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Maid of Allwork

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Graham

Graham Report 12 Feb 2014 16:27

Well you won't have to fill in any more census forms ;-)
A begging email on the way to ZZzzz :-D :-D

Annina

Annina Report 12 Feb 2014 14:25

Whenever I have to fill census forms ect,I always put 'Dogsbody' in the relevant box, as this is what best describes my roll in life. :-( :-( :-(

ZZzzz

ZZzzz Report 12 Feb 2014 14:19

On my Husband side in the 1850s one was a servant and got pregnant by the son of the head of the household, given £300 hush money opened a milliners shop, married a Solicitor and left a fortune when she died.

JustJohn

JustJohn Report 12 Feb 2014 14:08

I think it was 2/3rd of young women in service then approx. And they left service in many cases for a loveless marriage they could not escape. Very tough life.

Some were cooks like Mrs Bridges. If they had a good education they might be governesses, some were ladies maids. But bottom of the pile was where they all started and returned often when out of place. In some cases 18 hours a day of heavy and demeaning work. Hands were red and sore like hams, wages were often pitiful.

They were not slaves though. They did go home occasionally, they did get leave to "walk out" with a man, they were free to shout at their mistress without being hung, they could move to a better "place", they could save a bit of money for old age. So in no way were they slaves with no freedom at all.

Andrew

Andrew Report 12 Feb 2014 14:07

He she is.



1881 England Census
about Charlotte Niblett

Name:
Charlotte Niblett

Age:
69

Estimated birth year:
abt 1812

Relationship to Head:
Wife

Spouse:
Cornelius Niblett

Occupation:
((Maid of All Work & Slave))



There are others who describe themselves as slaves as well

Andy

**Stella ~by~ Starlight**★..★..★

**Stella ~by~ Starlight**★..★..★ Report 12 Feb 2014 13:28

that was me in a previous life....lol

Nolls from Harrogate

Nolls from Harrogate Report 12 Feb 2014 12:29

Me Too :-D :-D :-D

Graham

Graham Report 12 Feb 2014 12:16

According to ons.gov there was a woman who, in the 1881 census, gave her title as the Maid of Allwork. She listed her occupation as slave and her handicap as scarcity of money. :-)
I think I might be related to her ;-)