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Fulton County Poorhouse in old West Bush,
Fulton county Highway 22, Town of Johnstown |
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The notes below have been abstracted from the following reports.
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YATES REPORT
1824 LAW
1857 REPORT EXPLANATION
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| YATES REPORT:
Fulton County was established in 1838 from "parent county" Montgomery.
For information about earlier poorhouse conditions see MONTGOMERY County.
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| 1824 LAW (required establishment of poorhouse vs. exempted): SEE ABOVE
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1857 INVESTIGATION:
FULTON COUNTY HOUSE
This is a wooden
building thirty by one hundred feet, two stories high, recently constructed
and adjoining an old dwelling house formerly used for this purpose. Connected is a farm of ninety-four acres, yielding a revenue of
$200.00.
The building furnishing
eleven rooms and wards for the use of paupers is warmed by stoves, but
destitute of all means of ventilation. Sometimes
ten persons are placed in a single room. The present number of inmates is thirty; twenty males, ten females. Of
these, five are foreign born, twenty-five native born. Four are children under sixteen years of age. The sexes are separated only at night. They are under the care of a single keeper and his wife. The usual system of registration is kept. The average number of inmates is fifty. They are supported by contract at an expense to the county of $1.25
each per week, besides the avails of the farm. The keeper who has this contract,
is also one of the superintendents
of the poor, and beside the contract price is allowed such labor as he can
obtain from the paupers on the farm. Under
this system they receive a diet of potatoes, meal, rice, beef, pork, etc.
The house has been
inspected by the supervisors once during the year. It is supplied with Bibles, and occasional preaching is
afforded. Children are sent to
the common school of the district, in which the house is located. A physician is employed by the year. During the year there has been in the house three births and six
deaths. The scarlet fever has
prevailed among them.
Of the inmates five are
lunatics; all females and all paupers. These
are not confined or in any way restrained. In one case corporeal punishment was resorted to as a means of
discipline. One has recovered,
and one improved. The latter for two years before being brought to this house
was confined in chains. Since
coming to the house she has been unconstrained
and is now slowly recovering. Four
have been admitted since January last. They
receive no particular medical attendance, and the construction of the house is
such as only partially to allow of their classification. One lunatic escaped and is now in the custody of friends. There is one blind. Intemperance
brings here one-fourth of the inmates.
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Transcribed by PHS-Volunteer, Cheramie Breaux in Louisiana
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PERSONAL NOTES FROM READERS:
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LOCAL
NOTES:
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RECORDS:
Poorhouse INMATE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES
Microfilm Series A1978 Roll
Number(s) 36-37 more information
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CEMETERY:
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| We are hoping to build this base of information about the poorhouse in FULTON county through the helpful participation of readers. All are requested to submit items of interest by sending
e-mail
to The Poorhouse Lady.
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