Freestone County, Texas Paupers or Render Service to Paupers of 1890s Paupers or Render Service to Paupers Overall, a pauper is a poor person and usually considered not able to work. In this case, the Commissioners' Court of Freestone County paid paupers an allowance. A Texas statutes say 1) "Each commissioners court may provide for the support of paupers, residents of their county, who are unable to support themselves.", and 2) "The commissioners court of each county shall provide for the disposition of the body of a deceased pauper." I assume the static amount was different based on the number of dependents they took care of. The amount is usually static but might differ because the pauper did not collect the prior period's and be double the amount. The payments are irregular because the paupers would have had to travel to the clerk of the Commissioners' Court in Fairfield and requested a payment. They did not send out payments through the mail or for delivery. There is some understandable inconsistency on spelling names such as "Sally" and "Sallie" or "T.Y." and "T. Z.". This listing runs through the 1890s (1890-1899). Unusual abbreviations used: mdse. = merchandise I have capitalized people's names. Also, all single letter first and last names are done with period, such as "T.Y.". Spacing and number of periods may not match original since I am focused on genealogy, not making a perfect replica. ================================================================ The Fairfield Recorder - March 6, 1891 Page: 3 Proceedings of the Commissioners' Court ... The allowance of Mrs. S. E. Thomas, pauper, was increased from $6 to $7 per mth. The allowance of Mrs. Sallie Armstrong was decreased from $10 to $7 par month. Cynthia Persons, a new colored pauper, was allowed $5 a month from March 1st. ... ================================================================ [I have capitalized people's names. I have selected entries about paupers.] The Fairfield Recorder - February 19, 1892 Page: 1 SEMI-ANNUAL EXHIBIT Of The County Treasurer of Freestone County At January Term of the Commissioners' Court 1892. [1891] August 15th Jane Pelton pauper $5.00 " " " $5.00 Tom Taylor pauper $3.00 August 20th [no pauper events] September 4th James Porter pauper $2.50 September 23rd W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 Tom Taylor pauper $3.00 October 1st Sallie Armstrong pauper $7.00 Tom Taylor pauper $3.00 James Porter pauper $2.50 Hardy Cannon pauper $10.00 Jane King pauper $3.00 T. B. Newman mdse to paupers $9.70 H. J. Childs feeding 2 paupers $30.00 October 7th Sallie Armstrong pauper $14.00 W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 October 8th [no pauper events] October 12th Tom Taylor pauper $3.00 L. A. Snowden pauper $18.00 October 21st Permelia Mathias pauper $15.00 Jane Nelson pauper $10.00 Elizabeth Coulter pauper $10.00 Jane Pelton pauper $10.95 October 27th [no pauper events] Noveber 3d Perry Cole & wife paupers $24.00 Perry Cole & wife paupers $8.00 [repeat is in original] Permelia Mathias pauper $15.00 W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 Perry Cole & wife paupers $8.00 [repeat is in original] Noveber 5th [no pauper events] Noveber 11th Permelia Mathias pauper $5.00 Jane King pauper $3.00 Elizabeth Coulter pauper $20.00 Tom Taylor pauper $3.00 Noveber 13th W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 Noveber 16th L. A. Snowden pauper $6.00 Noveber 19th [no pauper events] Noveber 24th Perry Cole & wife paupers $8.00 T. Y. Logan pauper $16.00 November 25th M. E. Singleton pauper $20.00 December 2d [no pauper events] December 9th Dolly Polk pauper $48.00 December 10th Tom Taylor pauper $3.00 L. A. Snowden pauper $12.00 L. A. Snowden pauper $6.00 [repeat is in original] W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 [repeat is in original] December 11th W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 S. E. Thomas pauper $7.00 S. E. Thomas pauper $7.00 [repeat is in original] S. E. Thomas pauper $7.00 [repeat is in original] S. E. Thomas pauper $7.00 [repeat is in original] S. E. Thomas pauper $7.00 [repeat is in original] S. E. Thomas pauper $7.00 [repeat is in original] Georgia Lane pauper $15.00 Georgia Lane pauper $10.00 [repeat is in original] Georgia Lane pauper $20.00 [repeat is in original] T. Y. Logan pauper $8.00 T. Y. Logan pauper $8.00 [repeat is in original] T. Y. Logan pauper $16.00 [repeat is in original] T. Y. Logan pauper $24.00 [repeat is in original] Harday Cannon pauper $30.00 L. A. Snowden pauper $12.00 Jane King pauper $3.00 Jane Pelton pauper $4.00 Tom Taylor pauper $3.00 Lucinda Price pauper $25.00 Perry Cole & wife paupers $16.00 December 14th T. Y. Logan pauper $8.00 W. F. O'Neal pauper $4.00 Stephen Day pauper $15.00 Stephen Day pauper $35.00 David Beck pauper $2.50 James Porter pauper $2.50 James Porter pauper $2.50 [repeat is in original] James Porter pauper $2.50 [repeat is in original] Jane Pelton pauper $5.00 Jane Pelton pauper $5.00 L. A. Snowden pauper $5.00 Permelia Mathias pauper $10.00 December 21st Lucy McCrey pauper $2.50 E. A. Clark and wife paupers. $8.00 Sallie Armstrong pauper $20.00 Elizabeth Coulter pauper $20.00 December 21st Jane Nelson pauper $25.00 December 29th [no pauper events] December 30th [no pauper events] 1892 January 9th James Porter pauper $2.50 Sallie Armstrong pauper $21.00 Sallie Armstrong pauper $30.00 [repeat is in original] M. E. Singleton pauper $5.00 Jane Pelton pauper $5.00 Jane Pelton pauper $5.00 Jane Pelton pauper $5.00 Cynthia Persons pauper $35.00 S. E. Thomas pauper $7.00 S. E. Thomas pauper $7.00 [repeat is in original] Perry Cole & wife paupers $16.00 David Beck pauper $5.00 January 13th S. E. Thomas pauper $7.00 W. F. O'Neal pauper $4.00 Tom Taylor pauper $3.00 Georgia Laney pauper $15.00 Violet Robertson pauper $3.00 January 21st Jane Pelton pauper $10.00 Perry Cole & wife paupers $8.00 January 26th Lucinda Price pauper $28.00 Lucy McElroy pauper $2.50 February 1st James Porter pauper $2.50 Amanda Walls pauper $14.00 M. E. Singleton pauper $35.00 February 8th S. E. Thomas pauper $7.00 L. A. Snowden pauper $6.00 Permelia Mathias pauper $15.00 M. E. Singleton pauper $5.00 Amanda Walls pauper $7.00 ... ================================================================ [I have capitalized people's names. I have selected entries about paupers.] The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, January 13, 1893 Page: 3 SEMI-ANNUAL EXHIBIT Of The County Treasurer of Freestone County At January Term of the Commissioners' Court 1893. July 16th A E Thomas pauper...... $7.00 [probably S. E. Thomas] Jane Pelton pauper..... $5.00 Levi Moody pauper...... $2.00 Tom Taylor pauper...... $3.00 W. F. O'Neal pauper.... $4.00 Jane Nelson pauper.... $20.00 July 28th Sally Tyus pauper...... $6.00 Lucy McElroy pauper.... $2.50 Amanda Walls pauper.... $8.00 David Beck pauper...... $2.50 James Porter pauper.....$5.00 E. A. Clark & wife paupers.. $8.00 Perry Cole & wife paupers... $8.00 August 6th Bob and Sally Lee paupers... $6.00 August 15th E. A. Clark & wife paupers.. $8.00 Bob and Sally Lee paupers... $6.00 Sam Mathas pauper...... $4.00 Lucy McElroy pauper.... $2.50 Dolly Polk pauper......$32.00 Amanda Walls pauper.... $7.00 Tom Taylor pauper...... $3.00 Jane Pelton pauper..... $5.00 W. F. O'Neal pauper.... $4.00 T. Y. Logan pauper.....$16.00 August 25th James Porter pauper.. . $2.50 David Beck pauper...... $2.50 York Lynch pauper...... $3.00 L. A. Snowden pauper.. $12.00 Sept. 2nd [no pauper events] Sept. 16th W. F. O'Neal pauper..... $6.00 E. A. Clark & wife paupers... $8.00 Bob and Sally Lee paupers.... $6.00 T. Y. Logan (4 months) pauper.. $32.00 S. E. Thomas pauper..... $7.00 Sept. 28th [no pauper events] Oct. 8th T. Z. Logan pauper..... $8.00 Oct. 12th Tom Taylor pauper...... $3.00 Jane Pelton pauper..... $5.00 Oct. 14th Tom Taylor pauper...... $3.00 Bob and Sally Lee paupers..... $6.00 Lucy McElroy pauper.... $5.00 York Lynch pauper...... $6.00 W. F. O'Neal pauper.... $6.00 Levi Moody pauper...... $2.00 Oct. 20th James Porter pauper.... $5.00 Amanda Walls pauper.... $7.00 E. A. Clark & wife paupers..... $8.00 York Lynch pauper...... $3.00 T. Y. Logan pauper..... $8.00 Oct. 22th Steve Day pauper...... $28.00 York Lynch pauper...... $3.00 S. E. Thomas pauper.... $7.00 Oct. 24th Amanda Walls pauper.... $7.00 Sallie Armstrong pauper..... $10.00 Nov. 1st Cynthia Persons, pauper..... $30.00 Perry Cole & wife paupers... $32.00 David Beck pauper...... $5.00 Sam Mathas pauper...... $2.00 J. W. Loader burying pauper.. $10.00 Nov. 3rd Sallie Tyus pauper..... $6.00 Nov. 7th L. A. Snowden pauper... $6.00 Elizabeth Coulter pauper..... $20.00 Nov. 12th Lucy McElroy pauper.... $2.50 Jane Pelton pauper..... $3.00 Lucy McElroy pauper.... $2.00 S. E. Thomas pauper.... $7.00 York Lynch pauper...... $3.00 Nov. 16th James Porter pauper.... $2.50 Jane Pelton pauper..... $5.00 S. E. Thomas pauper.... $7.00 W. F. O'Neal pauper.... $9.00 Bob and Sally Lee paupers..... $6.00 Sam Mathas pauper...... $4.00 Nov. 19th David Beck pauper...... $2.50 York Lynch pauper...... $3.00 Jane Nelson pauper.... $25.00 T. Z. Logan pauper..... $8.00 Nov. 23rd Jane Nelson pauper.... $10.00 Nov. 28th Sallie Tyus pauper..... $7.00 Nov. 30th [no pauper events] Dec. 2nd Levi Moody pauper...... $4.00 Dec. 9th J. J. Cullison coffin for pauper....$6.00 M. E. Singleton pauper..... $10.00 Perry Cole & wife paupers...$16.00 W. R. Talley care of pauper.$10.50 Dec. 12th Tom Taylor pauper...... $5.00 Lucy McElroy pauper.... $2.50 Dec. 20th Indiana Adams pauper.. $30.00 Sam Mathas pauper...... $2.00 Amanda Walls pauper.... $7.00 James Porter pauper.... $2.50 T. Y. Logan pauper..... $8.00 York Lynch pauper...... $3.00 S. E. Thomas pauper.... $7.00 David Beck pauper...... $2.50 Levi Moody pauper...... $2.00 M. E. Singleton pauper.$20.00 W. F. O'Neal pauper.... $6.00 L. A. Snowden pauper...$12.00 Permelia Mathias pauper... $30.00 Dec. 22th [no pauper events] Dec. 23rd Elizabeth Coulter pauper.. $30.00 Sallie Armstrong pauper... $40.00 Dec. 31st Sallie Tyus pauper..... $3.00 ================================================================ [I have selected entries about paupers.] The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, March 8, 1893 Page: 1 ANNUAL EXHIBIT Of Freestone County Feb 10 94 1059 Jane Petton [sic, Pelton] pauper $10.00 Mar 15 94 1156 Harriet Burleson pauper $6.00 Jun 6 94 1259 Jane Nelson pauper $10.00 Apr 14 94 1177 James Porter pauper $10.00 Apr 13 94 1172 W. F. O'Neal pauper $10.00 Jun 14 94 1272 W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 Jun 14 94 1274 Harriet Burleson pauper $6.00 Jun 14 94 1273 Steve Day pauper $7.00 Jun 15 94 1299 S. E. Thomas pauper $10.00 Jun 15 94 1281 James Porter pauper $3.00 Jun 15 94 1280 H. A. Reece pauper $6.00 Jul 14 94 1327 S. E. Thomas pauper $10.00 Ju1 13 94 1324 Steve Day pauper $7.00 Ju1 13 94 1325 T. E. Wiggins pauper $10.00 May 14 94 1211 W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 Ju1 13 94 1321 W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 Jun 20 94 1292 Lucy McElroy pauper $2.50 Ju1 13 94 1320 Bob and Sallie Lee paupers $6.00 Jun 14 94 1276 Bob and Sallie Lee paupers $6.00 Aug 18 94 1355 M. and M. Aulee paupers $10.00 [next column] Aug 16 94 1382 S. E. Thomas pauper $10.00 Jul 28 94 1347 Tom Thomas pauper $6.00 Sep 13 94 1415 S. E. Thomas pauper $10.00 Sep 15 94 1421 H. & A. Reece paupers $6.00 Sep 13 94 1413 W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 Aug 13 94 1356 M. and M. Aulee paupers $10.00 Sep 13 94 1414 Bob and Sallie Lee paupers $6.00 Sep 21 94 1428 Mathew Seely pauper $10.00 Sep 24 94 1434 Tom Thomas pauper $6.00 Oct 4 94 1439 Harvey Gumels pauper $25.00 Jul 21 94 1336 Sarah McGee pauper $3.00 Jul 22 94 1293 Mathew Seely pauper $10.00 May 19 94 1253 Mathew Seely pauper $10.00 Jul 13 94 1332 Tom Taylor pauper $6.00 Jul 14 94 1328 Mathew Seely pauper $10.00 Oct 11 94 1453 Sallie Armstrong pauper $30.00 Oct 12 94 1454 Bob and Sallie Lee paupers $6.00 Oct 13 94 1455 W. F. O'Neal pauper $6.00 Oct 13 94 1456 S. E. Thomas pauper $10.00 Oct 15 94 1458 Lucy McElroy pauper $2.50 Oct 20 94 1463 H. and A. Reece paupers $6.00 Oct 20 94 1464 Perry Cole and wife paupers $10.00 Nov 13 94 1475 Perry Cole and wife paupers $10.00 Nov 15 94 1561 Jane Taylor pauper $5.00 Oct 16 94 1459 Sarah McGee pauper $3.00 Nov 19 94 1633 Amanda Walls pauper $7.00 Nov 15 94 1547 Steve Day pauper $7.00 Nov 22 94 1636 Harriet Burleson pauper $24.00 Nov 22 94 1637 H. & A. Reece paupers $6.00 Dec 13 94 1671 Pery Coll [sic, Perry Cole] & wife paupers $10.00 Dec 13 94 1672 Bob and Sallie Lee paupers $6.00 Dec 13 94 1684 T. Y. Logan pauper $8.00 Nov 24 94 1639 Tom Thomas pauper $12.00 Dec 26 94 1708 Lucy Caldwell pauper $32.00 Jan 10 94 1766 Harriet Burleson pauper $6.00 Jan 12 94 1717 Isham Smith pauper $5.00 Jan 12 94 1720 Steve Day pauper $7.00 Jan 12 94 1719 W. E. Wiggins pauper $5.00 Jan 14 94 1721 T. Y. Logan pauper $8.00 Jan 14 94 1722 Mathew Seely pauper $5.00 Jan 14 94 1723 Mathew Seely pauper $5.00 Jan 14 94 1724 S. E. Thomas pauper $10.00 Jan 15 94 1727 Perry Cole and wife paupers $10.00 Jan 15 94 1726 Harriet Burleson pauper $6.00 Jan 18 94 1729 Sarah McGee pauper $3.00 Jan 18 94 1732 H. & A. Reece paupers $12.00 Jan 18 94 1733 Lucy Caldwell pauper $5.00 ================================================================ The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, November 22, 1895, Page 1 The following business was transacted at the November term to Commissioners court held here last week: Mrs. Flora Baldree, pauper, allowed $10 a month. Nancy Nelms, pauper, allowed $4 a month. Cynthia Persons, pauper, allowed $6 a mouth. Willie Livingston, pauper, allowed $6 a month. Mrs. Jane Nelson was dropped from the list of paupers. ... ================================================================ The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, August 14, 1896 Page: 5 The Commissioners’ Court met last Monday and held a two days session, adjourning Tuesday evening. Much of the business transacted was of a regular routine nature, sach as hearing reports, passing on claims, etc. The Tax Assessor’s rolls were examined and received, and we learn that they will foot up this year about $20,000 more than last year. Tn the matter of a joint convict and pauper farm the court decided against establishing such an institution, at present, but will prepare suitable premises for taking care of the county paupers, and will put them thereon as soon as practicable. The contact for taking care of them was not let out this week, but further bids will be considered before doing so. ================================================================ The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, February 19, 1897 Page: 1 It is ordered by the oourt that Levi Moody be admitted to the poor farm as a pauper. Superintendent of said farm is to receive pay for said pauper from this date, Feb. 9tb, 1897. ... It is ordered by the Court to accept bid of J J Cullison to furnish coffins for paupers at $8 00 each. ... J J Cullison, coffin for pauper, $10.00. ... J A Hill, feeding paupers and repairing Houses, $91.75. ================================================================ The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, May 21, 1897 Page: 5 Commissioners' court ... Jim Harris, burying pauper, $8.00 ... J. A. Sneed, visiting pauper, $2.00 [Dr. Sneed was a medical doctor, so this was a payment for medical treatment.] ... ================================================================ The Fairfield Recorder - Friday, November 17, 1899 Mrs. A. Fogleman, application for pauper’s allowance; $7.00 per month, granted. ... J. A. Sneed, medical attention to paupers, $15. ... F. E. Green, visit to paupers, $2.50. ...