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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):
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1857 INVESTIGATION:
This house is located near
Cooperstown, and consists of several buildings of stone, one 24x60 feet,
one 24x90 feet, & etc., furnishing twenty-four cells or rooms for the
insane, and fifteen for the other paupers. The insane departments are ventilated, the others are not, but without
any provision for bathing. The
farm connected consists of 153 acres, and yields an annual revenue of $1,400. The number of inmates was eighty-six, forty-four males and forty-two
females, of whom seventy-nine were native and seven foreign born, including
sixteen children. The insane each occupy a small cell, the residue are placed
from one to twelve in a single room. The
sexes are partially separated by day, complete at night, and are all under the
care of one keeper and his wife, who have charge of the family and the farm,
assisted by the paupers. The
keeper also purchases the supplies for the house. The superintendent provides and imposes rules regulating the diet,
binds out the children when suitable places are found, and discharges the
lunatics when cured. The house is
supplied with Bibles, and religious services are held every Sabbath. The children are sent to the district school. A physician is employed, who attends when called upon, and receives one
dollar for each visit. One birth
the last year (illegitimate) and fifteen deaths. The average number supported in this house is ninety, fifty-four of
whom have been brought here directly, and twenty-nine indirectly, from habits
of inebriation.
Fifteen of the inmates
are lunatics, five male and ten female, and all paupers; three have been
received during the past year.
Four of the lunatics
have been much improved; they have their liberty during the day, but are
locked up at night. The only form
of restraint is by locking in cells. The
majority of the insane have been in this house from five to sixteen years. The construction of the house admits of the classification of the
insane. They have no special
attendants, and receive no special medical attention. Five of the inmates are idiots, two male and three female. The generally clean appearance of the house, and the order manifested
everywhere, speak well for the sagacity of the superintendents in selecting a
keeper.
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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:
Here is a website
with a scan of an 1836 Certificate of Removal to transport a "lunatick"
from the town of Burlington to the Otsego County poorhouse,
authorized by the town Overseer of the Poor
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RECORDS:
Poorhouse INMATE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES
Microfilm Series A1978 Roll
Number(s) 167-168 more information
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CEMETERY:
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| We are hoping to build this base of information about the poorhouse in OTSEGO 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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