Washington County NY Poor House Records 1855-1860

The following records were found at the Washington County, NY Archives on a microfilm of Washington County Poor House records. They were “hidden” among the ledger pages of the original account books.

• An Account of Births in County House, 1855-1859.
• An account of The Deaths in the County House, 1855-1858.
• Children Taken from The Poor House, 1855-1860.

Note: The original book containing the copies of these certificates (the originals were submitted to the State Board of Charities) is designated Poor House Records, Volume 7, and has been microfilmed beginning on Washington County Poor House Records, Roll 367 and continued on Roll 368. These microfilms are available for viewing at the Washington County Archives in Ft. Edward and we understand that copies of the films are available for purchase there.

Washington County NY Poor House

Is located in the town of Argyle, and is constructed of brick, two stories, 100 x 30 feet on the ground; connected with which is a farm of 170 acres, yielding an annual revenue of $1,500. The location of this house is well suited to promote its designs, and the general appearance of the house, farm and fixtures, indi-cate system, order and thrift. The house has no special provis-ion for ventilation ; yet the keeper gave evidence that he under-stood and appreciated the difference between pure and foul air. Neither is there any provision for bathing. It is heated by stoves. Thirty-one rooms are appropriated to the use of the paupers, in which from one to ten are placed in a room. The number of inmates was 112, fifty males and sixty-two females. Of these fifty-six were foreign and fifty-six native born, including forty children, about twenty of whom had been placed out on trial with farmers and others, preliminary to binding them out. The separation of the sexes in this house is complete, day and night, except that they meet in the dining hall while eating.

The house and farm is under the management of one keeper, assisted by his wife and pauper labor. The superintendent of the poor purchases the supplies for the house, prescribes rules regulating the diet, binds out the children of suitable age, and exercises the power of discharging lunatics when they are dis-missed. The average number of inmates is 124, who are fur-nished with good plain food at a weekly expense of sixty-seven and a half cents each.

The house has been once visited by the board of supervisors during the year. A physician is employed by the year at a sala-ry of $50. A school is taught in the house eleven months in the year. Religious exercises are maintained every morning by the keeper. The house is partially supplied with Bibles. There have been five births and eleven deaths during the year. Two are dumb, but can hear; five are blind; one of these four years old. Of the inmates twenty are lunatics, ten males and ten fe-males, and all paupers. Two have been received during the year and six have escaped.

The lunatics have no special attendants and receive no special medical attention. One is set down as having recovered. Several are confined in cells. The methods of restraint are locking in cells, chaining to the floor, and hand-cuffs. The house admits of a partial classification of the insane. No application has been made to the State Lunatic Asylum for the admission of lunatics during the year. Three of the inmates are idiots, two male and one female. One-half of all who come to this house are brought, consequent upon habits of inebriation. ¹⁾Surgeon General’s Office. Report of Select Committee Appointed to Visit Charitable Institutions Supported by the State and all City and County Poor and Work Houses and Jails of the State of New York: transmitted to the legislature, January 9, 1857, p. 90 (Appendix). Albany: C. Van Benthuysen, 1857.

An Account of Births in County House, 1855-1859.

An account of The Deaths in the County House, 1855-1858.

Children Taken from The Poor House, 1855-1860.