RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: BordersCrafter on Wednesday 06 February 13 20:17 GMT (UK)
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In September, 1895, the Poor Law Officers' Journal newspaper reported:
A MINER IN SEARCH OF A WIFE, AMUSING APPLICATION TO THE BISHOP AUCKLAND GUARDIANS.—At last week's meeting of the Auckland Board of Guardians, the following letter was read from a miner:—"Having noticed that you have some orphan children and other class of people you want rid of from your Workhouse, I thought it a likely place to get a wife. I am a respectable working man under 40 years of age, a widower with no encumbrance, a good set-up house, a coal-hewer by trade, and wants a wife, as I am completely sickened of housekeepers, having had no less than 18 in as many months. If you can fit me up with a respectable lassy between 30 and 50 I would be glad, and would he glad to take an orphan girl into the bargain free of charge. I prefer a single woman before a widow, as widows won't do for me. I have no particular fancy for beauty; a plain girl will do for me, only she must be clean and industrious. If you have one please let me know and I will come with a. trap and take her away free of charge to the Guardians. Let me know soon, please."
Whatever happened to Lonely Hearts adverts?? ;D
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Do we know the fellows name? I'd love to know if he ever managed to find himself a plain, clean but industrious lassie ;D I do hope he did.
Suey
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I don't know his name, or what became of his quest to find a wife. He was very enterprising though! I came across this little gem while researching the Bishop Auckland Workhouse, and couldn't resist sharing it.
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What a great little article, I wonder if the enterprising gentleman found someone to match all his criteria?." Must be clean and industrious, prefer single girl to widow, not bothered about looks and " Would take her away for Free". Sounds like he was looking for someone's old furniture or in this case a skivvy.
Can only imagine that such a chat up line would fail miserably in todays climate. He would probably find himself in some court or other charged with discrimination. But it did make me chuckle.
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Having read this again I do wonder just why he'd had 18 housekeepers!
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Having read this again I do wonder just why he'd had 18 housekeepers!
Lol, yes I did wonder myself!