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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: cati on Saturday 30 July 11 11:38 BST (UK)

Title: Never thought I'd see this as an occupation...
Post by: cati on Saturday 30 July 11 11:38 BST (UK)
Well, not in the Rates Books, anyway!

1802 Rates Book for Wolverhampton:

'Martha' 10 Horsefair. Occupation: Prostitute.

There must have been a lot more...

Cati
Title: Re: Never thought I'd see this as on occupation...
Post by: stanmapstone on Saturday 30 July 11 11:52 BST (UK)
See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,365635.msg2413332.html#msg2413332

Stan
Title: Re: Never thought I'd see this as an occupation...
Post by: cati on Saturday 30 July 11 17:15 BST (UK)
Very interesting Stan.

The house at 10 Horsefair doesn't seem to have been a home for Fallen Women: and 'Martha' was assessed for rates;  perhaps unsurprisingly she is the only woman in the Rates Book for that year who has this 'occupation'.

"Oh 'Melia dear, this does everything crown!
Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town?
And whence such fine garments, such prosper-ity?"
"Oh didn't you know I'd been ruined?" said she.
Title: Re: Never thought I'd see this as an occupation...
Post by: Jeuel on Monday 01 August 11 12:06 BST (UK)
If she was paying rates out of the money she earned as a prostitute wouldn't this mean the council was living on immoral earnings :-[
Title: Re: Never thought I'd see this as an occupation...
Post by: cati on Monday 01 August 11 12:08 BST (UK)
Quote from: Jeuel on Monday 01 August 11 12:06 BST (UK)
If she was paying rates out of the money she earned as a prostitute wouldn't this mean the council was living on immoral earnings :-[
;

;D ;D ;D

Cati
Title: Re: Never thought I'd see this as an occupation...
Post by: new romantic on Monday 01 August 11 12:25 BST (UK)
nothing changes there then!
Title: Re: Never thought I'd see this as an occupation...
Post by: nickgc on Thursday 04 August 11 02:46 BST (UK)
Apparently US census takers (or the respondents) were more straightforward in reporting this profession.  See this link for several screenshots of census pages:

http://globalgenealogy.com/globalgazette/gazsh/gazsh-0054.htm

Nick