Note: On December 10, 2022, about 22 descendants of John Darroch and Agnes Greenlees gathered via Zoom to celebrate two significant anniversaries in their ancestors' lives. Agnes Greenlees' parents' were married on December 10, 1822, and over in Argyll, John Darroch was born just three days earlier, on December 7. You can read more at "200th Anniversary Celebration" or watch this recording of the meeting (passcode ^2TJk0!9).
Now, on to the content of this post: Agnes's occupation as a domestic servant.
Doug
When Agnes left Kilmacolm to work as a domestic, she entered the most common occupation for female workers in all of Britain. Domestic servants included the roles of cleaners, maids, and cooks. If Agnes's schedule was typical of other domestics, her day started as early as 5:30 a.m. and lasted as long as seventeen hours doing physically demanding work.
The number and type of servants depended on the socio-economic status of the household. There could be as few as one, known as a "maid of all work" or so many servants the employer put them into an organizational structure. This hierarchy was formal, well adhered to, and common across the UK. Here are some examples of the more common roles:
Scullery maids worked in the kitchen under the cook’s direction. They lit fires, scrubbed floors, cleaned plates and dishes, and rubbed and cleaned kettles, pots, stew pans, and other kitchen utensils. They also helped with food prep. Their male counterparts, kitchen boys, carried water, hauled out rubbish, and carted coal or wood to keep fires going.
Housemaids kept the house clean by scrubbing, dusting, and tidying up. They also ensured coal was in the scuttle beside each fireplace.
A lady's maid generally looked after the lady of the house, helping her dress, and doing her hair and cosmetics. The lady’s maid was at the top of the maid hierarchy, with greater privileges than the others.
Servants would formally address their superiors by the appellation of Mr. or Mrs., regardless of marital status. Therefore, the lower maids referred to the lady's maid as Mrs., but she would call them by their first name. The lord or lady of the house would often disregard a servant's name altogether and call them by their role (e.g.: "cook" or "maid") or even a generic name. For example, scullery maids were often called Mary. Abigail was a term referring to a lady's maid (from the biblical Abigail, who presented herself to King David as a maidservant). [1]
We do not know whether Agnes worked solo as a "maid of all work" or shared the work with others. The fact her employer was a master blacksmith gives some clues. Blacksmiths were not middle class but they did earn up to four times that of an agricultural worker. A master blacksmith would exceed that, so he might have been able to afford multiple servants, but not the full slate, such as portrayed in the popular Downton Abbey series. Regardless of working by herself or with others, Agnes was engaged in heavy physical work.
Domestics faced many challenges. If a servant became sick, the employer could fire them without cause. Until 1860, it was even legal for an employer to beat servants without redress. Servants endured social isolation from their own family. They were often employed far from home to reduce gossip about the employer. In addition, the class system often influenced employers to remain aloof from staff, a non-verbal reminder they were not family and did not belong. They typically ate "downstairs" and slept in the attic.
Being a servant also had advantages. Although Agnes may have lived in an attic--hot in the summer and cold in winter--it was probably better than the home in which she grew up. Assuming she faced no abuse from her employer, she would have been safe in a city known for terrible social conditions, including threats to vulnerable teenagers. Even though many employers remained aloof, others formed a tight bond with their long-term servants. So, there were benefits, even though they were earned through long, hard days of servitude.
The following vignette imagines a rare day off in the life of Agnes as a domestic. The setting is Boxing Day of 1844. There are competing theories as to the origins of Boxing Day (none of which point to the 21st-century activity of recycling boxes from our Christmas gifts). Some areas of 19th-century Scotland called it Sweetie Scone Day. The reasons for that will be revealed below.
In the story, I named the lady of the house Mrs. Smith, since her real name is lost to history.
Agnes was exhausted. It was the Yuletide season and had been a busy week. Yesterday, she arose early as usual to start the fires and clean. Then she had to help prepare for the dinner party. The master had invited the registrar from the Glasgow Trades Hall, a couple of smiths from the guild, and a merchant who provided supplies. The lady of the house, Mrs. Smith, also invited guests. The dinner was not too lavish, for the Kirk frowned on Christmas celebrations. Nonetheless, Agnes was kept busy waiting on and tending to the guests.
That was yesterday. Today was Agnes's day off, so she went for a walk. She enjoyed the sites of Glasgow--not that she desired a city lifestyle. In fact, her heart longed for the quiet rural life of Kilmacolm. More specifically, she missed her dad.
As Agnes returned home and closed the door, she saw Mrs. Smith coming to greet her.
"Mrs. Smith, did you need me?"
"No, this is your day off. But I do have something for you." Mrs. Smith pulled out a box tied with a large red bow.
"For me?"
"Yes, for you. It's not much. I included my copy of "A Christmas Carol" and some Sweetie Scones. Perhaps you could share them with your dad."
"But I can't afford to take the train home."
"Look a little deeper."
Agnes quickly found an envelope with four shillings in it, the amount needed for the train. Her eyes welled up with tears.
"Oh, Mrs. Smith! You didn't have to!"
"It is our thanks to you, Agnes. You are a willing worker and fast learner. Soon you'll be the best domestic in all of Glasgow! The least we can do is show our appreciation and give a couple of days off before our Hogmanay celebrations."
Mrs. Smith turned to go, then hesitated. "You know we're not supposed to celebrate Christmas too gayly, so when you carry the box, just put the bow inside it first."
Now, to identify the fictional elements. First, I do not know if Agnes's employer was congenial toward her. Either way, the skills she gained certainly came into play when she later managed her own bustling household. Second, I do not know if Agnes read "A Christmas Carol." It just offers timely context. Dickens wrote it as a social commentary on the plight of the poor and had just published it in 1843. By 1844, it was in its 13th edition and it has not been out of print since. Last, I do not know if or how often Agnes visited her dad while working in Glasgow.
Where did the word Yule come from? It came from the Vikings when they settled in Scotland in the 8th Century. Jól (Old Norse for feast) was celebrated at the winter solstice, for it denoted the end of the shortening days. The timing was so close to Christmas that the two celebrations merged into one festive season, similar to our Christmas and New Year holidays of today. Ironically, the Kirk denounced Christmas as a celebration, so Scots focussed their winter celebrations on the New Year, which they call Hogmanay.
I was surprised to learn the Church of Scotland decried celebrating Christmas. After the Scottish Reformation in 1560, the Kirk distanced itself from anything Roman Catholic, including Christmas celebrations! The Glasgow Cathedral excommunicated anyone who was caught contravening the prohibition. Nonetheless, the people's enthusiasm for the day continued, so in 1640, Scottish Parliament passed a law making Christmas and "Yule vacations" illegal. Even baking Yule bread was a criminal act.
The legislation against Christmas was revoked in 1712, but the Kirk continued to frown upon it. Ministers were not allowed to preach of the Nativity in December. Therefore, Hogmanay became the legitimate outlet for Scots' mid-winter energies. Robbie Burns' lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne,” coupled with an old folk song, became a staple. As Scots spread around the world, their zeal for the New Year encultured "Auld Lang Syne" into English-speaking countries everywhere.
Back in Scotland, even though the government had revoked the Christmas ban, it had not legislated it as a statutory holiday until 1958. Before that, Christmas Day had been business as usual, where employees worked as any other day. The increased emphasis on Christmas did not diminish the Scots' enthusiasm for Hogmanay. They now have two reasons to party, and bring in each New Year with festive abandon. For example, tens of thousands of partiers attend Edinburgh's annual Hogmanay street party.
How does Boxing Day fit into all this? One theory is that it stems from centuries earlier when alms boxes were placed in churches. Parishioners donated during Advent and the contents were distributed to the needy on the Feast of Saint Stephen, the patron saint of poor people. (Remember how "Good King Wenceslas looked out/ On the Feast of Stephen"?) The Feast of Stephen is December 26th. In 1837, when Queen Victoria came to the throne, she emphasized the idea of giving domestic servants Christmas boxes on the Feast of Stephen.
Queen Victoria was popular in Scotland, so the Scots followed suit. Boxes might include used clothes from the lady, gifts of cash, or food left over from the meal. Employers often gave servants the day off work, so they might enjoy their Christmas Box with their families. This is one reason why the Feast of Stephen morphed into Boxing Day in the UK. In Scotland, many lords and ladies also gave fruit-and-spice-packed cakes called "Sweetieskons." Hence, in the 1800s, December 26th became Sweetie Scone Day in some areas of Scotland.
Going back to the question of Agnes visiting her dad, that was a possibility. The rail link from Glasgow to Port Glasgow was established a few years earlier, in 1841. It would have taken her within walking distance of Kilmacolm. The Railway Regulation Act of 1844 set Third Class passenger fares at a penny per mile. Therefore, it was certainly feasible for her to visit. The only question is whether her employer would have permitted the time off.
I expect Agnes missed her father greatly, so I gave her a chance to visit, if only in my story. So, Agnes and William, enjoy your Sweetie Scones Day together.
References:
[1] https://www.haggardhawks.com/post/abigail, retrieved December 21, 2022.
[2] Illustration of Auld Lang Syne By John Masey Wright (1777–1866, artist) John Rogers (c. 1808-c. 1888, engraver) from "The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing the Poems, Songs, and Correspondence." Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26749729
Other traditions about Scottish Christmas, Yule, Hogmanay, and Boxing Day, taken from: