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society’s continuing problems has been the question of how to deal with its members in need. The poor, not only those without financial resources, but also orphans, the aged, and the mentally and physically infirm, have been treated in varied fashion from compassion to abuse and everything in between. As Woody said, without the dough, life can be very hard indeed. And you thought the debates over Social Security, minimum wage, welfare, and similar issues were something new?
Only 30 some years after the first settlers arrived in Jamestown, the first Virginia law was passed to offer a measure of ‘reliefe of the diverse poore people...that are disable to labor by reason of sickness, lameness, or age.” In keeping with British law on which it was based, the ‘relief’ was in the form of some (but not complete) reduction in taxes. This measure was obviously not sufficient for the number of poor grew in the next century and a half. Commensurate with the increase in poverty was harsh societal reaction against the ‘idle ... persons having no visible estates or employments.” Those whom no one would hire could receive thirty lashes as ‘punishment’. Some (Anglican) churches set up poorhouses or workhouses for the indigent who accordingly were required to wear a badge of colored cloth indicating their condition. Failure to display this mark brought five lashes or loss of the parish allowance.
Following the Revolution, the mixed relief efforts of the local church parishes were ceded to localities. The poor could make application to an overseer appointed by the local government for ‘outdoor relief’ (welfare). The overseer
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