Testimony Gathered by Ashley's Mines Commission
Added by Laura Del Col, West Virginia University
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[Parliamentary Papers, 1842, vols. XV-XVII, Appendix I, pp. 252, 258, 439, 461; Appendix II, pp. 107, 122, 205. The second of the three great reports embodies the results of the investigation into the conditions of labor in the mines made by Lord Ashley's Mines Commission of 1842. The Mines Act of 1842 that resulted prohibited theemployment in the mines of all women and of boys under thirteen.
[The material below was reprinted in an old history textbook,Readings inEuropean History Since 1814, edited by Jonathan F. Scott andAlexander Baltzly, and was published by Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc. in 1930.The original sources of the material are listed in footnotes in the book; I'veput them in brackets after each subject heading. The explanatory notes betweensections are by Scott and Baltzly; the links were, of course, added by me. --L.D.C.]
No. 116. — Sarah Gooder, aged 8 years.
I'm a trapper in theGawber pit. It does not tire me, but I have to trap without a light and I'mscared. I go at four and sometimes half past three in the morning, and come outat five and half past. I never go to sleep. Sometimes I sing when I've light,but not in the dark; I dare not sing then. I don't like being in the pit. I amvery sleepy when I go sometimes in the morning. I go to Sunday-schools and readReading made Easy. She knows her letters, and can read little words. They teachme to pray. She repeated the Lord's Prayer, not very perfectly, and ran on withthe following addition:--"God bless my father and mother, and sister andbrother, uncles and aunts and cousins, and everybody else, and God bless me andmake me a good servant. Amen." I have heard tell of Jesus many a time. I don'tknow why he came on earth, I'm sure, and I don't know why he died, but he hadstones for his head to rest on. I would like to be at school far better than inthe pit.
No. 137. — Thomas Wilson, Esq., of the Banks, Silkstone, owner of three collieries.
Girl pulling a coal tub in mine. From official report of the parliamentary commission.
The employment of females of any age in and aboutthe mines is most objectionable, and I should rejoice to see it put an end to;but in the present feeling of the colliers, no individual would succeed instopping it in a neighbourhood where it prevailed, because the men wouldimmediately go to those pits where their daughters would be employed. The onlyway effectually to put an end to this and other evils in the present collierysystem is to elevate the minds of the men; and the only means to attain this isto combine sound moral and religious training and industrial habits with asystem of intellectual culture much more perfect than can at present beobtained by them.
I object on general principles to government interferencein the conduct of any trade, and I am satisfied that in mines it would beproductive of the greatest injury and injustice. The art of mining is not soperfectly understood as to admit of the way in which a colliery shall beconducted being dictated by any person, however experienced, with suchcertainty as would warrant an interference with the management of privatebusiness. I should also most decidedly object to placing collieries under thepresent provisions of the Factory Act with respect to the education of childrenemployed therein. First, because, if it is contended that coal-owners, asemployers of children, are bound to attend to their education, this obligationextends equally to all other employers, and therefore it is unjust to singleout one class only; secondly, because, if the legislature asserts a right tointerfere to secure education, it is bound to make that interference general;and thirdly, because the mining population is in this neighbourhood sointermixed with other classes, and is in such small bodies in any one place,that it would be impossible to provide separate schools for them.
No.14— Isabella Read, 12 years old, coal-bearer
Works on mother'saccount, as father has been dead two years. Mother bides at home, she istroubled with bad breath, and is sair weak in her body from early labour. I amwrought with sister and brother, it is very sore work; cannot say how manyrakes or journeys I make from pit's bottom to wall face and back, thinks about30 or 25 on the average; the distance varies from 100 to 250 fathom.
I carry about 1cwt. and a quarter on my back; have to stoop much and creep through water, which is frequently up to the calves of my legs. When first down fell frequently asleep while waiting for coal from heat and fatigue.
I do not like the work, nor do the lassies, but they are made to like it. When the weather is warm there is difficulty in breathing, and frequently the lights go out.
No. 134. — Isabel Wilson, 38 years old, coal putter.
Whenwomen have children thick (fast) they are compelled to take them down early. Ihave been married 19 years and have had 10 bairns; seven are in life. When onSir John's work was a carrier of coals, which caused me to miscarry five timesfrom the strains, and was gai ill after each. Putting is no so oppressive; lastchild was born on Saturday morning, and I was at work on the Fridaynight.
Once met with an accident; a coal brake my cheek-bone, which kept meidle some weeks.
I have wrought below 30 years, and so has the guid man; he is getting touched in the breath now.
None of the children read, as the workis no regular. I did read once, but no able to attend to it now; when I gobelow lassie 10 years of age keeps house and makes the broth orstir-about.
Nine sleep in two bedsteads; there did not appear to be any beds, and the whole of the other furniture consisted of two chairs, three stools, a table, a kail-ot and a few broken basins and cups. Upon asking if the furniture was all they had, the guid wife said, furniture was of no use, as it was so troublesome to flit with.
No. 26. — Patience Kershaw, aged 17, May15.
My father has been dead about a year; my mother is living and hasten children, five lads and five lasses; the oldest is about thirty, theyoungest is four; three lasses go to mill; all the lads are colliers, twogetters and three hurriers; one lives at home and does nothing; mother doesnought but look after home.
All my sisters have been hurriers, but three wentto the mill. Alice went because her legs swelled from hurrying in cold waterwhen she was hot. I never went to day-school; I go to Sunday-school, but Icannot read or write; I go to pit at five o'clock in the morning and come outat five in the evening; I get my breakfast of porridge and milk first; I takemy dinner with me, a cake, and eat it as I go; I do not stop or rest any timefor the purpose; I get nothing else until I get home, and then have potatoesand meat, not every day meat. I hurry in the clothes I have now got on,trousers and ragged jacket; the bald place upon my head is made by thrustingthe corves; my legs have never swelled, but sisters' did when they went tomill; I hurry the corves a mile and more under ground and back; they weigh 300cwt.; I hurry 11 a-day; I wear a belt and chain at the workings, to get thecorves out; the getters that I work for are naked except their caps; they pulloff all their clothes; I see them at work when I go up; sometimes they beat me,if I am not quick enough, with their hands; they strike me upon my back; theboys take liberties with me sometimes they pull me about; I am the only girl inthe pit; there are about 20 boys and 15 men; all the men are naked; I wouldrather work in mill than in coal-pit.
This girl is an ignorant, filthy,ragged, and deplorable-looking object, and such an one as the uncivilizednatives of the prairies would be shocked to look upon.
No. 72 — MaryBarrett, aged 14. June 15.
I have worked down in pit five years; fatheris working in next pit; I have 12 brothers and sisters — all of them but onelive at home; they weave, and wind, and hurry, and one is a counter, one ofthem can read, none of the rest can, or write; they never went to day-school,but three of them go to Sunday-school; I hurry for my brother John, and comedown at seven o'clock about; I go up at six, sometimes seven; I do not likeworking in pit, but I am obliged to get a living; I work always withoutstockings, or shoes, or trousers; I wear nothing but my chemise; I have to goup to the headings with the men; they are all naked there; I am got well usedto that, and don't care now much about it; I was afraid at first, and did notlike it; they never behave rudely to me; I cannot read or write.
No.7- — Benjamin Miller, Underlooker at Mr. Woolley's, near Staley Bridge, April 14,1841.
How do you account for women being used so frequently as drawersin the coal-pits? — One reason is, that a girl of 20 will work for 2s. a-day or less, and a man of that age would want3s. 6d.: It makes little difference to the coal-master, he pays the same whoever does the work; some would say he got his coal cheaper, but I am not of that opinion, the only difference is that the collier can spend 1s. to 1s. 6d. more at the alehouse, and very often the woman helps him to spend it.
Do women ever become coal-getters? — Not onewoman in a hundred ever becomes a coal-getter, and that is one of the reasonsthe men prefer them.
Contents
- Evidence Given Before the Sadler Committee
- Mr. Cobbett's Discovery
- The Physical Deterioration of the Textile Workers
- A Cotton Manufacturer on Hours of Labor
- Opposition to the Chimney Sweepers' Regulation Bill
- The Benefit of the Factory Legislation
- Chadwick's Report on Sanitary Conditions
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