The Hiring and Firing of Servants
By Charlotte Jordan
Servants at Stubbins Registry, Bishops Stortford, 1908
Herfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Red: CV BIS/109
Servants employed through the "Southwark and Surrey Repertory" (an employment agency) who stayed in one place for three years and had a certificate of good conduct were offered a reward of a gold medal worth two guineas, or the money, worth around £140 today.
Hertforshire Archives and Local Studies
Surrey and Southwark Repertory notice, 1804
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/P87/18/1
Girl with a teapot, c.1860
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/EBi 54-55
Adverts from Herts Mercury, 1907, showing an advert for a "good plain cook"
An Advert from the Herts and Essex Observer, this advert specifically wants a "strong active girl about 15" and promises "no washing".
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/EHe C18
An Advert from the Herts and Essex Observer
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/EHe C18
An Advert from the Herts and Essex Observer
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/EHe C18
An Advert from the Herts and Essex Observer
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/EHe C18
An Advert from the Herts and Essex Observer, 1890
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/EHe C18
Methodist Sunday School book, Ware, 1830s: reasons for leaving: most of the reasons are "respectfully situated in service" apart from Jane Campkin who was dismissed in 1828 for "not conforming to the rules".
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: NR6 8/1
A certificate of Character
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
This Hiring Service Character pamphlet from 1821 was made up of contracts to avoid arguments and lessen court cases.
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: 61720
A licence to employ one male servant to Mr Thomas Mott of Great Hadham. Fifteen shillings in 1870 is worth over £50 today.
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/ESr F10
Here is an extract from a letter to Lord and Lady Cowper from their governess, Mary Green regarding her unfair dismissal. She begs to know what she has done and hopes for a good reference, 1782
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/EP F310/52
Here is another extract from a letter to Lord and Lady Cowper from their governess, Mary Green regarding her unfair dismissal. She begs to know what she has done and hopes for a good reference, 1782
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/EP F310/52
The letter of complaint from Abbie's mother, Mrs Andrews about her daughter quitting their service, 1930
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/ECh B131
The response letter from the Lee's solicitor to Mrs Andrews.
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/ECh B131
These girls are having a cookery class at the Abbey Schools Institute, St. Albans, c.1911
St Albans in Camera
A letter from Elenar Pitman to Lady Cowper telling her she has another (better) job offer, 1713: "I now have an ofer [sic] of busness [sic] which will be very much to my satisfaction in every respect"
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/EP F204
In 1794, Mr William Sadler replied: "... I should be glad if you send me one, about sixteen or seventeen a strong girl to the sign of Marlborough Inn Blenheim Street... I creeps [sic] one boy and one girl creeps good ours (sic) goes to bead (sic) at eleven o'clock..."
Herftordshire Achives and Local Studies, Ref: D/P87/18/1
The stigma of having a servant from the workhouse is evident from this letter in 1794 to Mr Sparks from Mr William concerning his servant. He is happy to hire her one year but says: "I presume the clothes you give with her will not resemble the parish clothes as she could not wear them with me".
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: D/P87/18/1
Extract from a letter concerning a servant who absconded from her master in 1804. He complains to the workhouse that... "M Harvey ran away from Mr Peach in London... and packed up all her cloaths that was worth taking... and she really has ehaved very ill without any just cause... to numerate all her wickedness would be too tedious and she has connected with a bad set".
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
There were several options open to servants seeking employment, with personal contacts being the most favoured. Those livng near a large estate might be taken on at the big house but some families didn’t want to employ locals for fear of gossip about private affairs and a local girl might have admirers. Londoners preferred country girls as they were less likely to run away and were believed to be more honest and hardworking.
A traditional way of finding work was at a hiring or “mop” fair. By the late 19th century, most large towns had a servants’ registry but this was the least popular way to find work. Both parties paid a fee but the system was unregulated and open to abuse. Naive country girls paid extortionate fees and were not found a place; employers were also cheated with dishonest servants and false references.
No-one would employ a servant without an interview and a good “character” (reference) was crucial. There was a high turnover of staff and people frequently moved around.
Newspaper adverts were a popular means of requirement and this became more improtant as newspaper flourished in the 19th century. Most positions required a good plain cook who was strong, clean and respectable.
( within the gallery, are a selection of adverts sent to the editor and placed in the Herts and Essex Observer in 1865.)
Only wealthy households employed male domestics because of a tax imposed on them in 1777 to help meet the cost of the American War. A tax of female servants was repealed in 1792. The tax did ease but was not formally abolished until 1937.
Master and servant relations often went sour. In 1931, Abbie Andrews from Ware was employed by Mr W H Lee, a land agent. She was clearly unhappy in her post and quit. Being the lone servant in a modest house could be very hard work and quite lonely.
In a letter to the Lees’ Abbie’s mother says she is poorly and has been made to do washing, which is “woman’s work”. Mr and Mrs Lee were furious and responded with threats of legal proceedings unless she returned to her place, (photos of these documents can be found in the photo gallery.)
Special domestic training schools were also organised, usually financed either by individual philanthropists or by charitable organisations. Locally, the cowper family established a servants’ training school at Birch Green in the 1860s.
Workhouse Servants
Many young servants were recruited from the workhouse, the last and lowest place to find a servant. Workhouse girls were mainly employed as maids to shopkeepers and craftsmen whilst boys were apprentices. They were cheap and steady source of cheap labour and had no-where else to go.
Once they had found a place, young servants in particular faced a culture shock. Many girls had come from small country cottages and had never seen a kitchen range before so being in a house with lots of rooms must have been bewildering. Some girls were frequently verbally abused by their employers as they were unfamiliar with the precious items found in middle homes. Wealthier families did not want to be associated with them and the stigma of the workhouse.
The master of Royston workhouse, William Sparkes advertised his steady supply in London newspapers and received many replies, a couple are shown.
This page was added on 31/08/2011.
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Jane Smith (b1823) may have been one of those young women servants who left their service. Jane was born to John & Mary Smith ( formerly Body) he was a labourer, carpenter & servant himself. In 1848 Jane set sail for Australia by herself, I think she tried London first.
I wonder if her grandmother could have been Emily Smith Victualar of the Green Dragon?