Plainfield Paupers

PLAINFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROGRAM AT THE MERIDEN LIBRARY

Mary Kronenwetter, author and historian, will share her research about how New England towns cared for their indigent. Did you know that selectmen indentured pauper children to townspeople for terms of up to six years? Or that paupers were auctioned off at town meetings to the lowest bidder? Mary researched Plainfield records and there were many, many paupers auctioned off at Plainfield Town meetings before the town decided in 1840 to purchase a farm where the poor could be cared for in one location. Example: Town Order “To A.G. Daniels, Treasurer of the Town of Plainfield Pay to George Westgate fifty -or dollars, that amount having been allowed him for the support of Betsey McDaniel and child one year ending Feb. 5 tph , 1856.”