Out door servant

[wilcoxon]

In 1851 in Liverpool I have a 15 year old girl who is an " out door servant "
Any ideas, her father is a clock maker and her younger brother is assistant clock maker.
What would she be doing ? I`d expect domestic , or just servant .

[stanmapstone]

I think it means she did not live in with the family she worked for. She went home each night.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

From the Liverpool Daily Post - Tuesday 19 December 1871

[wilcoxon]

Thanks,  that makes sense.

[groom]

Outdoor servant can also mean someone who is a stablehand, groom or gardener. However in the case of a woman, its more likely to mean someone who works as a servant but doesn't live in.

[stanmapstone]

However in the case of a woman, its more likely to mean someone who works as a servant but doesn't live in.

Especially in the case of a 15 year old girl. Most of the adverts for  Outdoor Servants are for men, and are for actually working outdoors.

Stan

[Maiden Stone]

From the Liverpool Daily Post - Tuesday 19 December 1871

"Wanted elderly married woman or widow"
Why specify elderly? Perhaps younger predecessors had to give or be given notice because they became pregnant.