From poor laws to pensions: the evolution of economic support for the aged in England and America.

Abstract

IN THE YEAR 1644, THE TOWNSHIP OF PORTSMOUTH, Rhode Island, delegated the care of "ould John Mott" to the town overseers. The overseers arranged for a caretaker who would provide for his "diett and washing" in exchange for 5s per week. These arrangements were made in spite of the fact that John Mott had a son. Rather than caring for his father personally, the son agreed to pay "A Cowe for ever and 5 bushels of Corne by the yeare so longe as the ould man shall live . . . that so he might be dischardged from any further Chardge" (Creech 1936). Old John Mott was clearly not self-reliant, and his son, while not abandoning his father entirely, relegated his care to members of the town, thus discharging himself from any further responsibility. The case of John Mott is not unique, not some historical anomaly that can be readily explained away. Yet a common theme among contemporary writers is that old age dependency was not a problem until the late nineteenth century and that older people either worked or were cared for by family, friends, or charity.' These conclusions,