"Medfield’s Paupers"

A Snippet of Medfield history...

"Medfield’s Paupers"

By Claire Shaw

Pauperism was as much an issue in Medfield in the early-to-mid-1800s as it is in our own time. “Paupers were boarded at various places in town where they could be kept cheapest.” (History of Medfield, 1650–1886, William S. Tilden)

In 1805, at a town meeting called specifically for that purpose, each pauper, by name, was “sold” at public auction to the lowest bidder, i.e. the resident who would provide room and/or board to that pauper at the lowest cost to the town. Affording dignity to the less fortunate was apparently an alien concept at this time.

There was, in 1819, some discussion of purchasing a house for the poor, but no action was taken.

In 1827, the town supported twelve people, evenly divided among men and women. They were listed in the public record, again, by name, as paupers. The children of these residents were not included on that particular list.

Tilden writes that in 1833, a committee of five was appointed to collect information respecting the best mode of supporting paupers. No action appears to have been taken.

But at last, a happy ending! In 1837 the town purchased the farm of George Newell at a cost of $3,100, which was then used as a shelter for Medfield’s paupers.