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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:
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| 1824 LAW (required establishment of poorhouse vs. exempted):
exempted
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1857 INVESTIGATION:
This is an old and
dilapidated building of wood and brick, erected in 1832, in size thirty-two by
ninety-six, with a wing, twenty-four by sixty feet, aside from these is a
small building for the insane; attached is a farm of one hundred and sixty
acres, yielding a revenue of $2,000.There
are no basements. The rooms are
warmed by stoves, but are without means of ventilation. The number of inmates was fifty-six; forty males, sixteen
females. Of these forty-six are native born, ten foreign, and seven under
sixteen years of age. The sexes
are separated only at night; they are under two keepers, male and female. In one room as many as thirty-two persons were placed.
The average number of
inmates is one hundred and thirty, supported at a weekly cost of forty-four
cents. The paupers are employed
on the farm and about the house. The
house has not been visited during the year by supervisors. It is supplied with Bibles; through no provision is made for
religious instruction they often have service on the Sabbath. A common school is taught in the house during six or eight months of
the year. The fare of the paupers
is plain and wholesome and supplied by the keeper. For medical attendance a physician is called when needed and paid per
visit. During the year there have occurred six births and seventeen deaths.
They have no pest house.
Of the inmates twelve
are lunatics; six males, and six females; all are paupers and six of them have
been treated at the State asylum. They
have no particular medical attendance. A
small wooden building, size twenty-six by forty feet, has recently been
erected for their accommodation, though hardly fitted for its designed
purpose. The cells are small,
illy ventilated and constructed of rough hemlock boards and plank, in which
the lunatics are confined with no bedding but straw, and an insufficient
supply of clothing. The building
is so open that it is impossible properly to warm it in winter. Four are confined in
cells. They are also sometimes restrained by the "mittens". The construction of the house is such as to allow classification; the
power of discharge is exercised by the superintendents. Application has been made during the year, for admission to the Utica
asylum in six cases, and as often refused. The lunatics sometimes escape and are never again heard
from. Ten of the paupers are idiotic, all males. There is one blind.
Two-thirds
are brought here through intemperance.
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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:
Information
about the book: Chautauqua County Alms
House and Asylum by Virginia W.
Barden.
"The original poor house in Dewittville has been torn
down; it was replaced with a county home (now a nursing home) in the City of
Dunkirk."
Dee Davidson
jcricket@cecomet.net
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| RECORDS:
Poorhouse Resident List
from the 1850 Census
Poorhouse Resident List
from the 1880 Census
Poorhouse Resident List
from the 1900 Census
Poorhouse Resident List
from the 1920 Census
Poorhouse Resident List
from the 1930 Census 
The Chautauqua County Genealogical Society has published 2 volumes
entitled "The Chautauqua County Alms House and Asylum. compiled by
Virginia W. Barden and Lois M. Barris. A collection of genealogical
information on individuals and activities at the institution, located on 440
acres in Dewittville, NY., for the years from 1833 to 1918, extracted from
ledgers found in the archives of the Chautauqua County Home in Dunkirk, NY
published in 1992 500pages paper. $48.50 includes s&h.
These books may be ordered by contacting the CCGS P.O. Box 404
Fredonia, NY 14063.
[If any one would like a look up in these two volumes I would be willing to do
so.
Donna Mills deemills@netsync.net
]
Poorhouse INMATE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES
Microfilm Series A1978 Roll
Number(s) 15-16 more information
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CEMETERY:
Chautauqua County Poorhouse Cemetery Listing at GenWeb
(for A-K)
(for L-Z)
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| We are hoping to build this base of information about the poorhouse in CHAUTAUQUA 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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