Treatment of the Poor
In 1768, a law was passed mandating that Ulster and Orange counties needed to elect Overseers of the Poor. Many towns, such as New Paltz, had previously created this elected position. This local official, with funds from town and county taxes, would try to provide those needing assistance with food, clothing, or medical treatment. People receiving relief varied from former slaves, widowed or single mothers, the disabled, and the elderly to entire families.
One of the responsibilities of the Overseer of the Poor was to decide whether or not a family was in need of relief. The Overseer would then seek the counsel of two Justices of the Peace who would then decide if relief was really necessary and what the relief would be.
Various methods of relief for the poor included: outdoor relief, binding-out, and public auctioning. Outdoor relief was the practice of helping a person in need by offering a monetary sum each week so that he or she could to take care of themselves.
In addition to outdoor relief, the Overseer could choose to auction off the poor to individuals who would then be paid to take care of them. These caregivers would then be funded by the local government to care for the dependent. It is interesting to note that this person would be auctioned off to the individual who would accept the least amount of compensation. At times, these paupers were abused and exploited as laborers or house servants.
In addition to outdoor relief and auctioning off the poor, Overseers could use the method of binding out. Binding out was very similar to auctioning off the poor, but a specific time period was agreed upon. This practice was similar to indentured servitude. The binding out contract usually lasted until the age of 18 for girls, and 21 for boys. The goal of this system was to save taxpayer dollars while also delivering a service for the poor, but often fell short of either.
(The document provided is the 1830 indenture between William Cutler and Daniel Pulhemus. Courtesy of the Ulster County Clerk's Office, Nina Postupack, County Clerk)