1848 in Farmingdale on Long Island. She was the daughter of Henry K. Lattin (1806-1894) and Julia Wood (1813-1873), and had the following siblings: Mary E. Lattin (1833-1874) who married Charles Powell; George Lattin (1837-?); Juliett Lattin (c1840-?); William H. Lattin (1842-1871) who married Ella; Phoebe Maria Lattin (c1845-?); Smith Lattin (1849-?); Charles G. Lattin (1850-1869); Jarvis Andrew Lattin (1853-1941) who married Mary Jane Puckett (1854-1927); and Deborah Jane Lattin (1858-1861) who died as a child. One of Susannah's sisters died in 1868.

Farmingdale to Brooklyn
Around 1867 Susannah moved from Farmingdale to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, where she lived with her cousin Andrew Wood.

Unplanned pregnancy
Susannah became pregnant by George C. Houghton (1845-?); he was a clerk at Whitehouse's boot and shoe store on Fulton Street, Brooklyn. He paid $50 to Dr. J.C. Harrison to perform an abortion, but Susannah 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. Susannah next went to George H. Powell (1830-?), an older cousin, 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 Susannah could only pay $100 and he accepted it.

Delivery, illegal adoption and death
Susannah 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, Susannah 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. She was later buried in the family plot in Powell Cemetery in Farmingdale.

The note
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.

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 the 27th of August 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 Health, or any other recognized authority. We further condemn the practice of any regular medical college recognizing students connected with any such establishments.

Timeline

 * 1867, November; Susannah gets impregnated by George C. Houghton (1845-?)
 * 1868, April; Susannah and George Houghton go to abortionist and pay $50
 * 1868, August 6, 1868, Thursday; Susannah Lattin and George H. Powell go to the lying-in hospital and pay $100 of the $150 fee
 * 1868, August 7, 1868, Friday; Susannah gives birth
 * 1868, August 15, 1868; Dr. John H. Dorn, diagnoses "fever and loose bowels"
 * 1868, August 18, 1868; Infection worsens
 * 1868, August 27, 1868; Death of Susannah Lattin from infection
 * 1868, August 29, 1868; Coroner inquest begins

Others

 * George C. Houghton (1845-?) The man who impregnated Susannah and fled to Philadelphia. He was a former clerk at Whitehouse's boot and shoe store on Fulton Street. He paid $50 for an abortion to Dr. J.C. Harrison, but Susannah did not go through with it and was hoping that Houghton would marry her.
 * Andrew Wood. Susannah's cousin that she lived with in Brooklyn
 * E. Daun aka Daune. Dr. Grindle's medical student who wrote and signed the note.
 * Dr. John H. Dorn. The first to see Susannah when she became septic.
 * George H. Powell (1829-?) Susannah's cousin who helped her find the clinic. He was a butcher at the Washington Market in New York and pretended to be her husband when they went to the adoption clinic. He lived on the corner of Marcy Street in Brooklyn. In 1880 he was working as a poultry salesman in Brooklyn and living with his wife, Jane. George was the brother of Charles Powell who married Mary E. Lattin (1833-1874). Mary Lattin was Susannah's sister.
 * Dr. Thomas C. Finnell. The doctor who urged Susannah to contact her family while she was dying.
 * Dr. Henry D. Grindle (1826-1902). The doctor that ran the "lying-in" house at 6 Amity Place, but was not there when she died.
 * Dr. J.C. Harrison. The doctor Susannah first went to in April of 1868 at 115 Bleeker Street.
 * Dr. Rollins. The coroner.