The Beverly Poor House was on Summit Ave by the Beverly-Salem Bridge from 1804-1872. Later it was located 18 Cedar Street, in use from 1872 onward.
The Beverly Workhouse Register is courtesy of Beverly City Hall.
Beverly Workhouse Register, April 1804 – May 1841 (62.12 MB)
1801-1805 Beverly Selectmen’s ‘Work Orders’
Records of the Board of Selectmen of Beverly, MA from 1801 to 1805. Manuscript. 185 pages
Includes many references concerning the treatment of the poor but it does mention other town expenses as well.
Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (268.43 kB)
Letter to selectmen, 1820.
From Robert Rantoul, Sr. Papers at Beverly Historical Society:
Special thanks to Patrick Murray for digitizing these records.
1820 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (268.43 kB)
1828 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (212.43 kB)
1829 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (342.32 kB)
1830 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (316.27 kB)
1831 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (622.16 kB)
1833 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor, part 1 (666.56 kB)
1833 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor, part 2 (1.71 MB)
1840 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (156.18 kB)
1841 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (460.45 kB)
1842 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (525.73 kB)
1843 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (514.86 kB)
1846 Report of the Beverly Overseers of the Poor (834.82 kB)
History of the Poorhouse by Sarah K. Allen (class of 1998)
This student paper investigates the changes in views and attitudes towards the nations poor throughout history (1600’s to present day). Also delves into the government’s treatment of the poor, including the city of Beverly which is reported to have done an excellent job of helping their unfortunate. Sources include the 1900 Census, Municipal documents, maps of Beverly and several secondary sources.
Town Meeting Auctions Poor Woman to Lowest Bidder, October 18, 1786. (Mass Moments)
Good Morning. I’m looking for information about my Great-Grandmother, Estella (Stella) Standley Bragdon. The family story is that she was put into the “workhouse” in 1911 and she died there 5 years later, from an infection of her heart.
If you could help me by finding any records of her, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you,