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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Perthshire => Topic started by: sladen keane on Wednesday 30 December 15 10:35 GMT (UK)
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My first post here.
Does anyone know if there would have been employment agencies for domestic servants back in the nineteenth century. One of my relatives was a domestic servant back in the 1800s, Possibly in Perth. Trying to establish which family or families she worked for.
Researching Keane Sladen Finnegan
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Many people were servants whether on farms/large houses or other.
I wouldn't imagine it was through an agency.
Have you checked census records for addresses of where your relative worked?
Annie
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In the 19th Century there were 'Register Offices' which was the commonly used name for employment agencies, and servants looking for new positions would register with them.
The Universal Register Office was founded by Henry Fielding and his half-brother John in 1750. For a small fee, by registering their names with the office servants and apprentices would find masters. Several other such offices opened later in the century, and proliferated in the 19th. century and most towns had one. The term seems to have disappeared towards the end of the century to be replaced by Employment Agency. Other terms used were "Intelligence Office for Servants" or "Domestic Servants Intelligence Office" and "Servants Home and Registry"
People also advertised in newspapers, both for servants and more often for positions as servants. If you have access to "The Times" digital archive you will see many such adverts.
Stan
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Many people were servants whether on farms/large houses or other.
I wouldn't imagine it was through an agency.
Have you checked census records for addresses of where your relative worked?
Annie
Thank you. I am very new to this. Census records will be my next step.
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In the 19th Century there were 'Register Offices' which was the commonly used name for employment agencies, and servants looking for new positions would register with them.
The Universal Register Office was founded by Henry Fielding and his half-brother John in 1750. For a small fee, by registering their names with the office servants and apprentices would find masters. Several other such offices opened later in the century, and proliferated in the 19th. century and most towns had one. The term seems to have disappeared towards the end of the century to be replaced by Employment Agency. Other terms used were "Intelligence Office for Servants" or "Domestic Servants Intelligence Office" and "Servants Home and Registry"
People also advertised in newspapers, both for servants and more often for positions as servants. If you have access to "The Times" digital archive you will see many such adverts.
Stan
Thank you for this information.
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Welcome to rootschat :D
Have you checked census records for addresses of where your relative worked?
The year and place of birth would aid a census search. The sites to search are - Ancestry, a subscription site, have transcribed the Scotland censuses - sometimes not very accurately; Scotlands People, a credit site, are the only site to have the original images; familysearch.org, free, have some transriptions; findmypast, subscription & credits, have some transcriptions; freecen.org.uk have transcriptions, likely very accurate.
Josey
ADDED: more info here:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=738010.msg5841119#msg5841119