12 had been artizans.
55 „ unskilled workmen.
Hence about five-sixths belong to the unskilled class of operatives.
_Time of having been at scavagering._
3 “all their lives” at the business.
1 about 27 years.
6 from 15 to 20 years.
6 „ 10 „ 15 „
4 „ 5 „ 10 years.
34 „ 1 „ 5 „
13 twelve months and less.
Hence it would appear, that few have been at the business a long time.
The greater number have not been acting as scavagers more than five
years.
_State of education.--Could they read and write?_
45 answered yes.
4 replied that they could read and write.
5 could read only.
12 could do neither.
1 was deaf and dumb.
Hence it would appear, that rather more than two-thirds of the
scavagers have received _some little_ education.
_Did they go to church or chapel?_
22 answered yes.
9 went to church.
4 „ chapel.
4 „ the Catholic chapel.
1 „ both church and chapel.
5 went sometimes.
1 not often.
17 never went at all.
1 was ashamed to go.
1 went out of town to enjoy himself.
2 made no return (1 being deaf and dumb).
Thus it would seem, that not quite two-thirds regularly attend some
place of worship; that about one-eleventh go occasionally; and that
about one-fourth never go at all.
_Why did they not go to church?_
12 had no clothes.
55 returned no answer (1 being deaf and dumb).
Hence of those who never go (19 out of 67), very nearly two-thirds (say
12 in 19) have no clothes to appear in.
_Did they bathe?_
59 answered no.
3 replied yes.
2 said they did in the Thames.
2 returned “sometimes.”
1 was deaf and dumb.
Hence it appeared, that about seven-eighths never bathe, although
following the filthiest occupation.
_Were they married or single?_
56 were married.
5 „ widowers.
6 „ single.
Thus it would seem, that about ten-elevenths are or have been married
men.
_How many children had they?_
1 had 15.
1 „ 6.
2 „ 5 each.
11 „ 4 „
19 „ 3 „
9 „ 2 „
6 „ 1 each.
16 „ none (6 of these being single men).
2 returned their family as grown up without stating the number.
Consequently 51 out of 61, or five-sixths, are married, and have
families numbering altogether 165 children; the majority had only 3
children, and this was about the average family.
_What were the ages of their children?_
11 were grown up.
2 between 30 and 40.
9 „ 20 and 30.
49 „ 10 and 20.
80 „ 1 and 10.
8 were 1 year and under.
5 were returned at home.
1 returned as dead.
One-half of the scavagers’ children, therefore, are between 1 and 10
years of age; the majority would appear to be 8 years old.
Some were said to be grown up, but no number was given.
_Did their children go to school?_
13 answered yes.
13 to the National School.
5 to the Ragged School.
2 to Catholic.
2 to Parish.
6 to local schools.
1 replied that he went sometimes.
2 returned no.
1 replied that his children were “not with him.”
22 (of whom 16 had no children, and 1 was deaf and dumb) made no reply.
From this it would seem, that a large majority--41 out of 51, or
four-fifths--of the parents who have children send them to school.
_Did their wives work?_
15 returned no.
6 said their wives were “unable.”
1 had lost the use of her limbs.
2 did, but “not often.”
4 did “when they could.”
10 worked “sometimes.”
12 answered yes.
1 sold cresses.
15 made no return (11 having no wives and 1 being deaf and dumb).
Hence two-fifths of the wives (22 out of 56) do no work, 16 do so
occasionally, and 13, or one-fourth, are in the habit of working.
_What were wives’ earnings?_
10 returned them as “uncertain.”
1 “didn’t know.”
1 estimated them at 1_s._ 6_d._ per week.
1 at 1_s._ to 2_s._ „
2 at 2_s._ „
3 at 2_s._ or 3_s._ „
2 at about 3_s._ „
1 at 2_s._ to 4_s._ „
1 at 3_s._ or 4_s._ „
1 at 3_d._ or 4_d._ per day.
43 gave no returns (having either no wives, or their wives not working).
1 was deaf and dumb.
So that, out of 29 wives who were said to work, 16 occasionally and 13
regularly, there were returns for 23. Nearly half of their earnings
were given as uncertain from their seldom doing work, while the
remainder were stated to gain from 1_s._ to 4_s._ per week; about 2_s._
6_d._ perhaps would be a fair average.
_What wages were they themselves in the habit of receiving?_
3 had 16_s._ 6_d._ per week.
2 „ 16_s._ „
28 „ 15_s._ „
3 „ 14_s._ 6_d._ „
1 „ 14_s._ „
2 „ 12_s._ „
15 „ 9_s._ „
4 „ 8_s._ „
5 „ 7_s._ „
4 „ 1_s._ 1-1/2_d._ a day and 2 loaves.
Hence it is evident, that one-half receive 15_s._ or more a week, and
about a fourth 9_s._
It was not the parishes, however, but the contractors with the
parishes, who paid the higher rates of wages: Mr. Dodd, for St.
Luke’s; Mr. Westley, for St. Botolph’s, Bishopsgate; Mr. Parsons, for
Whitechapel; Mr. Newman, for Bethnal-green, &c.