Manuscript Group 85, Chester Township, New Jersey Overseers of the Poor Records, 1799-1826
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Manuscript Group 85, Chester Township, New Jersey Overseers of the Poor Records, 1799-1826, 0.02
linear feet / 2 volumes
Call Number: MG 85
Minutes
and financial accounts of the Overseers of the Poor of Chester, Morris County,
New Jersey.
Emigrants from Easthampton and Southhold,
Long Island settled Chester, New Jersey in 1713. The Township of Chester,
however, was established in 1799 and was bounded on the north by Roxbury and
Randolph Townships, on the east by Mendham Township, on the west by Washington
Township, and on the south by Somerset County. In the 1880s, Chester
Township became one of the most important mining districts in New Jersey.
Overseers of the Poor were appointed by
the town committee and usually met at the township committee meetings where they
decided how they would assist the poor of the town through shelter and food.
The source of this collection is unknown.
This collection contains two volumes of
minutes of the Overseers of the Poor of Chester Township, Morris County with
sections relating to the Committee of the Township of Chester. The records
date from 1799-1826 and are organized in chronological order. They
document the dispersal of funds to individuals and families in need, and the
collection of state, county, dog and poor taxes.
Beneath the minutes of the meetings are
accounts that show disbursements for cash assistance, medical attention,
housing, food and clothing for families, adults and children including a
“Negro Cook.” The accounts also record the “selling of the
poor” for lodging and work assistance and claims for the loss of sheep
killed by dogs. Overseers include Daniel Horton; Phineas Horton; William
Woodhull, Jr.; and others.
For more information on New Jersey
Overseers of the Poor see:
Manuscript Group 159, Randolph Township,
New Jersey Township Committee Minute book
Manuscript Group 1024, Livingston,
New Jersey
Overseers of the Poor Records
Manuscript Group 1034, East Windsor
Township, New Jersey Overseers of the Poor Account book
Folder |
Title |
Date |
|
1 |
Overseers of the Poor, Record Book |
1799-1812 |
|
2 |
Overseers of the Poor, Record Book |
1811-1826 |
Processed by James Lewis, July 2001 as part of the “Farm to City”
project funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records
Commission.
Submit a request to copy part of this collection
