Fattigvården i Kristdala socken 1881-1890
en studie av en småländsk landsbygdssocken
The aim of this study is to learn about the nineteenth century poor relief system, how itoperated in the rural parish Kristdala during the period 1881-1890, and not least, who was thesupported person? The poor are defined as the individuals that received public poor relief, but in onechapter this definition of poverty is contrasted with a definition based upon tax exemption:inability to pay taxes. Two villages have been selected for intensive study, namely Kroxhult and Calerum, and Calerum is the smaller one. The connection between age and the poverty ratio is clear, and tobe a lodger was especially disadvantageous with respect to poverty. Further the position ofwidow was the most unfavourable among the female poor people. In Kroxhult the singlepersons were often supported and here the most ordinary receiver of poor relief was a man.Probably the local government wanted to press down the expenses, but then the parishhas kept within the law. For payment some farmers took care of adults and children, but therewas a poor-house. It appears to me that sometimes women more easily got poor relief, and Ihave found that a person who was regarded to have a disordered lifestyle could be sent to aworkhouse.