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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: cumming85 on Friday 01 April 11 05:16 BST (UK)
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I'm searching the 1871 census and just came across something strange...
this is how the census reads -
Margaret Cumming 34
William Cumming 6
Duncan Cumming 12
Sarah Cumming 3
Mary Peterson 24
Jane McCurtnie 9
Jane McCurtnie is listed as a servant... She is 9... Would this just mean that she is the servants (Mary Peterson's) daughter??
Thanks
Sara
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Hello
Jane McCurtnie would be the Cummings servant, children that young used to go out to work in those times . Most likely not the other servants daughter
Pam
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Thanks Pam...
I guess i'm not used kids that young working... :)
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Have you viewed the original image or a transcription? She may have been 19
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The birth of a Jane Macourtney is registered in Sandsting and Aithsting, Shetland on 22 July 1861, so it is likely that she would have been 9.
Being a servant at that age wasn't all that unusual. Throughout the 19th century there were various acts (see Factories Acts) passed limiting the employment of children. In 1878 the minimum age was raised to 10 and by 1891, this was raised to 11. Although these dates apply to England and Wales, Scotland would be similar but I don't have the dates to hand.
gnu
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I've seen other records with children that young registered as servants - pretty rotten to think about isn't it!
Wiggy
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What is also interesting is that in 1861, Agnes Maccourtney, Jane's mother, has a female servant, Elizabeth Cummings, aged 11, living with her. Again, Sandsting, Shetland. Reference - District 9, ED 6, page 3.
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It is all very interesting! I have a daughter who is almost 6 and it saddens me to think that kids that old didn't get to be kids... But times were very different back then... This family i have ruled out as being in my direct history, but it just caught my eye...
Sara
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Kids were certainly sent down the pits and up the chimneys as climbing boys, a domestic would have an easy time by comparison. Skoosh.