Messrs. RIDGWAY, MORLEY, WEAR, and Co., Iron-Stone China and Earthenware Factory.
PRESSING ROOM
No. 93. Thomas Furnival, aged 58:-
I have been a potter 51 years, first as a moulder; and have through every department; am now the overlooker or manager of the works. It is my duty to hire and discharge all the hands. We employ now, being low, 348 persons, that is 125 males 69 females, adults; 42 males, 7I female, under 21; 23 boys, 18 girls; under 13. The premises stand upon about three acres, more or less : and consist of 60 rooms; seven ovens, and five offices, well drained and lighted by candles ; there is no engine of any kind except jiggers. The people come at six in the summer, and seven in the winter, and leave at six; there is sometimes over-work when orders come in; and they work 'till nine. The plate-makes, saucer-makers, and bowlers take on their boys with the consent of the overlooker, and pay them by the day. All paid by the master, are paid in hard cash. We sometimes for the people advance sums of money, and let them work it out ; we sometimes do that with the men, and let the boys work it out, or girls, but we have no such thing as written contracts with parents for the employment of children. All advances are made for the benefit of the people, and are considered favours. We should not advance money to a drunken character. We consider the dipping as the most unhealthy process in the department, that indeed is the only one ; the scouring is bad, but the women do not continue long in it ; they get married and leave. I think potters' children are tolerably healthy ; they look white, but that is from the clay, which is not pernicious. We have no boys as painters in the works, the painting is done here by men and women. I do not know that I have any other information to give.
THOMAS FURNIVAL
Mr. JOSEPH CLEMENTSON, High-Street, Shelton (Earthenware)
No. 94. Ann Dishley, aged 9 :-
I have been a painter 12 months last Martinmas. There are eight little girls work in the same room with me. Mary Worrelow looks after us ; we all come to work at six o'clock in the morning, and go home at six, we some go home to dinner; an hour is allowed us for dinner, and half an hour for breakfast. I can read very well, but can't write ; I go to Bethesda Sunday-school, and went two years to day-school; they didn't teach me to write. Ann Dishley is very good to us, she never flogs us, or master either ; she is my mother. We get holidays, altogether perhaps a month.
No. 95. Charles Perry, aged 13 :-
I have worked for Mr. Clementson two years, and run moulds for William Trowton all the time. I sometimes wedge clay. Can't read or write, never been to Sunday-school much ; went to day-school for a little while when I was younger, and left to go to work. William Trowton pays me 4s. a week; we work regular six days in the week; master has always got work for us to do. I come sometimes at half past five, sometimes at six, and begin to light the fire. William Trowton gives me now and then 3d. more than my wages if I am a good boy ; he sometimes scolds if I am a bad boy, he never yet flogged me. I've got no father, got a mother, her's a painter by trade, but she s getting old. I've got one sister, and four brothers, all working as potters ; we all live at home, and keep mother amongst us. I go home to dinner. and get sometimes bacon and potatoes. I have very good health, and like my trade, sometimes it is too heavy.
No. 96. John Reeve, aged 15 :-
I have been in the dipping-house four years; there is one man and two boys there (George Burton and self.) I have been suffering a year or two from swelled neck (strumous), and have got a cold now which makes me so hoarse. We come to work at six, and leave at eight or nine. I get 6s. a week if I work 'till six, and 7s. if I work 'till nine. I have never found any bad effects from dipping, the dipper has, he is often bad in his bowels. I can read but very little, and can write a little. I go to Sunday-school at the Tabernacle, and went to a day- school two or three years. I work by day wage, Joseph Clarke pays me, he is paid by the oven ; he is regular in his payments, if he was not master would see me rightly paid ; I'd rather be a dipper than jigger:
No. 97. Samuel Broster, aged 33 :
I have worked as a potter 20 years ; began at dipping, and dipped 2 years ; the work did not agree with me, it bound up my bowels; always obliged to take physic. I have seen many bad effects from it in others, very many ; it turned their hands and arms. I have known three or four die from it, some young and some old; I call 40 old. Although you are most 40, I don't call you old, but if you had worked at dipping-tub you would have looked old enough. I don't think it so bad as it used to be. I am the father of two children, and would not let my children work at it, not if ever so well paid. I have worked since then at the oven for 18 years ; I do not think that unhealthy work, except when we are drawing it; some people draw It the second day after firing, then it is very bad, from the sulphur from the fire. No children work in the ovens, 'tis too heavy.
No. 98. Mr. Joseph Clementson:-
In offering you evidence as to the physical, moral, and religious instruction of children employed in the factories in the district of the Potteries, I am sorry to say that, in the first place, their education is much neglected, - I mean the neglect is due to the parents themselves. There are a number, I should say an abundance, of schools where children are taught to read and write but they would seldom attend but for the exertions of persons connected with religious places of worship. What is the cause of this disinclination of parents? Answer: - There is one, and that is the ignorance of the parents themselves, who do not properly appreciate the value of education ; another is, the occasional dissipation of fathers who, from habits of drunkenness and improvidence, tax the labour of the child, It is my opinion that children are too often taken early to labour, more especially to some kinds of labour, as in the dipping department, the nature of which is pernicious. With regard to the children generally, under the oven-men, printers, plate-makers, and others, I am conscientiously of opinion that they exact more from them than they ought, by requiring them to come sometimes at four or five in the morning, and ; staying till eight or nine at night, when the trade has been brisk; and which would not, if prevented, interfere with the factor. It is an admitted fact, that the hours for children are too many. In my answer to the printed queries, I think I have embodied all I have to say.
(Signed) JOSEPH CLEMENTSON.
The premises are second rate, with small unventilated rooms, hot, close, and uncomfortable to work in. They are well drained, but badly provided for conveniences for the sexes, being close together, and much exposed.
Mr. Wm. RIDGEWAY'S Earthenware Factory, Charles-street, Hanley.
DIPPING HOUSE.
No. 99. .Ralph Bowyer, aged 38:
I have been a potter 31 years, with the exception of about three years; in the interval I was a publican and licensed victualler. I have always worked in the dipping department, or in departments connected with it. There are two boys working with me, Samuel Cooper; and Joseph Hill, aged 16 and 11; the first has been at work four years, the other five weeks. I have three children, one boy, he is a dresser. I would rather not place him is the same work with me, if I did 'twould be because I could get nothing else for him to do, because I conceive that it shortens their lives. I have never been much affected myself, except now and then from a state of constipated bowel, and pain, numbness, and stiffness of my wrists ; I have not the proper use of them. In holding the rough biscuit-ware between my fingers it denudes them of the skin, and makes them delicate, and even raw at times, when they bleed; I should think that the lead by this means is more rapidly absorbed. I have known boys suffer very much from this work; I knew two cases of fits and death to have resulted in boys working with me. I think children ought not to work here; the material is bad to work in, and the work is laborious as well. I work by the oven, that is, I have to fill the oven at a given time for so much money; the boys are paid by the oven too. I look after the boys washing, because I know the consequences of neglect ; I feel I should neglect my duty if I did not. I do not think we get sufficient pay for the risk we run ; we have only 5s. per day.
No. 100. Ann Baker, aged 19 :-
I have worked three years in these works, first in the biscuit warehouse, then in the dipping- house; my duty is to scrape the uneven dipping off the ware when dry; the occupation is a very unhealthy one. I cannot eat my food as I used to do; it affects my chest very much, makes me cough ; I have a tightness on my chest : standing all the day does not hurt me. Nobody is in the same room with me now there is not sufficient to do, but at times, and when there is regular work, there is one girl to assist me. I do not read or write; I go at Sunday- school to learn to read, and would go Wednesday nights, but my mother goes then to learn to read, and I stay at home to look after the young children ; the youngest is four years ; none of them can read or write. They are all, except the youngest, at work in the potteries; one cuts papers, the others turn the wheel for throwers.
PAINTING ROOM.
No. 101. Hannah Jay, aged 11:-
I have been two years a painter, am apprenticed to Mr. Ridgeway for seven years; I can read and write a little. I went to day-school four years, and now go to Sunday-school ; but I have not been lately, on account of mother not being able to spare me. I have two brothers, one 13, the other 9 ; they, have no work to do. I get 1s. 6d. a-week, come at six in the morning in summer, and seven in winter, and leave at four or six. We work four days a-week; we have one hour and a half allowed for breakfast and dinner.
No. 110. Sarah Bowers, aged 13:
I am a paper-cutter in the printing-room; have been employed four years; there are five of us in the same room, working with six women and three men; the oldest cutters come at six; I come at seven and go home at eight, sometimes at nine, that is about three times a weeks; on other days I go at six. The printers pay the transferers; and they pay me; I get 1s. 6d. a week; I expect my wages will be increased 6d: this week or next. I can read and write a little. I have a father, a blacksmith; he has been out of work now 11 weeks. Mother does nothing but look after the rest of the family. One sister is a potter, and gets 9s, a week as transferer; this, with my 1s. 6d., is all that father has to support eight of us.
No. 111. Mr. John Keeling, aged 36 :-
I am the overlooker of Messrs. Dimmock's factory ; have been thus engaged 11 years. We have 87 men above 21, and 47 women; 54 men under 21, and 23 women; and 12 boys under 13, and 13 girls. There are no apprentice girls as painters; there are six as transferers; there are no painter boys. We pay the people every Saturday night in cash. We are not in full work; upon the average we work five days a-week. They are expected to come in winter at seven in the morning and leave at six; in the summer, from six to six; in a few departments the children come half an hour earlier in the mornings to light fires for the men. We work them occasionally over-time until nine at night; never beyond; for this the people claim half a day; they generally give over work at one o'clock on Saturdays, and seldom come on Mondays ; they like to enjoy themselves ; if they worked on these occasions there would be no necessity of their ever working over-time; this would not only be better for children but for parents : the first might go to evening school, and the last might absent themselves from beer-shops. I do not think the factors could effect this improvement, but the Parliament could. There are many schools, and there would be more erected willingly by the inhabitants, if children would fill them ; but parties interested in their welfare are obliged to go from door to door to beseech their attendance. I would also say, that independent of the advantages that would result. to the people from doing away with over-time, the master would also benefit, by saving fires and habits, and his work would be better done.
Mr. HACKWOOD, Earthenware Factory, Shelton.
PAINTING ROOM.
No. 112. Elisabeth Badley, aged 45:-
I have been a painter ever since I was 10 years old; have been a manager of children more than two years ; first with Messrs. Green and Richards, at Lane-delph, where I had looked over 25 or thereabouts; have now under my charge only five apprentices; the youngest is 10 years next March, and is my own child. I am a widow, and have four other children. The impression is, that children under 13 are to be taken from work. I am glad to find the inquiry relates to the better condition of children ; there is much room for amendment , and now give my evidence freely. the children under my care go to school on Sunday, and can most of them read; none of them can write; none of them can go to day-schools, because they continue to work till six; and the practice of parents is to send them to bed at seven. Evening schools for factory children would be of little use. If I had the power I would keep my children until 12 at school ; but as I have bad health I am obliged to put them early to work. The department in which I work is separate from all others, and no one interferes with us. I never hear bad language from children; they are well conducted; they come by seven in the winter, and give over at six; never work over-time, I mean apprentices ; other girls and women do if they like; they have occasional holidays. The painting work does not affect them ; I never hear complaints.
No. 113. Ann Badley, aged 10 :-
I have been a painter 12 months and more; there are five little girls in the same room with me, and mother looks after us. I cannot read or write. I go to Sunday-school, and went a little while to National School, and learnt to sew and knit, and make my own pinbefores. I come at seven in the morning, and go home at six, and have got one hour for dinner, half an hour for breakfast. I like painting very well, and shall not like any other kind of work better.
Ther. in Hothouse, 101.
No. 114. Josiah Bevington, aged 8, mould-maker.
Have been a mould-maker a year. I work for George Stanaway: he gives me 2·s. a week; we work very near every day. I carry the moulds from the worker to the hot-house and back again. I come about six o'clock, sometimes five, to light fires. Father's a dipper; He got no work to do. I have one sister at work ; she gets 3s. a week, as paper-cutter. I get meal and water for breakfast, and tatoes for dinner; sometimes a bit of bacon; I don't get enough; I could always eat more if I had it. I've got no more clothes than what I have on. I can read and write a little; can sign my name. I have been a day-school at "National", and go now to Sunday-school always. I go Monday nights to write.
JOSIAH BEVINGTON.
No. 115. James Till, aged 43.
Have been a dipper 26 years ; there are two boys employed in the department with me; they have worked a year with me; they are 15 or 16 years old now. The liquid used is not bad now as it used to be ; there is, however, a great deal of lead used-there was arsenic. It has often affected me, but not to the excess that it has some men. I live very: regularly, I keep myself regular, never giving way to intemperance, as some men. I ascribe nothing to myself in this respect, but to a higher source. The way in which it attacks us is first in the bowels and stomach. I take care to take medicine occasionally; I suffer now from some affection of the liver ; if it was not induced by dipping; it is certainly aggravated by it: I have always taken care of young boys who work with me, and keep them clean ; I attribute their frequent attacks to a disregard of themselves in this respect. I am a married man, and have a family; some of my boys work in the potteries, but not at dipping; I should not be disposed to put them to that if I could avoid it ; but we have not always a command over our circumstances. I have been connected with the schools in this place as a scholar and a teacher. I think the generality of parents now pay some regard to the education of their children; some shamefully neglect them ; they have never had instruction themselves, therefore do not appreciate the value of instruction. I think this state of things may be corrected. Children are too often taxed by labouring over-time, which could certainly be remedied by the men working regular hours there are some branches in which that irregularity cannot be remedied except by the masters. One of my boys now work five nights in the week till after nine o'clock in the handling-room, which is shameful.
JAMES TILL.
SHELTON BRITISH SCHOOL for Boys. (Day-school)
No. 116. Joseph Lundy, aged 23 :-
I am master of this school; have been appointed one year. It is supported by donations and voluntary subscriptions ; I do not know that there is any endowment. We have 180 on the books ; about 100 attend daily ; the absence of the rest is occasioned by the poverty of the parents who are unable to provide them with clothing : know many of the parents, and cannot attribute the absence of the boys to any other motive than that which I have already stated. I receive £60 per annum as salary ; the boys contribute towards the amount by payments of 2d. per week; most of them pay up well ; there are a few that are in arrear, resulting likewise from the parents' poverty. None of these boys work in the factories : their respective ages vary from 6 to 13, not many are so old as 13, not above two ; they are taken from school between the ages of from 9 to 12, and apprenticed to the works. They attend here five days in the week, and six hours every day ; in winter only five hours. They, are taught reading (chiefly Scriptural), writing, arithmetic, geography, English history, spelling, and grammar ; if they remain any time they make great proficiency ; they are surprisingly clean in their persons, and well- conducted and respectful m their manners. We have no religious worship during school- time, but every week we have a lecture, delivered by one or other of the dissenting ministers, on subjects of a moral and religious character. Instruction is given by no others but the ministers and myself. We have no industrial schools in the parish that I am aware of. Have received a training in the central school in London for a teacher, and upon the same principle as that which is taught here. Have not had sufficient experience to be enabled to judge whether there is any difference in the characters and habits of the boys who have been educated here, and now at work, and between others. The children appear to be well fed, healthy, and well clothed.
December 2nd. (Signed) JOSEPH LUNDY.
This establishment is situated in a high and healthy part of the town, and is in external appearance a noble-looking building ; its internal arrangements are good, as being lofty, spacious, well ventilated and cleanly, capable of holding at least three times the number that meet daily. The master a well-informed and intelligent man. Inspected children same time, and found them as above described.
SHELTON BRITISH SCHOOL, Girls. (Day-school.)
No. 117. Sarah Bereft, aged 25 :
I am mistress of the British girls school; I have been appointed nearly two years. We have 108 on the books ; out of these about 84, on the average, attend daily : the absence of the rest I attribute to the trade of the potteries being so bad, and in some instances to the mothers, who keep the children at home to do the household work in their absence. The institution is supported by voluntary subscriptions and donations, not by endowment. Some of the children pay 2d. per week each ; some come by the recommendation of the subscribers for nothing. I receive a salary of £40. per annum from the committee; if I had more children than 100 I should receive a difference in pay, but that has never been the case. I was named for the duties of a teacher in the Borough-road school, called the Central School, and teach here upon the same principle as there. The books used are the Bible and Testament; we have no others. I teach orally; the instruction given in this way is in grammar, geography, spelling and arithmetic; arithmetic ; and practically teach the girls needlework and knitting. They are not very regular in their attendance, but show a desire to learn; their time however, is often cut short by their being called away to work at the factories at a very early age. The youngest child present is 3 years, the oldest 12 ; at present there are two of 12 years, 16 of 10 years, 13 of 9 years, and 16 of 8 years ; all the rest are still younger: they are mostly clean, well conducted, and respectful : they attend five days in the week, from nine till four in the winter, and to five in the summer, with two hours between for meals and play. We have no devotional exercises during school-time, but have lectures delivered by the different dissenting ministers once a week, on moral and religious duties. Have not had sufficient experience to be enabled to form a correct opinion as to the comparative difference in the moral habits of those who have left the school any time and gone to work, and those at present under instruction.
(Signed) SARAH BEREFT
This school-room is over the boys, and the same remarks will Apply. The mistress appear to be very capable of imparting instruction. Inspected children some time, and found them well dressed, cleanly, and under very good discipline.
HANLEY and SHELTON NATIONAL SCHOOL, Boys established 1816 (Day-school.)
No. 118. Edward Chell:-
I have been master of this establishment 13 years. It is supported by subscriptions, donations, and voluntary contributions; there is an endowment subject to circumstances, or more properly a benefaction. During my time I have trained many teachers for other schools ; was trained myself at the Central School at Sheffield, where I obtained a certificate of competency. The Madras system, as founded by Dr. Bell, is followed here, which I believe to be the best for the working classes (if not departed from as is too common in the present day). that could be devised. The education consists in reading, writing, and spelling, from religious books, such, for example, as Mrs. Trimmer's on the Old and New Testament, parables, miracles, and discourses of our Saviour, with other works published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Arithmetic is also taught but neither history or geography, simply because I believe the time allowed to children in their class of life is not sufficient to give them anything more than a smattering or very superficial knowledge of such subjects ; the elder boys themselves being trained by the master to assist; the great object being that 300 or 400 should be taught as easily as three or four. I receive a salary of £70 per annum, which is independent of payments made by the boys of 2d. per week per head ; this provides for the current expenses of the school. Prayers are always read by the master, or head monitor, on the opening and closing of the duties of the day. All the boys are conducted to the parish church on Sunday mornings ; there: being no service in the afternoon, the boys again assemble at two o'clock, when prayers from the Liturgy and religious readings are performed by the clergyman or the master ; the former takes on these occasions an active part. Children are admitted at the age of 5, and continue as late as 12; it rarely happens that they remain to this age, as they are taken early to work in the factories. Generally speaking they have a desire to acquire know- ledge; the parents also show a disposition to advance their education in most eases, when poverty does not throw an obstacle in their way. Have about 120 on the books.
December 5th. (Signed) EDWARD CHELL.
This institution is well situated and is a spacious, airy, and well-ventilated building,
capable of containing three times the number in daily attendance.
No. 119. LETTER from the Rev. R. E. Aitkens, incumbent of Hanley :-
Sir; To the inquiries which you have been pleased to submit to me respecting the moral condition of the children employed in the manufactories in this place, I cannot give any additional evidence to that which you have received from the worthy master of the National School, which you read in my presence before him, and which with some slight alterations, in which he concurred, I confirmed viva voce. I am not sure whether it was expressed in your notes that the school is under the superintendence of the incumbent of Hanley.
Respecting the two subjects of inquiry (at the bottom of p.10 and the top of p.11) to which, by your marginal mark, you have directed my especial attention, I beg to offer the following observations, which are the result of considerable experience.
I have almost invariably found that the habits invariably acquired by women, rendering them more or less fit to perform their duties as wives and mothers, depend infinitely less on the occupations by which they procure their maintenance, than in their domestic training by the instructions and examples of their mothers. Let the mother be industrious, notable, decorous, and devout, and generally you will find her daughters of the same character, whether they continue to reside at home and earn their livelihood by the use of the needle, or whether they are employed in the manufactories. I have uniformly found the case in this rank of life similar to the oft-debated and endless question of the respective advantages of public or private schools among the higher and middle classes of society. In both cases the eventual moral habits of individuals will depend more on the dispositions which they bring from home than what they acquire in the school or manufactory.
Messrs. HOOD and BUXTON'S Egyptian Ware Factory, Burslem.
No. 180.-Robert Hood, aged 10:-
I run moulds for father; have been employed three years for Mr. Hood. I cannot read; I cannot write; never went to day school ; I go to Sunday school. My father is a saucer- maker; he is always in work; don't know how much he gets a week; but I get 3s. Have no mother. Have one sister and one brother. My sister stops at home to look after house; she cannot read. My brother goes to school, but he is young yet. I go home to breakfast, and have milk-meat ; and go home to dinner, when I get bacon and tatees. I like my work very well; would like to work in the warehouse better, cause they are paid there for working till nine, and I am not; I think ours harder: and get so much a day. I am always very tired when I go home at night, get my supper, and be glad enough to go to bed. 'Tis very hot in the mould-room, and a good deal hotter in summer; it makes us sweat, and we drink plenty of water. I catch cold very often, but have never been laid up with it. Father flogs me some-times, if I let go a mould or break a saucer ; nobody else. Master is very good to me.
These premises have very small work-rooms, are hot, and ill-ventilated.
February 1st.
Mr. WM. POINTON'S Earthenware Factory, Burslem.
No. 181.-George Wilcox, aged 11:-
I have been to work three or four years ; first picked stilts, then run moulds, then brush ware in the warehouse. I am not able to read or write. Father works in the sagger-house; he is in regular work six days in the week; he gets 18s. a week, or rather more ; I earn 2s. 6d. a week always. Mother looks after house. I have three brothers and sisters; they are younger than me ; they go to school week days and Sundays ; I don't know if they can read. I come to work at six and go home at six. I get milk-meat for breakfast, and bacon and tatees sometimes for dinner; sometimes only tatees. I go to Sunday school, and larn spelling and the Catechiz.
.
February 2nd.
No. 182: Josiah Mostyn, aged 11:-
I turn jigger for William Wilcox; used to run moulds. Come to work at six, and leave at eight or half past. William Wilcox does not always come Mondays; I stop at home then. I cannot read; I cannot write. I went to day school when I was little; I go to Sunday school now, at the National. I get 2s. a week, and am always in regular work.
These premises are small ; rooms small and close, dirty, ill ventilated ; a stagnant pond in
the middle of yard.
Mr. THOS.. GODWIN's Earthenware Factory, Burslem.
No. 183: Sampson Beard, aged 12:-
I run moulds for Wm. Machin ; I cannot read, I cannot write; I never went to day school; I go to Sunday school 'top of the hill chapel ; father is dead ; mother does nothing, her stays at home; I have two sisters, one a painter, the other a cutter of paper; I get 3s. 6d. a-week; I and my sisters all carry our wages home to support mother ; she is too old to work, she used to make triangles and spurs. I first came to work when I was five years old ; I am sure I was not more than five; I am twelve now ; I have been to work seven years ; father died before I came. I don't go home to breakfast because I take it here in the paint room with one of my sisters; I get my dinner with her, I get it in half an hour and work the other a half; I come at six in the morning and go home at six and eight o'clock, sometimes at one time, sometimes at the other, all depends ; we work six days in the week. I am always tired when I go home.
This is a good and well regulated factory, the rooms are comparatively large, light, and tolerably ventilated : situation on the side of the canal.
Messrs. MADDOCK and SEDDONS' Earthenware Factory, Burslem.
No. 184.-Jos. Wilkinson, aged 11:-
I run moulds and wedge clay for Wm. Bentley; have been at work five years; I am sure I was but six years old when I began ; cannot read or write ; never went to day school ; go to Sunday school and learn a b ab have got a father; he's a collier, but has had no work this good while; my mother is a baller (supplies the thrower with balls of clay); she is out of work ; have three sisters and four brothers; one brother drives donkeys, another works in pit another has got nothing to do ; one sister turns wheel, 'tother two canna work, them is little 'uns. I get 3s 3d. a-week ; come at half-past six to work, go home at nine; work Mondays and every day. Wm. Bentley licks me sometimes with his fist; he has knocked me the other side the pot-stove for being so long at breakfast; half an hour is allowed, but he makes me work before the half hour is up. I go home to dinner, but only stop half an hour, he won't let me bide an hour; I live a quarter of a mile sway, and have to run home and back out of it, and get my dinner to ; I never get a bit of play, am very tired when I get home at night, get my supper, and am glad to go to bed. I get milk-meat for breakfast, and taters and salt for dinner, sometimes a bit of bacon ; would rather work 10 hours a-day than 15; should not care then if I had less wages a good sight. I should go to school then, and have a bit of time for play. I don't wear shoes and sockings while I am at work; have got a pair at home and better clothes than this, what they gave me at school: my father is very good to me; he is a totaler.
Mr. PETER HOPKINS'S Earthenware Factory, Burslem.
No. 185: George Webb, aged 10½ :-
I am a runner for Adam Downs ; have been to work four years next Stoke wake : come at: six and leave at eight; get 2s. 6d.. a week which I give to father and mother. I cannot read; I cannot write ; never went to day school. I go to Sunday school at Bethel ; my father works at Sneyd Farm Iron-Stone Pits; he has been bad for three weeks; my mother stays at home; have one sister and four brothers ; sister is a dress-maker, my brother Robert is a squeezer, John is a handler, Thomas and I run moulds : we all carry our money home Saturdays to support father and mother. I don't know what we all get. I said that I went to Sunday school and am in spelling class : I cannot tell who made me ! I cannot tell who made the world I live in; I never heard talk of heaven ; I don't know whether I do right or wrong if I tell a lie; two of my brothers can read a bit, the others cannot.
February 3rd.
No. 186. Ann Jones, aged 13 :
I am cutter of paper for Thomas Knight; have been at work three years; I went to day school at St. John's National afore I come to work; I can't tell how long I go to Sunday school, but I cannot read or write ; I come to work at six, light fires and sweep room; leave at six, sometimes at nine; 'twas twenty-five minutes to eight last night when I went home. My father is a dish maker; he gets 25s. a-week mostly; mother stays at home; have one sister, two brothers; one runs moulds for father, the others go to school; father nor mother don't go to church or chapel, except very seldom. I never miss going to Sunday school. I am very tired when I go home at night, get my supper, say my prayers, and go to bed.
Messrs. JAS. and THOS. EDWARD'S Earthenware Factory, Burslem.
No. 187: Chas. Baskerfield, aged 12 :-
I am mould runner for James Baskerfield, my half brother; cannot read or write ; went to day school at the Free Grammar School for five months before I came to work ; never went to Sunday school; my father is a slip maker; I have four half brothers and two of my own sisters; one of them treads lathes, 'tother is a little un ; my four brothers nor sisters can neither read or write ; nor father nor mother ; mother stops at home to look after house ; none of us ever go to church or chapel ; I am sure none of us go, we stop at home ; I come to work : in the morning at half-past six, get the fires in, and clean room ; have stopped to work all night here once, and went home then at seven in the morning, and stayed at home all day; we had then a good deal to do ; I am allowed half an hour for breakfast, and go home to it; I go home to dinner, sometimes I take my time, sometimes I do not, as the work wants us back earlier; I get milk-meat for breakfast, and beef and taters for dinner.
February 4.
To corroborate this evidence, I called No. 188. - Jas. Baskerfield, aged 25:-
I am the brother-in-law of the last witness; I cannot read or write; my father is a slipmaker; he is in pretty good work; he has played lately on account of the frosts, else he has plenty to do; one brother is a banksman for Mr. Wood. I have a sister as works for Enoch Wood, 'till this last week ; nobody works there now, as Mrs. W. is lying dead ; I can't tell what father gets; I got last week with Charles 19s. Id. I don't know what my sister gets; none of us can read or write ; I go now and then to chapel ; none of the rest do, except when mother is churched or the children christened ; the youngest is six weeks old, the other before that died a year old; they never went to church between times.
United earnings of this family from £3 to £4. a-week.
Messrs. BARKER, SUTTON, and TILL s Earthenware Factory, Burslem.
No. 189. John Mayer, aged 9 :-
I am a runner of moulds for Adolphus Hancock ; I come to work at six o'clock and go home at six ; sometimes stay till half-past seven or eight. I cannot read; I cannot write; I went to day school before I came to work ; I go to Sunday school now ; my father was a plate-maker; he is now blind; he has not worked for four years or more; mother takes in washing I've got two brothers and two sisters; my two brothers work, one is a squeezer or presser, the other is a colour maker; my sisters are too young to work ; they go to school and pay each 2½d. a-week; I get for breakfast a bowlfull of stir-pudding, as much as I can eat and bacon and taters for dinner; I go home to both; and take the time allowed me, an hour and a half. I am very tired when I get home, and get my supper and go to bed, 'cause I have to be up early next morning. -
February 5.
Messrs. ALLCOCKS'' Earthenware and China Factories, Burslem.
No. 191.- Sus. Wilcox, aged 10 :-
I am an apprentice to Mr. Allcock, as a burnisher. Have been bound 12 months. There are three apprentices, and 30 or 40 young women working in the same room with me ; the three are under 13 years ; most all the women served their time here. We have no men or boys in the same room with us. There are three superintendents looking over us; they are very kind to me sometimes: sometimes they give me a slap upon the back when I look off; my work ; that is all the punishment I get, except a scolding. I never forfeit pay for breakages. I get rewarded sometimes with a penny, when I'm a good girl; the burnishers give it, not the master. I get 1s, or 1s. 6d. a week, and carry it home to mother. She stays at home to look after the children : she has five. I can read and write a bit; not much. I go to Sunday school ; went to a day school afore I came. I like my work very well, and should not like to leave it.
February 6th.
No. 192.-Hannah Rogers, aged 12:
I am an apprentice to the company as a burnisher; have served one year; we are bound for six. I ought to come in the morning at six, to sweep out, but sometimes come as late as seven; then I have to pay 2d. to another. We do this work in turns, 20 of us. I go home at different times; it depends upon what I have to do. I don't know how much work I do; but when there's plenty I carry home 2s. Saturday nights: I give it to mother; she stays at home. Father is a gilder, and works here. I have one brother and three sisters. I can read, but cannot write : my brother can read, my sisters cannot. I go to chapel school twice a day.
No. 193. Mary Nixon, aged 11:-
I am a paper cutter for Mary Sergeant; she is employed by Samuel Sergeant, the printer, who is her husband. We have two pressmen, two girls, and four women working with me in the same room. I have been to work three weeks next Tuesday. Can read, but cannot write. Went to day school at Mrs. Williams's; go every Sunday to Baptist school. I come to work at half-past six ; get my dinner in the same room in which I work ; never hear bad language there ; never hear swearing I go home at six o'clock, or half-past. Work Mondays, when there is work to do. Did not work last Monday. Samuel Sergeant is a very good man. I get now 2s. a week; shall have 3s. soon. I always take it home for my mother. My father is a slip-maker; mother stops at home to look after the young ones. Have two sisters and one brother; one of my sisters is older than I am; she is a transferer.
This factory is one of the largest and best conducted in the Potteries. The recent building, comprising the show and ware-rooms, painting, and burnishing rooms, with offices, &c. is of an elegant design ; the rooms are very lofty , spacious, well ventilated, and healthy ; most of the workshops in other parts are of a similar kind with others.
February 6th. (1842)
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