Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy Amherst County (Va.) Reel 129.

Preferred Citation

Amherst County (Va.) Overseers of the Poor Minutes, 1844-1870. Local government records collection, Amherst County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Amherst County.

Historical Information

Amherst County was named for Major Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

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.

Scope and Content

The Amherst County (Va.) Overseer of the Poor Minutes is one volume dated 1844-1870. 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.

Stuck in the book are an undated account and another undated account that list payments for four people.

Arrangement

Chronological by entry date.

Related Material

Additional Amherst County records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Court.
• Amherst County (Va.) Overseers of the Poor.

Subjects:

• Almshouse--Virginia--Amherst County.
• Apprentices--Virginia--Amherst County.
• Poor--Employment--Virginia--Amherst County.
• Public welfare--Virginia--Amherst County.

Geographical Names:

• Amherst County (Va.)--History--19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Amherst County.
• Minute books--Virginia--Amherst County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data