Right now I am transcribing Effingham Co. Supervisor's Court Orders from 1881-1884.

 

Many of these records are expenditures of the Circuit Clerk for the benefit of the poor.  I am finding that many people who were boarders in the homes of people in the 1880 census are the ones that were receiving  from the County Clerk's poor fund. Not everyone ended up in the poor farm.  Everything from goods to medical care to transportation was available for the poor as well.

 

Keeping in mind that our ancestors who are boarders in the homes of nonrelatives may be on the poor list, we may be able to find more information on them in other courthouse files. 

 

I have run across payments for inquests on certain named individuals, for insanity cases, for coffins, and medical treatment, all for the poor.  It is very interesting.   I also learned that county work was hired out from the community and supplies were furnished from local merchants.  I also learned that this particular County Clerk gave himself over $1300 in the December term of 1881, in addition to hundreds from serving on several boards.  These checks were written, one after another, in sums of $200-$300 each.  That amount of money is highly suspicious to me.  Perhaps someone "in the know" could comment.

 

I'm not sure how one would go about searching old courthouse books.  Effingham County has a huge amount that are quickly deteriorating.  I'm looking forward to transcribing as many as possible.

 

Melody