Were there any records kept in Co. Down or Co. Antrim concerning mental handicaps in the time frame of 1790-1820? I have just realized I have not turned over this particular stone. My gggg grandfather Robert Burnside had one son who had some type of mental problem. I know he lived with at least 3 families with small children so I am thinking it was probably Down's Syndrome or perhaps he was just "slow thinking". Robert, his father, specifies in his will that he be taken care of in a home environment and in 1850 he is living with my gg grandfather, James and his new wife Catherine. Of course there is always the possibility that he was involved in an accident later in life which left him with mental problems but thought it was worth a try to ask. Thank you so much, Linda