Sussex County Delaware ~ Almshouse

Laws had been enacted for the relief of the poor very early in the history of the colony, but it was not until the Act of January 29, 1791, that trustees were appointed and authority given to counties to hold bonds, erect buildings, and otherwise transact business in a corporate capacity. Section 28 of that Act, provided that the paupers of Sussex County should wear upon the left arm a piece of red cloth inscribed in black the letters P. S. This section was repealed by an Act of February 3, 1802.
The Act of 1791, named as trustees for Sussex County:

Their successors were to be appointed by the Levy Court. On the 5th of December, 1793, the trustees purchased of John Stephen Hill, four hundred acres of land, a tract called "Springfield" lying on White Creek, in Baltimore Hundred, which was by Maryland, patented April 9, 1684, to William Whittington, and by numerous changes came to John S. Hill. The tradition is that a house for the poor existed in Dagsborough Hundred before one was established in Baltimore Hundred, and that the former house was burned. It is quite likely this is true, for the record of the Alms House begins June 1, 1791, and John Anderson, as overseer, makes a report from that time to June, 1792. The first house was probably rented, as there is no record of title having been acquired until 1793. This land in Baltimore Hundred was kept and used until an ex-change was made December 30, 1800, with Warren Jefferson, for four hundred and one acres of land in Broadkill Hundred, (now Georgetown Hundred), which is the present almshouse property. The title was not fully perfected until November 23, 1809. This property was originally taken up on a warrant dated May 28, 1759, by Richard Jefferson, and was described as lying on the heads of Kinney's Branch and Tussock's Branch, of Indian River. Tussock's Branch still retains the name, and Kinney's was early enlarged and called the "Poor House Ditch," and afterwards ''Wall's Ditch." On this tract was a dwelling built about 1766, which was at once fitted up for the almshouse, and used as such until taken down in the spring of 1877. It stood in the open space west of the superintendent's residence, which was erected in 1874, at a cost of seven thousand dollars. An old building, formerly used for the insane, and now for the worst cases of pauperism, in 1879 was moved to where it now stands, and east of it was erected in 1878 the present building for the insane, at a cost of seven thousand dollars. The house for colored people was erected in 1856, and has since been enlarged. The buildings for men and women were erected respectively in 1884 and 1885, at a cost of five thousand dollars. The farm has been enlarged find decreased by purchase and sale at various times, and at present contains three hundred and sixty-five acres.

The superintendents as far as can be ascertained have been:

Among the physicians who have had the Almshouse in charge were Dr. George W. Maull, Dr. David H. Burton, Dr. Elias S. Rickards and Dr. Charles H. Rickards, who has served since 1853, with the exception of a year or two, and to whom great credit is due for the excellent care of the inmates and condition of the buildings. The Trustees of the Poor, the first of whom were appointed in 1791, are shown in the following list so far as the records exist:

Sussex County

Source: History of Delaware, 1609-1888, Volume I, by J. Thomas Scharf, L. J. Richards & Company, Philadelphia, 1888.