Chronology

1632

Space was assigned to a “beadle” for a prison in Boston.

1639

Legal provisions were established for care of the deserving poor, correction of the idle poor, and warning out of nonresidents.

1660

A major private bequest was given to build Boston’s first freestanding public Almshouse.

1662

Boston’s first Almshouse was in operation.

1682

That Almshouse was destroyed by fire.

1686

A new brick Almshouse was built at the northwest corner of the Common.

1690/91

The Boston Town Meeting selected its first Overseers of the Poor (four were chosen).

1692

The General Court of Massachusetts established the legal status of the office.

1704

The General Court defined “the poor” as those on alms and those not rated for taxes.

1713

The Boston Town Meeting approved a ward system based on earlier militia and fire-watch precincts.

1723

A freestanding prison (Bridewell) was opened near the Almshouse.

1735/36

The ward system was fixed at 12 with one Overseer assigned to each ward.

1738/39

The first freestanding Workhouse (separate from the Almshouse) was occupied.

1739

New warning out law. Transients could claim residency if not ordered out within three months.

1742

Renovation and expansion of the 1686 Almshouse.

1772

The Overseers were incorporated as an exclusive public arbiter of private bequests.

1793 and 1794

The Overseers’ 1692 authority was renewed with modifications. The same laws effectively ended the practice of warning out.

1795

Almshouse, Bridewell and Workhouse properties were sold for redevelopment.

1801

The new Bulfinch-built Almshouse opened at Barton’s Point. It doubled the capacity of the older Almshouse.

1821

Josiah Quincy Jr’s Report . . . on the Pauper Laws . . . called for the reform of public poor relief, including an end to “outdoor” (that is, at home) relief.

1822

Boston received a city charter that required elected councilors and an elected mayor in place of selectmen. This meant an effective end to the Town Meeting as the local authority. The House of Industry was built to replace the 1801 Almshouse, and combine Almshouse and Workhouse functions. The Overseers were excluded from its management by 1825.

1823

Josiah Quincy was elected Boston’s second mayor and waged a campaign to end outdoor relief and curtail the Overseers’ authority. As a result, the city government authorized a different system of the management of public poor relief that began to reduce the Overseers’ roles to clerical functions.