General Chat

Yes Felicity, and I always find it very ironic that the British middle classes were slapping each other on the back for having abolished Slavery, while young children were still being pushed up chimneys and sent down mines and into factories. OC

And it was Lord Shaftesbury who, in the late 1800's, asked questions in parliament and was part of the campaign which let to the end of children as young as 5 being sent up chimneys to clean them. Young folk today don't know how lucky they are! (For the most part.)

OC-Thank goodness for reforms and people that cared. Can't imagine what those poor kids must have gone through, beggars belief that they could just be abandond!! I don't think I could've just walked away...different times I guess... Nanna-Moo ;-)

Nanna Moo The one that really made me sob, was the children, aged from THREE TO SIX, who were abandoned on the sands at Morecambe Bay. They belonged to the Lancaster Workhouse and had been sent in a cart to pick winkles from the beach. The Carter had not been paid to return them to the Workhouse, so he just cleared off and left them. They were found by a Clergyman, who was so horrified at the state of them that questions 'were asked in Parliament'. It was this case, and the case of the inmates of Andover Workhouse, which led to the Union Workhouses being set up, with some sort of universal standards applied. OC

Poor souls, how horrible life used to be for children...aren't they lucky now...... OC-she was a lucky little girl considering how harsh the law could be, I hope the Judge in question was always as fair and lived long and happy! Nanna-Moo ;-)

There was a murder trial in the 1840s of a ten year old girl, who was Nurse/Domestic to a 93 year old woman. She poisoned her with arsenic. At the trial she said that she missed her mother and father and wanted to go home, but her father had said she must stay until the old lady died. In an almost unbelievable act of mercy for the times, the judge sent her home 'in the care of her father for all time'. OC

No just gone back and checked, she was 7! Little Eliza Wise of St Mary Bourne Hants, living at home with her family but listed as a Nurse Maid!

Rosalyn, I've found a nine year old Nursemaid in 1861 while I was transcribing, I had to check the age, but definitely 9 years old.

Bear in mind Nurse could have eant nursery nurse or nanny. Both my Grandmothers did this, one was only about 13/14 when she was taken to bristol to be a nanny in a big house, her father went and brought her home to Sounth Wales during WW2 as nan was home sick and they feared she'd be killed by bombs (she was b.1926) my other nan was older late teens or early 20's from memory. I have a 12 yr old cousin and can't imagin her being a nanny. Lunar x x

On the 1851 I found a 11 year old, born Bethersden by the name of Jane Idenden. The wife who she worked for did not give father's name on her first marriage cert, but on her second gives his name as Thomas Idenden of Canterbury. Is there more than meets the eye here? On the other hand, looking at the history of the Bethersden Baptist Chapel, the pastor's son in law , whos suname was Idenden, was dimiissed for an undisclosed reason in 1839, Could there be a connection?

They would run a mile. She must have gone to work cos no babies in her home, She`s not one of mine --on census I`m transcribing --so any Hargreaves out there hope you feel sorry for her!!! Ros

That really in unreal isn't it, just a child herself!! Can you see anyone of that age now that could do it. Betty

Poor wee soul, Ros