There really were poor farms

By Nancy Battick

Poor farms or town farms were rural New England’s way of caring for indigent people before today’s welfare and Social Security were created. These farms were established as a means of assisting those citizens who were disabled, feeble or indigent. 

These town farms were usually located at the edges of towns, away from the main communities themselves. This kept the poor as far from the eyes of most of the citizens as possible. While overseers of the poor had existed since Colonial days, most people resisted asking for help, viewing it as a disgrace and an acknowledgement of personal failure. Going “on the town” was something no one wanted to be forced to do. 

The truth is, most of the people in poor farms were elderly, disabled such as being blind or crippled, or widows with young children whose husbands had died, leaving them nothing to live on. 

Orphaned poor children were sent to orphanages, but if none existed in a community, the care of these children was usually auctioned off at town meetings. Residents would bid and the town reimbursed the winning (and lowest) bidder with the amount agreed for the child’s care.

Monies for poor farms’ operation were included in town budgets. Annual reports were made on the number of residents, the condition of the buildings, and other issues. The residents were expected to work on the farm if they were able or to help with the housework. 

Sadly, most of the people who ended up residing at a town farm were unable to work or care for themselves. The farm was usually managed by a married couple who provided care, meals, and other services for an annual salary voted on at town meetings.

You can find records of poor farms in town meeting records, where budgets and other issues were spelled out to voters. In later years, the town’s printed annual report will contain a town farm report, where you will learn the number of residents, any work done on the farm, such as painting the barn or house, as well as any special issues. Some may even list residents by name.

You may also find poor farm records or correspondence in local historical societies or libraries. Mentions of deaths at the poor farm are likely to show up in local newspapers. Burials of residents of poor farms may be on the land of the farm itself or a nearby cemetery. The town paid for a basic funeral and no stone was set. The location of specified graves was probably not noted or may not have survived. Burial sites on poor farms may now be overgrown and forgotten.

As town farms fell into disuse, their buildings were either sold or may have deteriorated, and no trace will survive today. Early town maps will likely show where the farm was located and the burial ground. These will be in local assessors’ offices unless they are placed in a historical society. 

Good luck in researching these forgotten ancestors.

Columnist Nancy Battick of Dover-Foxcroft has researched genealogy for over 30 years. She is past president of the Maine Genealogical Society, author of several genealogical articles and co-transcribed the Vital Records of Dover-Foxcroft. Nancy holds an MA in History from UM. Reader emails are welcome at nbattick@roadrunner.com.