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Use microfilm copy, Rockbridge County (Va.) Reel 200
Rockbridge County (Va.) Superintendent of the Poor Ledger, 1875-1888. Local Government Records Collection, Rockbridge County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Rockbridge County.
The microfilm was generated by Backstage Library Works through the Library of Virignia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program.
Rockbridge County was named for Natural Bridge, an exceptional rock formation located in the county. The county was formed from Augusta and Botetourt counties in 1778, and another part of Botetourt was added later.
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. The Overseers took over the supervision of the poorhouses and workhouses built by the vestries and built new poorhouses and workhouses where they were needed.
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.
Rockbridge County (Va.) Superintendent of the Poor Ledger is one volume dated 1875-1888. It contains the records of money received and spent by Charles J. Brawley and James W. Alexander who served as Superintendents of the Poor during this period. These records dealt with the Poor House, the Poor Farm, as well as the Poor Levy. It includes the records of services provided by the Overseers of the Poor for the Natural Bridge, Buffalo, Kerr's Creek, West Creek, South River, Lexington, and Walker's Creek Overseers of the Poor Districts. It also includes the records of Dr. J. McD. Taylor, Physician of the Poor House.
Stuck in the book are numerous items. One is a bill, dated July 1, 1886, from Thomas S. White and Company, dealers in general merchandise for food items; and also for material and other items needed to make clothing. There is a bill dated April 22, 1881, from B. H. Gorrell for two prescriptions for Mrs. Henry. There are two papers with accounts on them. There is a bill to the Overseer of the Poor of South River District, dated September 22, 1885, for Dr. H. T. Barton's services for Miss Dempsy. There is a note dated June 21, 1878 of a loan to J. D. Morrison of seventy cents. A paper with Samuel Yount's Overseer of the Poor accounts for August 1881 is also stuck in the book.
Additional Rockbridge County Court Records can be found on microfilm in the Library of Virginia. Consult