10
The Quaise Farm Horror of 1844 Burning of the Asylum
EARLY IN THE morning of the 21st of February, 1844, the Asylum located at the town's Quaise Farm was destroyed by fire, and ten of the unfortunate inmates were burned to death. The event caused such a reaction that, ten years later, it was decided to remove the Asylum to a place within the town limits, as well as revising the entire plan for the future maintenance of a town farm. It was two decades before—in June, 1822—that the town first launched the idea of a farm for the indigent of the island, and this action came after a report by a special committee, which reported at the annual town meeting in 1821. The committee was composed of several of the most prominent citizens of Nantucket, and included: Gorham Coffin, Gideon Gardner, Barker Burnell, Zenas Coffin, Griffin Barney, Samuel Mitchell and Gilbert Coffin. It reported that there were 130 persons being supported in the town's Asylum, the greater part being old and infirmed persons, and that 60 more individuals were being partially supported in private homes. As there were some fifty persons who were capable of working under supervision, the committee recommended the purchase of a farm, where both the able workers and the old and infirm could be placed, and the produce of the farm would help support the welfare program. This report was received and the voters approved it at the annual town meeting on April 13, 1822. Following the recommendation, it was further voted to purchase land at east Quaise from the heirs of Obed Mitchell, which contained the former Shubael Coffin farm and its house and barn and animals—some 150 sheep, 12 cows, 2 oxen and 1 horse. The land contained 180 acres of land adapted to farming. The cost would be $6,700. The proponents declared that more than 100 persons involved would benefit from this new location, as it would provide a comfortable provision for the poor, which could not be provided under the system then in operation, which they condemned as encouraging "vice and immorality and brought disgrace to the town." Arguments against the plan challenged the costs, which would increase the town's debt to $14,000, and pointed out there would be extra charges as regards to carting of materials and providing transportation over the 2Vi miles to Quaise. The costs of medical attention were also mentioned.
