The
Orphan House was built in 1790 as a nondenominational
institution and was one
of the County's great success stories. Its main goal
was to provided a structured
and safe environment for the needy, abandoned
and orphaned children.
Funds to maintain such a place as this could have been
difficult to come by_but_
The Orphan House was blessed to have the highest
respect and abundantly
generous support of the Charleston's elite.
Parents who were unable
to provide for their children could place them in the
care of the city (Charleston)
and the children would then be placed at the
Orphan House. As with
most legal matters during that era, a male could place
his children in the care
of the Orphanage without any problems...but...
a female had to get a
male to endorse her request.
Some of the little ones
that entered its doors was placed in the Orphanage's
care only temporary while
the parent(s) re-established their lives and could
once again provide for
their family. The children that remained became known
as the "children of the
city", and were either apprenticed to tradespeople or
provided with higher public
schooling and college, depending on their abilities.
If you have information
of ancestors that were placed into the Charleston Orphan House
(w/references of proof)
and would like to share with other researchers please send data to me
and I will include it among
this page with link to your e+mail address and/or webpage.
Thank you,Jerri
Lynne
1999-2000,
Jerri Lynne Smith, Charleston County Webmaster