I DON'T KNOW ABOUT NC, BUT IN VA YOU FREQUENTLY RUN ACROSS VESTRY RECORDS IN WHICH SOME PARISHONER IS ALLOTTED MONEY TO CARE FOR A SICK PERSON, OR TO BURY THE POOR. I HAVE ONE INSTANCE OF A WIDOW GIVEN MONEY BY THE CHURCH TO CARE FOR HER 6 ORPHANS, BUT IN THAT INSTANCE ONE PARENT WAS ALIVE. IN ANOTHER INSTANCE A PARISHONER WAS GIVEN MONEY FOR CARING FOR A SICK TEEN-AGED BOY. GENERALLY SPEAKING, I THINK THESE "ASSIGNMENTS" WERE DOLED OUT TO WILLING PARISHONERS AS ACTS OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY & THE INDIVIDUAL CHURCH RECOMPENSED THE VOLUNTEER. I HAVE NEVER RUN ACROSS ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY AT ANY LEVEL WHICH DID THE LIKE DURING COLONIAL TIMES & LONG AFTERWARD. KAY G. KLWRAGEG@aol.com