Case 9059

E

Female

At the time of this application E. was living with her widowed mother and younger sister, her father having died aged 68, of "old age and hard work". E's mother was 20 when she married her husband who was then 65. He had grown up children by his first wife. He was a "good steady labourer" who did his best to work despite poor health, but things were difficult for him and he died in considerable want. Life was a struggle for E's mother as she had only occasional days charring [cleaning] or work in the gardens. Although she was respectable, had been good to her husband and was kind and affectionate to the children, she was thriftless and dirty and no-one was keen to employ her for long. She and the children were often dependent on the kindness of neighbours to keep them from starving: the previous winter they had suffered much as they had not enough clothes and were nearly starved. They faced going into the Workhouse for the next winter unless the children could be taken into a Waifs and Strays' Society Home. If the children were looked after the mother would be able to go into service: she already had the offer of a good place. E. was received into the Belbroughton Home on 17 July 1902. Her mother had wanted her to go to this Home as it was near the family home in Upton on Severn and would enable her to visit her daughter more easily. E. remained at Belbroughton until 9 May 1910 when she was transferred to the Holy Cross Home in Clent. She was placed in service in Berkhamsted on 2 November 1912 and after a month's trial her mistress decided to keep her.