Genealogy Chat

p.s does that meen you too are in training to be a Chef ?? and did you know all this before you decided to become one too ?? Wierd how we seem to 'take on' our ancestors interest's. All to do with our geneiogical (?) make up, like they say bfn KATHLEEN

Thankyou Sandra, Re: Grn ma Flo. HEMPSTEAD, Camberwell area , Domestic Service. that's a good tip, perhaps my cousins already have a copy even ! I hope they have their info in a 'handy box' I have made a special folder now for 'this full time job' !! I'm getting a picture soon of the residence she was employed at. I HOPE it has an address on the base..or something in the background like Tower Bridge, or a local shop during that date next door !!!!! The book seem's a good read too ! good luck all, Kathleen x

Do you have copy of her birth cert. My Grandmothers birth cert is a copy of the original and is titled "Issued for the purposes of the Factory and Workshop Act 1901". In very faint pencil in the corner is Domestic Service, Elmore. I presume the certificate was issued to prove that Gran was old enough to leave school and go into service (the dates make her 14 years of age). There may just be a chance that your Gran would have had to provide a cert for the same reason. Incidently, Gran went on to eventually become cook at Penley Manor near Tring in Herts. Now a luxury hotel. One day I shall get the chance to tread in her own footsteps!

nudge

Thankyou Lynda : the info forth comming is a great help in piecing 2gether my grn mother's life .FLORA (FLO) AGNES HEMPSTEAD daughter of Alfred snr. & Flora snr. She along with her sisters(Kittie & TOT) went to London from West Mersea,on the Essex coast. about 1910 -1920's Although there was a railway between Cochester and London, the 'in between bit's were a rough ride. Thats why I am looking for any HEMPSTEAD"S around CAMBERWELL, hackney Pimlico where there were connections to her later Marriage to Edwin George Richard QUIGLEY. I think they might have been 'watched over' by Aunts or Family there. I'll have to find out their mothers maiden name,( also a Flora ..she was born in East Donyland nr, Colchester. But get this: I had a message from my Canadian cousins that my gran had passed down a 'candy dish' that had inscribed on it as a gift from an employer...MRS BAMBROUGH who had originally had it as a gift from the Ladys Bible club at THE WESLEYAN Chapel in WELLINGTON presented..in 1889. Does that ring any bell's ????? no pun intended !! I'm glad i wrote this... I now know my next little job.. to find out Grt Grn ma Flo's Maiden name... any help would be delightful.. In the meantime... I also got an extensive family tree on my QUIGLEY side from the same cousins... sorry if you keep reading this little tale in different thread's but it's the only way to 'catch' the right people....MORE STORIES PLEASE ABOUT OUR ANCESTER'S AND WORKING IN SERVICE and please 'drop' a few names and areas as you go.. mine is the CRUFFT family (as the very same who started the dog shows CHARLE's I beleive) thats where my grn's sisters worked in the House hold as servants bye for now ,( keep the thread going please)....

Another factor to remember is distance. There was no real public transport out side citys, Trains were out of the price range of most people, so it was a case of you walked to were you worked. Even live in domestics had time off to visit home and as that was just a day, home had to be with in walking distence. So your probably looking at no more than a 10 mile radius of the girls home.

Ladies, You appear to be trying to apply your relatively modern standards to earlier times, I'm afraid this can not be done. THERE WAS NO WELFARE STATE In those days you either worked, starved or stole to live, remember the size of the families 7 to 17 was not that unusual, so work was essential if you wanted to live (exist is possibly a more suitable word) The parents of the children had fed and clothed them from birth to 14 so it was now considered time to 'pay your own way' The boys went to work invariably follwing their fathers into the mines, shipyards, agriculture etc. The girls 'into service' (a poorly paid servant who was fed and clothed) whilst working and usually sleeping at the 'Big House' for at least 6 FULL days a week, sometimes 13 day per fortnight. Like one of the contributors said work was some times found by 'word of mouth' from a friend, contact or relative who new that Mrs. X wanted a new domestic as her previous one had just been married. Country Estates,Large/ medium farms and Doctors, Vets, Bank Managers,Shopkeepers and Publicans hired many of these girls wholesale movement of people from job to job was I believe unusual. My mother went to work at a public house as servant and child minder at 14 and stayed on to become a barmaid at 18 till she married at 23

Why do you think she went with several others? If she did, perhaps either they all went to a very grand household which employed an army of servants, or else they all went to a large town/city where lots of people would hire them. There were various employment agencies which specialised in domestic servants - perhaps a trade directory of the time might supply some names. nell

If she was married, or her husband was born, in a different area, that may be a clue as to where she was in service.

Was there some sort of training establishment, which would place girls once they had been trained? If so perhaps there are records? I think this is a bit of a long shot but my late uncle implied that his sisters went to something similar, in the south of England. For many, placement came by word of mouth. My mother, b. 1911 went from a small village in Glamorgan, to work in Slough at a titled Lady's house because another village girl home on leave told her about the job vacancy there.

Many went into service into their local houses, or ones that were not to far away. I don't think there will be any lists and the only way you would find out is if you know the district or parish and looked through the Elect. Rolls bearing in mind that she would not be in there until she was 21 or 1928 which was when women over 21 got the vote. Irene

Hello I'm trying to find out where my Gran went to service in the 1920s. She was born 1909 in SHEFFIELD/South Yorkshire and I believe may have gone, together with others from her area, to a certain location - Can anyone throw any light or offer any suggestions please? Many thanks Lynda