Defective, Dependent, Delinquent

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Contributing Writer
Janet Wahlberg

The final installment on the Non-Population Schedules is the DDD or Defective, Dependent and Delinquent Schedules. These schedules were only completed in 1880 and the government used the statistics collected to help with budgeting for institutions, prisons and financial aid for the disabled. The enumerator placed a tick mark under the correct column heading. This tick mark then required that the enumerator fill out one of the special forms. Subtitles for the DDD were Insane, Idiotic, Blind, Deaf-Mute, Homeless Children, Inhabitants in Prisons and Paupers and Indigent. All the schedules listed the number of the page and the number of the line where this person could be located on the general census form as well as their name and home residence. In addition all the schedules ask whether or not the person has been institutionalized. This information can provide you with another source of records.

The Insane Schedule listed the form of disease such as melancholy, mania, dementia, epilepsy, a history of attacks, duration of present attack, total # of attacks, and the age at which the first attack occurred. In addition they requested information such as: Did they require restraint of any kind? Has this person ever been an inmate in an asylum, if so name the institution, total length of time spent there, and date of discharge? Is this person an epileptic, are they suicidal or homicidal? I found it interesting that epilepsy was considered a form of insanity.

In looking at the “Idiot” Schedule we need to remember that this was the terminology of the day. Today we would refer to these folks as being mentally retarded, or challenged. The information collected is much the same as for the Insane. In addition they ask whether or not this person is self supporting or partly so, age of onset, the cause of this condition, and the size of the person’s head. Did they attend a special school, if so the name of the school?

For those who were blind there were questions on the cause of the blindness such as cataract or injury. They asked if the person was totally or partially blind. There are notes on the schedule to assist the enumerator in making this determination. The same questions regarding institutionalization are included on this form in addition to the cross reference to other conditions such as insane, idiotic and blind. The information for the deaf-mutes is identical to that which was recorded for those who were blind.

Caring for Homeless Children was a problem in the 1880s and beyond. Many children were placed in an institution if their parents could no longer care for them. Also, illegitimate children were surrendered as society did not accept these children or their mothers. There was a great deal of information gathered about these children. Their name, the date of their admission and their home residence began the process. Are the parents alive? Was the child abandoned or surrendered. Was the child born at the institution? Is the child illegitimate? Are there other family members who can care for the child? Has the child been arrested, if so, for what offense? Has the child been rescued from criminal surroundings?

The information on Inhabitants in Prison included their place of imprisonment, and whether or not they were to be transferred to a higher prison. They asked about the condition of the imprisonment such as: are they awaiting trial, being held as a witness, awaiting execution, imprisoned for debt or insanity? What is their alleged offense? Are they in the work-house or jail and are they at hard labor? For those at hard labor, do they work inside or outside the prison walls?

Typically Poor Houses listed those individuals who were considered paupers or indigent. The schedule asked how they were supported: city, county, state or institution. Was the person able-bodied or disabled? Was this person habitually intemperate? Have they been convicted of a crime? What other members of the family of this person are in this establishment? The records of the Alms’ House at Dewittville, NY reveal a diversity of reasons for folks to be there. Some of the more common were insanity, habitual intemperance, and TB.

It is my hope that these little used resources become a regular destination in your genealogical journeys.

To read Janet Walberg’s previous genealogy columns or to delve deeper into her writings and insights for searching out and recording your own family’s genealogy, please go to jamestowngazette.com and visit Janet’s own web page.