BBC's Servants: The True Story of Life Below Stairs
While this portrays the Victorian model, and doesn't get at the extra work of life on the frontier, it does help establish the hierarchy of the home, and get at the intense duties of the maid of all work.
Housekeepers- Nancy
In 1837 Fanny Hutton wrote to her mother-in-law of plans to save money by only employing outside help once every other week, giving more of a glimpse into the duties of keeping a household running.
"I have come to the determination of doing without a servant for the fall and winter months...I feel quite equal to do all the work except washing, with William's assistance evening and morning for lessons, churning, etc. I propose bringing in a woman one day in a fortnight to wash, and will do the ironing myself. The week free from washing, I shall be able to do a great deal of sewing. This can only be accomplished by early rising and employing every moment actively; but these things we have now got accustomed to, so that what three years ago would have appeared a monstrous impossibility, now appears light."
Accusations against Nancy's "loss of character" in relation to her being pregnant and rumors that she had previously lost a child were often taken seriously by people at these times. Women looking for work often had trouble securing employment even as widows, let alone if they had a child out of wedlock.
"I have come to the determination of doing without a servant for the fall and winter months...I feel quite equal to do all the work except washing, with William's assistance evening and morning for lessons, churning, etc. I propose bringing in a woman one day in a fortnight to wash, and will do the ironing myself. The week free from washing, I shall be able to do a great deal of sewing. This can only be accomplished by early rising and employing every moment actively; but these things we have now got accustomed to, so that what three years ago would have appeared a monstrous impossibility, now appears light."
Accusations against Nancy's "loss of character" in relation to her being pregnant and rumors that she had previously lost a child were often taken seriously by people at these times. Women looking for work often had trouble securing employment even as widows, let alone if they had a child out of wedlock.
Typical cooking set up for a small home in 19th century Canada
Maids of All Work- Grace
Grace fit the mold of many of the maids in smaller households of Canada at the time: young, under 21, single, a recent immigrant, and her family lived nearby. Generally, "hired girls" could leave a situation they were dissatisfied with fairly confident they would be able to secure work in the future. additionally, domestic help were often expected to work alongside, not for, their employers. This of course would not have been the case in houses like the governor's wife, but added to James Mcdermott's upset that a housekeeper, not even the lady of the house, like Nancy was, in his mind, usurping her position.
In Upper Canada, between 1815 and 1840 full0time female help received three to four dollars a month and lodging.
"A typical workday probably began before dawn and ended only after dark. The girl was usually expected to be up before the rest of the household to get the fires burning and make early morning tea or coffee. then the day's real work would commence. In 1835, Mary O'Brien described to her family in Great Britain 'a regular detail of my daily proceedings.' At that time, the O'Briens had a young girl who had been taken on partly in exchange for her education. 'We breakfast [at] six before which I expect my little lassie to dust & arrange the parlor whilst I am helping the children to dress, skimming the milk & looking at the cows and poultry which now in the hatching season requires a more experienced hand than Willie's [her son] to adjust all their affairs.' After breakfast Mary O'Brien 'arranged my household affairs' which included giving orders to the help. While Mary gave Willie his lessons, the girl, Helen, 'furbished their apartments.' Throughout the rest of the day the young girl helped with ironing, making meals, and general cleaning." Elizabeth Jane Errinton, Wives Mothers School Mistresses and Scullery Maids: Working Women in Upper Canada 179-1840
In Upper Canada, between 1815 and 1840 full0time female help received three to four dollars a month and lodging.
"A typical workday probably began before dawn and ended only after dark. The girl was usually expected to be up before the rest of the household to get the fires burning and make early morning tea or coffee. then the day's real work would commence. In 1835, Mary O'Brien described to her family in Great Britain 'a regular detail of my daily proceedings.' At that time, the O'Briens had a young girl who had been taken on partly in exchange for her education. 'We breakfast [at] six before which I expect my little lassie to dust & arrange the parlor whilst I am helping the children to dress, skimming the milk & looking at the cows and poultry which now in the hatching season requires a more experienced hand than Willie's [her son] to adjust all their affairs.' After breakfast Mary O'Brien 'arranged my household affairs' which included giving orders to the help. While Mary gave Willie his lessons, the girl, Helen, 'furbished their apartments.' Throughout the rest of the day the young girl helped with ironing, making meals, and general cleaning." Elizabeth Jane Errinton, Wives Mothers School Mistresses and Scullery Maids: Working Women in Upper Canada 179-1840
Upper Class Homes
Grace has a background in service for a larger household with Mrs. Alderman-Parkinson, and Mrs. Humphrey's household definitely would have had multiple servants.