Tag Archives: punishment; inmate culture; sailor; ropemaker; twinespinner; poor law settlement; workhouse; working-class death; working-class family; apprenticeship; childhood; prostitution; widow

Trouble in the Family

Sunday 5 January 1840 On Friday, Sarah Martin wrote of a sixteen-year-old factory girl imprisoned for stealing clothes from three women: ‘Martha Tan is improving in working and reading. Her manners are improved.’ Today she observes in her Everyday Book: ‘Martha Tan was in the cell for being overheard when using bad language.’ The girl […]
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