Poor Houses, Stewards and Matrons (1800-1869); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** from Futhey and Cope, THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA (1881) The care of the poor received attention at an early date, and over seers were appointed in each township, who had power to levy a tax upon the inhabitants for their support. There were often disputes as to the legal residence of the persons needing relief, so in 1798 an act was passed providing for the erection of Houses for the employment and support of the Poor in the counties of Chester And Lancaster, and providing for the election of 6 directors....these first directors were Edward Darlington, Ephraim Wilson, Joseph Cope, David Denny, William Trimble and Arthur Andrews.... The first house was finally erected, ca 1800, was of brick and stood till 1855, when it was succeeded by the present structure *( 1881)...The following are the first stewards and matrons; 1800 John Gibbons and wife Sarah 1807 Warwick Martin and wife, Ruth 1813 William Strickland and wife 1815 Ebenezer Speakman and wife Lydia 1823 Gibbons Grey and wife Martha 1830 William Michener and wife Rachel 1837 William H. Taylor and wife Sarah 1841 Walker Yarnall and wife Elizabeth 1848 Joseph Thompson and wife Elizabeth S. 1852 Thomas Baker and wife Ann 1863 Wellington C. James and wife Louisa D. 1864 Abner Baldwin and wife Phebe 1866 Joshua Wickersham and wife Amy 1868 Joseph B. Clark and wife 1868 Dr. William W. Townsend and wife 1869 Hayes Conuer and wife Elizabeth B.