Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, York County (Va.) Reel 61.

Preferred Citation

York County (Va.) Overseers of the Poor Minute Book, 1857-1870. Local government records collection, York County (Va.) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This microfilm was generated by the Library of Virginia Imaging Service Branch.

Historical Information

York County was originally named Charles River County, for Charles I, and was one of the eight shires formed in 1634. The present name was given in 1643, probably in honor of James, duke of York, the second son of Charles I.

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.

Scope and Content

The York County (Va.) Overseers of the Poor Minutes is one volume dated 1857-1870. The minutes give the names of the Overseers and business of the Board of Overseers. The minutes give the accounts of the monies spent by the Board to purchase goods and services, animals, and other items for the Poor Asylum and the Poor Farm. It gives the salary of the staff of the Poor Asylum in 1860 and the payments to other people providing services to the Poor Asylum and Poor Farm. It also list the names of deceased persons for whom a coffin was purchased.

The final document in the book is the accounts of the payments of the Sheriff of York County to James N. Toppin for the years 1868-1771.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

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

Subjects:

• Almshouses--Virginia--York County
• Poor--Virginia--York County
• Public welfare--Virginia--York County

Geographical Names:

• York County--History--19th century

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--York County
• Minutes--Virginia--York County