Works at nail-cutting, at Mr. Neve's. Works from seven in the morning till seven at night, with half an hour for breakfast and an hour for dinner; no time allowed for tea. Works for one of the men, who gives him 9s. a-week; he receives it himself. Went to a day-school till he was 10 years old, then went to work; goes to a Sunday-school now -- the Catholic school. Can read, but not write well; can write his name. Never heard of Samson, or King Solomon; has heard of Job; has heard that the Queen's name is Victoria; has heard of London; never heard of St. John the Baptist.
(signed)
Thomas Parker

Very well grown for his age; strong, healthy, not more dirty than could be helped; well clothed.

No. 61. March 30. Joseph Tomlinson, aged 15:

  Works at nail-cutting. Works the same time and gets the same money as the foregoing witness. Went to a day-school four years -- the National School, Mr. Blower's. Never goes to a Sunday-school; has no things to go in; his father and mother cannot afford clothes for him. His father has worked hard in his time as a shipping-clerk; now wheels coals, but has taken to drinking. His father drinks away his clothes. Can read and write. Twice 20 are 40, twice 50 are 100. Takes 25 from 100 there remains 65 -- no, 75. Has left school four years and a half; left at about ten years and a half old.
(signed)
Tomlinson

Healthy, dirty, sturdy, and in rags; very well grown.

No. 62. March 30. Michael Fox, aged 14 "last Candlemas."

  Works at nail-cutting. Works the same time as the two foregoing witnesses. Gets 7s. a-week. Works for one of the men, who pays him. Does not find the work hard for him; easy enough. Went to a day-school in Liverpool. Goes to the Catholic Sunday-school now. Can read and write.
(signed)
Michael Fox.

He read very well indeed; tolerably well grown, rather meagre; not dirtier than necessary.

No. 63. March 30. William Loyd, aged 15 nearly:

  Cannot spell his name. Was never at a day-school; never goes to a Sunday-school. Has no clothes. Works at nail-cutting. Same time and the same wages (9s. a-week) as the two first witnesses from Neve's manufactory. His father is a nail-blower (puts 'em in an oven to turn the colour on 'em), and works at Mr. Neville's, Willenhall. Has not long learnt the trade at Mr. Neve's. They behave very well to him here. Is never beaten; never sees any of the boys or girls beaten here. His father does not drink, nor his mother. Does not know how it is that he has no better clothes for Sundays. Never heard of Moses and Aaron. Does not know who Jesus Christ was -- has no idea who he was -- nor nothing about it. Has heard of the Queen; knows her name; it is Prince Albert. Has heard of a place called London.

Very badly grown, filthily dirty, not unhealthy, but in rags.

No. 64. March 30. John Gander, aged 10 "and 2 months:"

  Works at sprig-cutting -- small nails to go in the boots. Gets 4s a-week. Works for one of the men, who pays him. He gives it to his mother. Does not find the work hard for him; it's very easy work. Is not beaten by the man he works for; very quiet master. Went to a day-school; left when he was six years old, and then came to work. Goes to St. George's Sunday-school. Can read, not write; can read pretty tidy. Wishes he could write. Is going to a night-school next week.

Rather small of his age, rather badly clothed, and more dirty than necessary. He read very well indeed: not very healthy or strong looking.

No. 65. March 30. Elizabeth Baylis, aged 14 nearly:

  Works at punching-works. Worked same time as the foregoing witness. Gets 3s. a-week. Works for one of the men, who pays her, and treats her kindly; never beats any of the girls. Goes to Mount Zion Sunday school; has been there only these last six weeks; never went to any school before. Has been at work only about five months. Finds the work none too hard for her. Master only puts her to some of the light washers.

Poorly grown; in very good health, like a country girl; poorly clothed.

No. 66. March 30. Naomi Waters, aged 14 nearly:

  Works at tip-punching. Does not find the work hard for her. Gets 3 s. 6d. a-week. Goes to a Sunday-school. Can read easy words; cannot write. Has attended the Sunday-school regularly for a twelvemonth. Hours and general treatment the same as mentioned by the other witnesses in this manufactory.

She was pretty well grown (compared with others), very cleanly and well clothed.

No. 67. March 30. Martha Hinks, aged 14:

  Cannot spell her name. Works at the tips, tip-punching. Does not find the work too hard for her. Gets from 5s. to 7s. a-week, according as she has had a good week, i.e. working over-hours -- no, when she works every day -- that is, when she works Mondays and Tuesdays instead of playing about. Never work anything hardly, none on 'em, on a Monday, nor on Saturday, and sometimes not on a Tuesday. There is not always work enough for them to do; but a great many do not come on Monday whether there's work to do or not. Never went to a day-school; goes to a Sunday-school; has been to one about six months -- not very regular. Her mother was bad sometimes, and sometimes she herself did not want to go. Never heard of such a place as London; never heard of such a place as Willenhall; has heard talk of Wedgbury; never heard of Walsall (nor Warsle); never heard of the Virgin Mary, nor of Mary Magdalen. Never saw a violet or a primrose -- never heard of such things. Never heard of Jack Sheppard, nor of Dick Turpin. Has heard of Jim Crow -- he was a black man -- he danced and sing'd. Does not know what she thinks of most when she's alone. The last thing she thinks of at night is to get to bed and go to sleep. The first thing she thinks of when she wakes, is to make haste to go to work.

Very dirty, as though she never washed herself; very badly grown; good health and strength; very badly clothed.

  Works at pressing tin-toy looking-glass frames. Comes at seven in the morning, leaves at seven at night. Has an hour for breakfast, an hour for dinner, and half an hour for tea. Gets 2s. 9d. a-week. Mr. Cartwright pays him. Is beaten sometimes with a strap on the hand by some of the men, but does not feel it long -- not for half an hour; not much hurt; it's for not minding his work. Has been at a day-school -- Mr. Dalton's school; was there two or three years. Can read easy words; cannot write -- cannot write his name. Goes to Mr. Dalton's Sunday-school. Twice 10 are 20, twice 20 are 40. Take 5 from 20, there remains 30; take 5 from 30, there remains 20. Never heard of Job, nor of Samson, nor of Jonah; has heard of Pontius Pilate; has heard of Christ -- he was God; has heard of Moses; has heard of a place called London. Wishes he could write.

Very small of his age; not unhealthy; not dirtier than necessary; pretty well clothed; naturally clever, quick, guarded, yet undaunted.

No. 69. March 31. William Washer, aged 10:

  Works at tin-work. Does not know how long he has worked here. Gets 2s. 9d, a-week. Mr. Cartwright pays him. Gets a slap on the head sometimes for not doing his work right; one of the foremen sometimes beats him with his hand or a strap. Gives the money to his mother. His mother works at screws. Has two brothers who works at locks, at Worton's -- down in the Pudding-bag, near Snow-hill. Goes to Mr. Dalton's Sunday-school. Cannot read. Does not know his letters -- not many. Has been to school about two months.

Very fine, healthy, fresh-coloured boy, well grown, dirty, and in very dirty rags, and not enough of them to cover his nakedness.

No. 70. March 31. John Moseley, aged 12 nearly:

  Works at pressing tin horses, and things. Gets 2s. a-week. Has his wages raised 3d. a-month, according as he gets on. Mr. Cartwright pays him. Nobody ever beats him, except sometimes a slap on the head, when he deserves it, for going out without leave, or playing about the shop; don't hurt him much. Does not feel tired at night. Feels sick in the day sometimes, when he's ill, when he gets cold. Gets cold because he's got bad shoes; all his toes are quite out upon the floor and pavement. Gives the money he gets to his mother; her shoes are nearly as bad as his. His mother does not drink, nor his father; but they are all very poor. His mother's shoes are nearly as bad as his. Should go to a Sunday-school, but does not like in such shoes as these. Can read easy words.

A poor little creature for his age, all in rags; unhealthy, unhappy; his expression of face all perplexity, his limbs very nervous.

No. 71. March 31. Daniel Ford, aged 10 or 11:

  Works at pressing tin hammer-rattles. Works from seven in the morning till seven at night. Has two hours allowed in the day for breakfast and dinner, none for tea -- i.e. works from two to seven. Works for one of the men. Mr. Cartwright pays him. Gets 2s. a-week. Has been to the St. John's school a long time -- three or four years. Can read in the Testament. Twice 3 are 12; twice 2 are 6 -- ayn't it; twice 5 are 10. Never heard of Job, nor St. Paul, nor Moses, nor Jonah, nor Samson. Does not know what month or year it is, but it's Wednesday. Never saw or heard of a snow-drop or crocus. Knows about a nettle -- was stung once.

A little dirty boy, healthy and strong; not more dirty than necessary; pretty well clothed. He could not read anything but easy words; intelligent but guarded; a bright dark eye, full of perception and mental reservation.

Back to Children's Employment Commission title page