Caroline County (Va.) Board of Overseers of the Poor Minutes, 1845-1871

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Use microfilm, Caroline County (Va.) Reel 78.

Preferred citation:

Caroline County (Va.) Board of Overseers of the Poor Minutes, 1845-1871. Caroline County (Va.) Reel 78, Local Government Records Collection, Caroline County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Caroline County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Caroline County (Va.) Board of Overseers of the Poor Minutes, 1845-1871. Caroline County (Va.) Reel 78, Local Government Records Collection, Caroline County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

The Caroline County (Va.) Board of the Overseer of the Poor Minutes are two volumes dated 1845-1853 and 1853-1871. The minutes give the names of people receiving financial support, food, and clothing, as well as those removing to other states and the burial of the deceased. The minutes also include the details of the collection of the levy for the poor and how the money was spent. In addition, a report of the business of the poorhouse is contained in the minutes.

Biographical / historical:

Caroline County was named for Caroline of Anspach, consort of George II. It was formed from Essex, King and Queen, and King William Counties in 1728, and additional parts of King and Queen were added in 1742 and 1762.

Most loose records and deed books prior to 1836 and will books prior to 1853 were stolen, mutilated, and/or destroyed by Union troops who ransacked the courthouse in May 1864. A near-complete run of order books exists.

In 1780 the Virginia General Assembly replaced the Anglican vestries and churchwardens of the colonial period with elected bodies called Overseers of the Poor. The Overseers provided food, clothing, shelter, and medical treatment for the persons who were too poor to support themselves or too ill to provide for their basic needs. They also bound out children whose parents could not support them or who failed to educate or instruct them, as well as orphans to become apprentices. The boys learned a trade and the girls learned domestic skills.

In 1844, the General Assembly enacted laws to create poor farms overseen by boards of directors for the maintenance and education of the poor. The boards bought farms and built buildings, appointed a superintendant for each poor farm, and chose a physician to attend the sick and teachers to educate the children. The adults and older children were required to work if they were able.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Caroline County. The microfilm was generated by OCLC through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program.
Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
2 v. and 1 microfilm reel.