History of the Philadelphia almshouses and hospitals : from the beginning of the eighteenth to the ending of the nineteenth centuries, covering a period of nearly two hundred years, showing the mode of distributing public relief through the management of the boards of overseers of the poor, guardians of the poor and the directors of the Department of Charities and Correction. With an appendix containing a list of former visiting and resident physicians. Illustrated from photographs / Compiled...by Charles Lawrence.

  • Lawrence, Charles, 1837-
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: History of the Philadelphia almshouses and hospitals : from the beginning of the eighteenth to the ending of the nineteenth centuries, covering a period of nearly two hundred years, showing the mode of distributing public relief through the management of the boards of overseers of the poor, guardians of the poor and the directors of the Department of Charities and Correction. With an appendix containing a list of former visiting and resident physicians. Illustrated from photographs / Compiled...by Charles Lawrence. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. DESCRIPTION OF FIRST ALMSHOUSE—SPRUCE STREET ALMSHOUSE OPENED.<.. 17 William Penn Advocates Charity—First Almshouse Established by the “ Friends’ ”—Acts Relating to Almshouses—Description of Friends’ Almshouse —Order of 1717, Compelling Paupers to Wear Roman P on their Sleeves—Act to Authorize the Erection of Workhouses in Philadelphia, Bristol and Chester —Overseers Present Memorial to the Legislature in 1729—Act to Loan the Mayor ^1,000 to Purchase Ground and to Erect an Almshouse—Building Erected in 1731 or 1732—Hospital for Sick and Insane Connected with the Almshouse—Philadelphia Hospital the Oldest in this Country—Act to Regu¬ late Legal Settlements —Complaints Against the Overseers of the Poor—Con¬ tributors to the Relief and Employment of the Poor” Incorporated—First Meeting Held May 12, 1766—List of Managers-—Lot Bounded by Spruce, Pine, Tenth and Eleventh Streets Purchased for ^800—Motto Adopted for Seal- Overseers Elected to Distribute Out-door Relief— New Almshouse and House of Employment—Opening October, 1767—Friction Between Officials—John Dick¬ inson, Esq., Celebrated his Wedding by Donating £200 to the Poor—Flooded by Nova Scotia Exiles—Severe Winter of 1775—John Petty and William Carter Died—Their Wills Provided for Distribution of Bread—Manner of Selecting Overseers—Troops Interfered with Holding Meetings in Court House —Board Adjourned to Meet at the ‘‘Golden Fleece”—Trying Times for the Poor. CHAPTER II. PAUPERS TURNED INTO THE STREETS BY THE BRITISH—STUDENTS ALLOWED TO PRACTICE... 27 Sick Soldiers Quartered in the House of Employment—Mr. Willing Donated 100 Cords of Wood—Other Donations Sent—New Board Appointed—British Army took Possession of the City—Overseers Unable to Perform their Func¬ tions—Sick Soldiers from General Howe’s Army Fill an Entire Wing of the Almshouse—Managers Ordered to Clear the House for the “King’s troops Managers Refuse to do so—All of the Inmates Turned into the Streets by the British—Only 82 of the 200 Survive the Exposure—Terrible Trials of the Patri¬ otic Colonists—British Evacuated—New Overseers Appointed—^2,000 Bor¬ rowed—Sick and Wounded Continental Soldiers Fill a Wing of the House of Employment—Act to Authorize Loan of £5,000—Money could not be Procured —Overseers Advanced $300 Each and Took the Risk—John Dickinson, Esq., Again Comes to the Relief—Difficulties in Money Affairs—Portions of the Almshouse Rented to the United States Government for Accommodation of Sick or Wounded Prisoners—Act to Vest the Overseers with the Powers of the Contributors—Remonstrance—Board Pleads for Assistance—Charges that Abuses Prevailed Investigated—Report—More Friction—Crooked Work at ‘‘Potter’s P'ield Census of House—How Inmates were Employed—Trouble with Disreputable Characters—Rum Exchanged for Clothing, etc.—Changes made in 1788—Overseers Incorporated under the Title of “ Guardians of the Poor”—Old Board Abolished—Students Allowed to Practice in the House— Financial Difficulties—Steward and Matron Reprimanded.