Almshouses / Poor- Houses
Overview of Laws

[submitted by C. Horton]

The earliest record of any legislation regarding the insane in Massachusetts was made in 1676, when the following law was passed: Whereat, There are distracted persons in some towns, that are unruly, whereby not only the families wherein they are, but others, suffer much damage by them, it is ordered by this Court, and the authorities thereof, that the selectmen in all towns where such persons are are hereby empowered and enjoined to take care of all such persons, that they do not damnify others.

In 1694 an act was passed, entitled "An Act for the Relief of Idiots and Distracted Persons," in which the care of the insane is given to the selectmen and overseers of the poor.

In The first Tax assessed in Worcester for the benefit of the poor was in 1763, Workhouses where authorized and in 1772 the building was erected on Front Street.

In 1798 the law permitted the commitment of such lunatics as were "furiously mad so as to render it dangerous to the safety or the peace of the good people to be at large" to the House of Correction.

Until 1817 the poor were supported by contracts with the highest bidder at public auction.

In 1817 the Jennison Farm located on the old road to Boston, boarding on the upper end of Lake Quinsigamond was purchased. This purchase included all the comforts of within the mansion for a price of $5,500.00.
This was to be a permanent home for the aged and infirm of the indigent citizens.

In 1827 the law was changed in regard to the safekeeping of "lunatic persons furiously mad" so that they were committed to the hospital or lunatic asylum instead of to the jail.

In 1829 Horace Mann was chairman of a committee in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to which was referred an order for them "to examine and ascertain the practicability and expediency of erecting or procuring at the expense of the Commonwealth an asylum for the safekeeping of lunatics and persons furiously mad."

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The State Board of Lunacy and Charity

The Legislature of 1879 established the State Board of Health, Lunacy and Charity, at the same time abolishing the Board of State Charities, which was organized in 1863, and the Board of Health and Vital Statistics, which was organized in 1869. The Legislature of 1886 passed an act establishing The State Board of Health and withdrawing from the State Board of Health, Lunacy and Charity the name and functions of a Board of Health.
The present Board is therefore known as: The State Board of Lunacy and Charity.

DUTIES OF THE BOARD.
The duties of the Board are very extensive, and are clearly denned in the Public Statutes, chiefly in Chapters 79 and 87.

They comprise the supervision, visitation and inspection of the public and private insane hospitals of the State, the State Almshouse, the State Farm, the three State Schools, and the city and town almshouses containing insane inmates; the care of insane patients boarded in families; the supervision of juvenile offenders, including attendance at court in the interest of such offenders; the care and maintenance of indigent and neglected children boarded in families, and the visitation of all minor wards of the State in families; the removal of non-settled paupers to other states and countries; the administration of the laws concerning the support of State paupers by cities and towns, including the auditing of all the accounts of the municipalities against the State for the support of the sick and temporarily indigent non-settled paupers; the prosecution of cases of bastardies among non-settled persons; the tabulation of returns from Overseers of the Poor of paupers supported by towns ; and up to the close of the last official year, the direct supervision of alien immigration at the ports of Massachusetts.
It should be understood that the immediate control and management of the State Institutions is in the hands of boards of trustees appointed for that purpose. Much of the Board's work arises from the somewhat peculiar nature of the settlement laws of the State. It is very difficult for the average working person coming here to acquire a settlement, because for that purpose there must be a continuous residence in some given town for a period of five years. A very large proportion of this class of the population being migratory, and not appreciating the importance of obtaining a settlement, keep going from town to town, so that it often happens that a well-behaved and industrious person may reside for twenty years or more in the State without obtaining a local settlement. Thus, while the expenses of the towns are diminished, the burdens and expenses of the State are correspondingly increased.

The State Board of Lunacy and Charity Members in 1892

Richard L. HOUGDON, M.D,., of Arlington, Chairman.
Mrs. Henrietta G. CODMAN, of Brookline, Vice-Chairman.
Charles F. DONNELLY, of Boston.
Edward HITCHCOCK, M.D., of Amherst.
Mrs. Anne B. RICHARDSON, of Lowell.
George W. JOHNSON, of Brookfield.
Henry STONE, of Boston.
Laban PRATT, of Boston.
Charles J. CURRAN, M.D., of North Adams.

The Standing Committees of the Board:

Committee on Charities:
Mrs. RICHARDSON, Mr. DONNELLY, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. PRATT, Dr. CURRAN

Committee on Lunacy:
Dr. HITCHCOCK, Dr. HODGDON, Mrs. CODMAN, Mr. STONE

Committee on Inspection of Institutions:
Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. STONE, Mr. PRATT.


The chief agents of the Board are the heads of the several Departments.

The Superintendent of the Department of In-Door Poor is Mr. Stephen C. WRIGHTINGTON.
His Deputies are Dr. Joshua F. LEWIS, for the Central Division
Miss Bertha W. JACOBS, for the Division of Visitation.
Up to the close of the official year, September 30, 1891,
Mr. Charles A. COLCORD performed the duties of Deputy for the Division of Immigration.
Mr. Hiram S. SHURTLEFF is Superintendent of Out-Door Poor, with Mr. George B. TUFTS as Deputy.
Dr. Albert R. MOULTON was Inspector of Institutions until July 1, 1891, when he resigned to take the position of Superintendent of the Male Department of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane, at Philadelphia.
On September 10, 1891, Dr. Charles E. WOODBURY was appointed Inspector, and he entered upon his duties the following day.
Dr. Henry C. PRENTISS is Deputy Inspector.
Mr. John D. WELLS is Clerk and Auditor of the Board, and its disbursing officer.

Other Charities

Bureau of Charity.
Hawkins and Chardon Streets, Boston.
The Bureau of Charity was organized and placed under the care of the Board of Overseers of the Poor, in order more fully to systematize the administration of certain public institutions, and to prevent imposture in the bestowal of charities. The Board of Overseers of the Poor was organized in 1691, and, since that time, have administered the official charities, and have acted as trustees for the care of trust funds for the benefit of the poor.

Roxbury Charitable Society.
Roxbury, Boston.
Organized in 1794, and incorporated in 1799, for the relief of the poor and the prevention of pauperism in Roxbury. Relief, to a limited amount, is given in money, but the usual form is that of clothing, provisions, &c. An agent is employed by the Society to receive applications for aid and to dispense relief. Between 300 and 400 persons are annually relieved. The Roxbury Dispensary, founded in 1847, has been merged in this Society, and its separate organization abandoned. The agent of both charities is the same. His office is in Cox Building, corner of Dudley and Bartlett Streets.

Trustees of The State Primary and Reform Schools in 1892
The three State Schools, viz., the State Primary School, the Lyman School for Boys, the State Industrial School for Girls, are under the direction of a single Board of Trustees.

Melvin H. Walker, of Westborough, President
Mrs. Elizabeth G. Evans, of Boston, Secretary
Henry C. Greeley, of Clinton, Treasurer
Michael J. Sullivan, of Chicopee
Miss Elizabeth C. Putnam, of Boston
Charles P. Worcester, M.D., of Newton
Samuel W. McDaniel, of Cambridge.

Trustees State Almshouse and The State Farm in 1892
These two institutions are under the direction of a single board of trustees.

J. White Belcher, of Randolph, Chairman
Mrs. Sarah D. Fiske, of Maiden
Secretary; Lyman A. Belknap, of Andover
Weaver Osborn, of Fall River
William T. Carotin, M.D., of Lowell
Jacob H. Hecht, of Boston
Mrs. Anna F. Prescott, of Boston.

State Reform School, Westborough.
1847-1851 Trustees:

George Denny, Westborough
Otis Adams, Grafton
Wm. Livingston, Lowell
Samuel Williston, Easthampton
Thomas A. Greene, New Bedford
J. R. Gibbs, Lanesboro
William T. Andrews, Boston

Trustees of Danvers Lunatic Hospital in 1892

Edward Hutchinson, of Danvers, Chairman;
John S. Colby, of Lowell, Secretary;
Miss Harriet R. Lee, of Salem
Solon Bancroft, of Reading
Samuel W. Hopkin- son, of Bradford
Orville F. Rogers, M.D., of Boston
Miss Florence Lyman, of Boston.

Danvers Insane Hospital Board Members 1901-2 [Danvers Lunatic Hospital (Old Name)]
Trustees in 1901-2

Solon BANCROFT, Corresponding Secretary Reading.
Samuel W. HOPKINSON, Chairman, Haverhill.
Orville F. ROGERS, M.D., Boston.
Mrs. Ada T. BREWSTER Andover.
William B. SULLIVAN, Danvers.
Horace H. ATHERTON, Saugus.
Miss Mary WARD NICHOLS, Recording Secretary, Danvers.

Consulting Board of Physicians 1901- 2.

Dr. Charles G. CARLETON, 291 Essex St., Lawrence, Mass.
Dr. Maurice D. CLARKE, Haverhill.
Dr. Hasket DERBY, 182 Marlborough St., Boston. Secretary.
Dr. Daniel D. GILBERT, 308 Boston Street, Dorchester.
Dr. Thomas KITTREDGE, 244 Essex Street, Salem.
Dr. Horace G. LESLIE, Amesbury.
Dr. Arthur H. NICHOLS, 53 Mt. "Vernon Street, Boston.
Dr. John T. G. NICHOLS, 63 Brattle Street, Cambridge.
Dr. Joseph G. PINKHAM, 43 Silsbee Street, Lynn.
Dr. George B. SHATTUCK 183 Beacon Street, Boston.
Dr. Samuel TORRET
Dr. John F. YOÜNG, 9 Fruit Street, Newburyport.
Dr. Maurice D. CLARKE Chairman.

Resident Officers in 1901 -2

Arthur H. HARRINGTON, M. D Physician and Superintendent.
H. W. MITCHELL, M.D., Senior Assistant Physician.
Jas. D. MADISON, M.D., Assistant Physician.
Mart PAULSELL, M.D., Assistant Physician.
Harry L. BARNKS, M .D Assistant Physician.
Philip C. BARTLETT, M.D., Assistant Physician.
Henry M. SWIFT, M. D Interne.
John N. LACEY, : Steward.
Junius C. WING, Farmer.
Warren A. MERRILL Clerk.
Mrs. K. W. LACET, Housekeeper.
Mrs. A. STETSON, Housekeeper, Rear Centre.
Arthut S. RICHARDSON, Engineer.
Jewett B. SWEETSER, Sup. Male Dept.
Miss Alice S. FLETCHER, Sup.Female Dept and Principal of Training School.
Horatio G. HERRICK, Lawrence., Treasurer

Trustees of Northampton Lunatic Hospital in 1892

Adams C. Deane, M.D., of Greenfield, Chairman
Mrs. Sarah M. Butler, of Northampton, Secretary
Henry V. Taft, of Pittsfield
Lyman B. James, of Williamsburg
Elisha Morgan, of Springfield
Mrs. Sarah A. Woodworth, of Chicopee
Alvan Barrus, of Goshen.

Taunton Lunatic Hospital Trustees in 1892

Oakes A. Ames, of North Easton, Chairman
George Howland, Jr., of New Bedford, Secretary
William C. Lovering, of Taunton
Simeon Borden, of Fall River
John J. Russell, of Plymouth
Mrs. Ruth S. Murray, of New Bedford
Mrs. Susan E. Learoyd, of Taunton.

Westborough Insane Hospital Trustees in 1892

Charles (?.) Codman, of Barnatable, Chairman
Francis A. Dewson, of Newton, Secretary
Mrs. Emily Talhot, of Boston
Archibald H. Grimke, of Hyde Park
George B. Richmond, of New Bedford
Frank P. Goulding, of Worcester
Miss Eliza C. Durfee, of Fall River.

The State Lunatic Hospital - Worcester 1852 [a.k.a Worcester Lunatic Hospital]
Trustees and Officers in 1852

Trustees:
Levi Lincoln, of Worcester
Ensign H. Kellogg, of Pittsfield
J. S. C. Knowlton, of Worcester
Foster Hooper, of Fall River
S. G. Howe of Boston.
Treasurer, Samuel Jennison, of Worcester.
Superintendent : B. D. Eastman, M.D.
Assistant Superintendent: John G. Park, M.D.
Assistant Physicians: Mary H. Stinson, M.D., H. M. Quinby, M.D. (S6)
Resident Officers:
George Chandler, M. D , Superintendent
George Allen, Chaplain
John R. Lee, M. D.
Merrick Bemis, M. D., Assistant Physicians
Thomas Hill, Steward
Elizabeth A. Reid, Matron
JohnT. Mirick, Male Supervisor
Phebe S. Mirick, Female Supervisor
Edw. A. Smith, Clerk and Apothecary.

Worcester Lunatic Hospital Trustees in 1892

A. George Bullock, of Worcester, Chairman
Thomas H. Gage, M.D., of Worcester
Rockwood Hoar, of Worcester
Henry S. Nourse, of Lancaster
Francis C. Lowell, of Boston
Mrs. Ellen S. Hale, of Boston
Miss Frances M. Lincoln, of Worcester.

Worcester Insane Asylum in 1892
Same as the Trustees of Worcester Lunatic Hospital

The Massachusetts Hospital for Dipsomaniacs and Inebriates Trustees in 1892

Francis A. Walker, of Boston, Chairman
Mrs. F. H. Williams, of Boston
Samuel Carr, of Boston
A. Lawrence Lowell, of Boston
James J. Minot, M.D., of Boston.

The Massachusetts School For The Feeble Minded — Waltham.
Trustees appointed by the Governor:

Mrs. Elizabeth E. Coolidge, of Boston
John S. Damrell, of Boston
William A. Dunn, of Boston
John C. Milne, of Fall River
William W. Swan, of Brookline, Secretary
Erskine Warden, of Waltham.

Trustees appointed by the Corporation:

Samuel Eliot, of Boston, President
Eliot C. Clarke, of Boston
John Cummings, of Woburn
Samuel Hoar, of Concord
John F. Andrew, of Boston
George G. Tarbell, M.D., of Boston.

The Boston Lunatic Hospital
No Board Trustees listed for 1892.
This Hospital, situated in South Boston, with a branch in Dorchester, is a municipal institution; but, like all receptacles for the insane in the State, it is subject to periodical visitation and inspection by the Board.

The McLean Asylum - Somerville
No Board Trustees listed for 1892.
This Hospital is owned by a corporation ; it is a branch of the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Officers of McLean Asylum for Insane - Somerville in 1852

Luther V. Bell, M D., LL. D., Physician and Superintendent
Chauncey Booth, M D., Assist. Physician and Apothecary.
Columbus Tyler, Steward
Mrs. Mary E. Tyler, Matron
Homer Goodhue, Male Supervisor
Miss Relief R. Barber, Female Supervisor.

Boston Female Orphan Asylum. 1847-1851

Mrs. William Prescott, First Directress
Mrs. Chas. Tracy, Second Directress
Mrs. Thomas B. Wales, Secretary
Miss Mary Otis, Treasurer

The Orphan's Home, New Bedford. 1847-1851

Mrs. Wm. R. Botch, 1st Directress
Miss Deborah Sturteyant, 2d Directress
Mrs. Hannah G. Gerrish, Secretary
Mrs. Eliza Barney, Treasurer

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