I am transcribing the VRs of Mount Vernon, Maine, and have recently discovered many pauper records from the 1840-1870 era. This has led to much curiosity about how paupers were treated during this period. It looks like people bid at the town meeting to keep paupers in their homes. However, the curious part is that it looks like they were bidding to take care of their own parents or other relatives. Another curious aspect is that sometimes they were paid in shillings - why would this happen mid 1800s? One of the most curious events is a man who is being supported as a pauper from another town and yet he bids and supports another pauper in Mt Vernon; furthermore, he is listed in the census as a farmer with quite a bit of worth.
Does anyone know of any research in this area? Would appreciate any help.
Sally Furber Nelson