The State Almshouse at Monson provided residence for paupers without settlement in the Commonwealth from 1854 to 1872. St 1872, c 45 abolished the state almshouses at Monson and Bridgewater, although the State Primary School, opened at the Monson almshouse in 1866, continued until 1895. The legislation transferred all state paupers, except those needed to serve the primary school, to the almshouse at Tewksbury, although state paupers could continue to be sent to Monson. Overcrowding at Tewksbury led to continuing commitment of adult paupers to Monson, with such inmates from 1872 admitted for so-called support and temporary custody. St 1872, c 45, s 3 also admitted for such support (pending full admission to the school) dependent and neglected children (through 1890; some given immediate full admission earlier, including those per St 1882, c 181, ss 2-3), and juvenile offenders committed from the courts by the Board of State Charities per St 1870, c 359 (through 1882; then given immediate full admission). Series was created to record background and status of persons admitted to the institution. Vol. 1-2 (1855-1867) transferred to: Massachusetts. Board of State Charities. Histories of alien residents of almshouses and other institutions (M-Ar)539X) , subseries (6). Vol. 3 consists of case histories, arranged by almshouse no. 18071-19301, admitted Dec. 13, 1869-Sept. 28, 1871. Information provided typically includes name, age, birthplace, immigration data, location and names of family members, occupation, and previous residences. Dates of discharge or death often added. Internal index by first letter of surname to almshouse no. Vol. 4 contains case histories from Feb. 20, 1870 for almshouse no. 18280-19639, giving name, age, town of residence/settlement, transfer information from Tewksbury almshouse, visiting agent comments, date, and sometimes health details. From the May 1, 1872, official closing of the almshouse, paupers remaining for support or temporary custody were assigned new numbers. This volume also contains case histories for no. 1-938, persons in residence or admitted for support or temporary custody at the State Primary School, 1872-1876. For assorted case histories for earlier almshouse residents, see (M-Ar)539X, cited above. For registration/name access to almshouse no./admission date see indexes to: Admission registers, 1854-1872 ((M-Ar)929X), and for support and temporary custody names from 1872, see: Massachusetts. State Primary School (Monson, Mass.). Admission registers ((M-Ar)917X), subseries (2)
