Even though the House of Industry and Refuge was intended to serve Wellington County and provide relief, you could only be admitted under special circumstances. The individual or family would have to prove they needed to be in the care of the House. The county Mayor, Reeve, or Deputy Reeve were the only people with authority to admit people. Once the decision was made, the Keeper of the House could not refuse. The Reeve would accompany the individual to the House along with a Form of Commitment. The form guaranteed that the individual was requiring of the relief provided by the House. It also stated that the individual was “not insane or idiotic or suffering from any incurable disease which is infectious or contagious.” (taken directly from artifact) The letter also specified that the individual had to have been a resident of a specific town, township, or village in Wellington County for at least one year and a County resident for at least two. It was created in a pamphlet format and would have been given to the Keeper upon committing an individual.

 

Below is a recreation of a Form of Commitment for the Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge. The original can be found in the Wellington County Archives. Please click on the images to view larger versions.