Servant's Duties in 1789?

[Les de B]

My ancestor, Edward ROBINSON, when on trial for stealing in 1789, was described as a servant to Tate WILKINSON, actor and owner of the Theatre Royal, York. Apparently Edward was living in a room at the rear of theatre, called The Mint.

I'm just wondering whether anybody would know what type of duties a servant would perform in these circumstances in this period of time? I always think of a servant as being more of a butler, but I think I've seen too many movies and have sterotyped the occupation.

Les

[charlotteCH]

Maybe as he lived at the theatre he was the actor's dresser? Looked after  his costumes etc.

 I don't really know but that's a guess.

charlotte

[coombs]

Maybe he worked at the theatre in maintenance work such as helping get the sets ready but as CharlotteCH said he probably looked after the costumes. It is hard to say really.

[charlotteCH]

I'd say the fact he lived in a room at the theatre ties him intodoing the sort of work coombs and I have suggested.  Mind you, it's only an edducated guess.

charlotte

[Les de B]

Thanks for your ideas. I was thinking along the same lines, but its a bit hard to be precise as "servant" does cover a number of actual jobs I suppose - just wished his occupation would have been more specific   

Les

[charlotteCH]

Don't we all wish for greater specificity each time we find something

charlotte

[coombs]

I think he would have at least helped out in the theatre especially if he lived there.

My ancestor was a coachman. What type I am not sure but I believe a domestic one. Again I wish the records were more specific. He lived in London and died in 1831.

[charlotteCH]

If he'd lived until the 1841 census coombs you would at least have had an address.

We lived in a mews in London and it had been a coachhouse with coachman's quarters over it... it was just wonderful

[coombs]

His name was George Coombs. He would have been a servant but in a different style of job to Edward Robinson who worked in the theatre.

George seemed to live in parts of London that had coach and horses repositories nearby such as Grays Inn Lane, Soho and Marylebone. Marylebone is a clue to what type of coachman he was although not conclusive.