What were his responsibilities? While it's unlikely I'll ever know in detail a Victorian-era guide; The banker’s clerk: comprising the principles and practice of banking gives an idea of his knowledge and conditions of employment. Anything like Bob Cratchit's?
Information included is that "For the punishment of frauds by clerks and servants ... every such offender, being convicted thereof, shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be transported beyond the seas for any term not exceeding fourteen years, nor less than seven years; or to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding three years; and, if a male, to be once, twice, or thrice publicly or privately whipped (if the court shall so think fit) in addition to such imprisonment." My great grandfather's punishment was much less severe.
A blog post, Industrial Library by Andrew Gray includes links to similar Victorian online guides for bakers, carvers and gilders, confectioners. footmen, gardeners, governesses, grooms, housemaids, joiners and cabinet makers, lady's maids, laundry maids, millers, nurses, nursery maids, printers and, tailors.
That interested me very much.
ReplyDeleteI saw in the blog that the series of books contained one entitled "The Confectioner." My mother's English family (surname Godfree) in London were pastrycooks and confectioners for several generations in the 1800s. I have managed to locate and order from various booksellers one Confectioners book published by Houlston, as per the blog, and one on pastrycooks as well, published in 1889. The Houlston book on Confectioners cost more than the Scot in me likes to pay, but I went for it anyway. Thanks again and cheers, BT