Hard Times

Thomas Hardy's novel 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' mentions a 'Hiring Fair'. These fairs were places where servants were engaged, usually at Michaelmas time, on a yearly contract.

Recently, I looked at an 1807 accounts book from a farm in Trefin.
It appeared to be a prosperous business, employing various farm hands and maids.

A record of  October 2, 1807, shows that John Griffiths was engaged as a farmhand at a wage of £9 a year. He was to start a fortnight after Michaelmas. Martha Perry was also engaged for a year. Her wages were to include a pound of wool and a flannel apron.

In October 1813, Jemima Prosser is hired. She will  receive £4 a year plus a pound of wool and a flannel apron. She is probably very young girl, maybe thirteen or so.

Jemima needs a new gown and hat in February and she travels to Fishguard, a distance of approximately ten miles, to buy them and pays £2.

An agreement is made with Jack James  on 18 October, 1814, that he will be hired for the year at a rate of £5 ten shillings. Jack's wage is not that of a man so presumably, he is under twenty one.   By December, Jack needs new shoes and pays 8/6 pence for them.

Many Pembrokeshire farms were built in 'longhouse' style, bedrooms leading into each other with no passageway. In some farms, the main bedroom had to be negotiated first in order to reach the other rooms.

Servants  had to go to bed before the 'master and mistress' in order not to disturb them. Unless the farm was large, there was little privacy.
Pensions were unheard of and the poor worked until they died.

Hard times, indeed.