Voice of the People: Daily Life in the Antebellum Rural Delaware
County New York Area
Education |
Background: The U. S. Financial Panic of 1837 resulted in the failures of many
banks and led to a five-year economic depression. There was no welfare system in this era. Poor children sometimes ended up as servants with little pay,
either sent out by their families or, in this case, the Delaware County Poor
House. Note that 6 year Alvina was to be indentured to the age of 18 with the
provision "...he will cause the said Alvina Colony to be instructed in the
common business of house work and provide for her in all cases as [illeg] in
sickness as in health and also given unto the said Alvina one good bed and
bedding with twenty five dollars when she shall [illeg] at the age of eighteen
years....And the said Isaac Archer further covenants and agrees, that he will
cause such child to be instructed to read and write (arithmetic is crossed off);
and he further agrees, that he will give to such girl at the expiration of her
service, one good new suit of holy-day clothes, and two other good suits of
every day wear, and also one new Bible."
Courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association
Archives, 46549 State Hwy 10, Delhi, NY, 13753.
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