OCCUPATIONS -
FEMALE SERVANTS
In the 19th Century 80% of the population were working class and to be considered as middle class you had to have at least one servant, “Service” was a major employer of women during the century.
Contrary to the romantic images seen on TV in series like Upstairs Downstairs and more recently Downton Abbey, life in service was very tough. Their work would last from 5am to 10pm, with no employment rights whatsoever, and the wages were minimal, board and lodging would be included as part of your wages. You could be given a generic name like Henry or Sarah no matter what your real first name was.
Rules for servants could include any or all of the following:
Never let your voice be heard by the Master or Mistress of the house
Always stand still when being spoken to and look the person in the eye
Never offer any opinion to your employer and never say good night to them
Never talk to another servant when in the presence of your mistress
Always keep the outer door fastened only the butler may anser the bell
Female staff are forbidden from smoking
Every servant must be punctual at meal times
No servant is to receive any visitor relative or friend in the house
Any maid found fraternising with a member of the opposite sex will be dismissed without a hearing
The hall door must be closed by 10.30pm
The Servants hall must be cleared and closed by 10.30pm
Any breakages or damages will be taken out of your wages
The type of work female maids had to cover could be varied and unpleasant they could include: launder, sew, dust, light fires, empty chamber pots, cut your masters toenails, iron his shoelaces, haul water for baths. Girls as young as 11 years old would start as the lowest level of servant. Women would expect to continue in service until marriage. Some female servants could be deemed sexually available to male members of the house the master, their sons and guests and pregnancy was a cause for immediate dismissal.
The wages were dismal with an average being £10 a year (about £800 in 2013) although little extras could be gained when on departure of guests staff would line up and may get a shilling tip.
A strict social hierarchy existed among domestics the higher levels of domestic often sat at a separate table for their meals and enjoyed better wages and privileges.
HIERARCHY OF FEMALE DOMESTICS
Upper Order
Companion – a 24 hour on call friend to shop, play cards and aid their mistress
Waiting Maid and Ladies Maid - also known as “Abigails” (see below) preferably French but more commonly English, responsible for dressing her mistress, caring for her clothes and running errands
Housekeeper – Normally of a certain age a mature woman experienced in household affairs. She would buy provisions, dispense funds and keep accounts. She was also responsible for managing the lower order of domestics.
Cook – would perform the same duties as a male cook but considered to be his inferior.
* The origin of the name "Abigails" comes from the BIble.
Abigail was the wife of Nabal the wealthy chief of Carmel,who refused hospitality to David when he was an outlaw from the court of Saul. David was on his way to punish Nabal when Abigail hastened to meet him with a present and so charmed him, that on the death of her husband not long after, David at once took her to his wife. The name Abigail passed into general term for a Ladies Maid or Waiting Maid from the title of Handmaid that Abigail gave to herself.
THE KITCHEN MAID
BY VERMEER
THE SCULLERY MAID by VERMEER
Lower Order
Chambermaids – Attended to the chambers or rooms, dusted, made beds, warmed beds, took care of fires, attending dressing room and cared for windows
Housemaids – also known as “Spider Brushes” from all the dusting they did. Tidied, mended garments, polished fireplace fixtures and door locks, opened windows, served tea and emptied chamber pots
Nursery Maids – “Wet Nurses” they cared for the children
Kitchenmaids – Assisted in kitchen activities and may rise to be an assistant cook
Maids of all Work – basically what it says a maid who does a bit of everything
Scullery Maid – Lowest of all the servants and typically very young. She scoured pots, stoves, pans, cleaned vegetables, scrubbed scales off fish and plucked poultry. Provided hot water for the house, Lit fires to heat water, cleaned away garbage and debris on the floors. She might also have cleaned and emptied chamber pots. She would never touch any luxuries like china or glass.
There are 312 female servants in the Lake Family Tree making it the second most popular occupation. My Great Aunt (or Grand Aunt if you prefer) Fanny Lake was a servant in Guernsey. In 1891 at the age of 15 she became a servant to The family of John J Carey a Civil Engineer from Guernsey who was living at "Ronee Val" Vale (St Michel du Valle) Guernsey. She was the only servant for John aged 61, his brother Frederick aged 68 and Fredericks wife Sarah aged 58. It would appear that she didn't stay in service too long as by 1901 she was a Stationers Assistant living with her sister Alice and her husband George Poat Falla at their cottage Le Rivage in St Sampson. Unfortunately Fanny died at the age of just 43 in 1918 of Septic Perotinitis.
