1864 - Evidence on the employment of
children

MR. J. MATTHEWS', GLASS BUTTON MANUFACTURER, NEW JOHN STREET.
410. Several very young children work here as nippers,
i.e., clipping off with scissors the corners of small squares
of glass previously cut out from sheets or cylinders. The
square thus roughly rounded is fastened by cement to the end
of a short stick and ground on a grindstone by a woman or
bigger girl, and afterwards cut in facets on a small wheel
by an adult or at least a person nearly 18, if not over, as
more skill is needed, and then polished by a boy, girl or
woman. The persons who perform these four processes work usually
in sets of four. The nipper working faster than
the others can finish, spends about half of his or her time
in turning a grindstone for a grinder, either alone or merely
helping to turn. This they are said not to be obliged to do,
but to do it on their own head. Two or three girls
work in the house carding. This, as I was told, is probably
one of the largest manufactories of glass buttons, the manufacture,
in which there are different branches, being often carried
on by a very few in a room in a house or in one small shop.
411. Mr. Jesse Matthews.I would not practise overtime.
I wish we could have children so as to work and go to school
too. Its lamentable to see them, I assure you. We have
been looking for better days, but there is a set in Birmingham
who will not send their children to school, but get intoxicated.
I am sure we shall never do any good with education unless
there is compulsion, but we should then. This, however, is
the only means, for if children are left, as they are, to
run wild, they are about the streets; and while this is the
case it is no use Recorders and so on talking about crime.
I think that if there was an Act passed it would be the saving
of several of them. It is a fearful looking forward for the
working class for the coming generation, though there is more
done now in the way of education. But with most it must be
very indifferent, as they do not get a chance. There is a
want of school for youths at night, but they cannot get it
of a week night. A great many places work till 8 and 8½
on Friday night in a general way if the work stops early on
Saturday. I have found this very awkward since there has been
the half-day Saturday. Our own boys (sons) cannot get to their
lectures in time; they attend several. By the time they are
home and washed it is 9 o'clock, and then it is too late.
In a great many places 8 is a common hour to stay to, but
even working till 7½ is too late for school if they
come home first, which is wanted sometimes, as some work is
much dirtier than others, from grease and oil, and the master
does not like to see them dirty. I have a great objection
to any being kept late.
Once, when I had not so many lads, I tried to get them together
to school, but I found that they did not appreciate it, though
here and there one wanted to come Sometimes, too, I was apt
to look for fruit before there was any to be had. I have often
talked to that big one who could not read (b. 417, age 19),
and said Why dont you go to night school?
It grieves me when they come to receive payment and say, Please
write my name.
Several times, too, I have tried to get up general adult schools,
and some years ago took a great interest in it But there seemed
to be a bashfulness in any who were backward, as if there
was something that they could not overcome. The men before
joining would begin to ask questionsDo any lads
go? and I have said Well, none under a certain
age. I think that the Quakers have a limit of age in
this way at their school in Severn Street, to which 300 or
400 go at 7 oc1ock or so of a Sunday morning. Their
plan is, I think, good. They make no difference as to being
teetotallers or anything. If you are to do good you must open
the to one as well as another. If a man signs the pledge and
holds it out a bit, and then after a month or so breaks it,
he dares not show his face amongst his own society again.
I have known several who have been reclaimed at the Quakers'
schools. These schools have wrought a wonderful change in
one of my people, a married woman, both in her character and
language, though she was always a hard worker. She has told
me that she has to get up at 6 o'clock on Sunday morning to
be ready to be off to school between 7 and 8, but she says
that she would not leave it on any account. I was quite surprised
when I heard that she could read after going for only a year,
i.e., 52 mornings. I believe now that she is learning her
husband, who works beside her, but who slunk away for fear
of being asked questions by you; and another was frightened
in the same way. She was first picked up from the shop by
one of the town mission, and I think that she has now enlisted
four or five more out of the shop. The Quakers' schools are
setting an excellent example.
I have many very young children who have neither father nor
mother. It grieves me to see them so young, and perhaps to
be able to give them so little. I have often been grieved
to see the little ones come and ask for work and to have to
send them back. Some come looking up with such anxious-looking
eyes, and their eyes glisten so if they think you can entertain
them. It is a shame to put such little things to work. Some's
skin is as beautiful as a lady's. One little girl, 8 years
old, has to help support the family, but her mother could
send her to school. I have thought two or three times of sending
her.
They are all off to day at a fete at the Band of Hope, at
Aston Park. The Band of Hope are doing a great deal with children.
I am not connected with it in any way but approve of it, and
have contributed to it, and am so pleased to find that they
now interest the children. The have a band, lectures, magic
lantern, &c. Some of the young children would work all
manner of hours,would go through fire and water,sooner
than miss a chance. They work hard to get tidy and mend their
clothes, &c., to be fit for these holidays. One was laying
by for five or six weeks before for a bonnet and frock, and
at the same time had not a bed to lie on, and I believe that
at the present time she lies on the floor. In this ways the
holidays inculcate savings habits. Two could not pay, and
their father took no notice of them, so I had to pay their
3d. Or they could not have gone to day.
The little hymns too that they sing are good. Children have
no other way of picking them up, as they cannot read; but
if one has an ear for music she picks it up, and the others
pick it up from her. I always like to hear them sing at their
work. I think that it makes the work go as sweet again, and
they seem to fancy so too. It relieves the monotony, and the
children are as lively again. Also good often arises from
it to the grown up. I always like to hear the lads too sing
at work, and would sooner hear them sing than talk. Last winter
I stood out in the cold listening to them all as they sang
carols in the shop, and some took parts as well as in a practised
choir.
I have never any trouble with the children. Never a week passes
but what they are regular at their posts, and I can rule them
with a look. There is something very peculiar in children.
If you show them a kind look they never forget you. When they
meet me in the street they are respectful, and like to show
that they remember me. It is the bigger ones that we have
the trouble with. I cannot get them to do much work on Monday.
They seldom come till towards 10 o'clock, and some leave after
dinner. The women are pretty well behaved altogether, but
would be better if they were more educated.
I have heard many complaints of cases where women have to
support the family, the husband drinking and working them
very hard. I do not say that the men hit them, but talking
often leads to blows.
412. Henry Greatorex, age 7, nipper.Work from 8 to 7,
and have an hour or sometimes an hour and a half for dinner,
and when I have done eating play in the open.
413. Catherine Coley, age 19.Cutter for two years. Henry
Greatorex has worked for me three or four months, but is not
big enough to do anything and gets only {almost illegible,
possibly '1s.'} a week. His mother sent him here because he
would not go to school and wanted to run the streets. Her
said her didn't care if he came and worked for nothing if
her could get him out of the way. Two other girls help me,
one nearly 9 helps turn the stone and pulls the buttons off
sticks on which they are placed in the fire to soften the
cement. A little boy did this before.
414. Henry Phillips, age 15.Polish. Have worked at this
trade close on 10 years. Think I was nearer 5 than 6 when
I began. Nipped at first. Used to bring my food.
Can read a little [scarcely reads words of one syllable.]
415. William Plant, age 9.Blow bellows with my foot
to heat the gas at which the buttons are made at a glass pot.
When one foot is tired can blow with the other, and so on,
till I knock off. The loop cuts my boots through on each side.
Sometimes put in shanks.
Do not know what becomes of people when they die. They are
never alive again.
416. Thomas Eggington, age 10.Put in shanks. Know a
few letters. Was never at a day school but go on Sundays and
to Church. They don't tell us nothing at Church. Don't know
what they preach about. The preacher preaches and christens.
He did preach about Jesus Christ sometimes, sometimes not.
Don't know whether He [Christ] died. I am a Christian. Don't
know what it means. Think, perhaps, you [J.E.W. {Mr. J.E.
White, the Recorder}] are one. Good people live again after
they die.
417. William Egginton, age 19.Make round shoe &c.
buttons, taking the glass out of a small pot on an iron and
holding them in gas. Have done it for five years. Have the
screen in front of me to keep off the heat and look through
a glass at it.
Was never at a day school. Can not read, write or sum.
418. Ellen Fletcher, age 12.Nip and size and turn a
grindstone for a woman. Turning don't tire me now, because
I am used to it, but it did at first. Am away from work sometimes
with a pain in my left side [turns with left hand], but not
till the last three weeks. Have been here a year. Sometimes
it lasts half a day. When I lie down it goes off. Have the
headache very often. [Another girl complained of the tiring
in the same way.]
Was at a button factory [a large and very crowded place] before.
My head ached more there than here. Sometimes 'played' 3 days
a week when there.
Cannot read or spell on. Used to play about and
mind the baby, not go to school.
419. Janie Scaborne, age 9.Pull of buttons from the
sticks and turn a grindstone. Can turn it quite by myself
when I have a mind. Get 1s. 3d. a week.
Can spell T-o to. Have often been at chapel. They
told about good people.
420. Eliza State, age 11.Stick on buttons to the sticks,
and at other times help a grinder by holding something to
keep her work from slipping and hurting her against the stone.
Have been cut by the stone. It was worn out, and so my hand
slipped against it. In nipping the scissors galled my fingers
like this [shows]. It makes all the girls fingers so.
Can read a little bit [with spelling].
421 Elizabeth Thomas, age 13.Polisher. At it more than
four years. Get 4s. 6d. A week. Came to the work first when
about 7, about a week over, and dropped blanks of solder of
lead and tin over a stove, and then nipped. Have had good
health always.
Only a Sunday school a bit, at no other school. Have no father.
Can tell my letters and spell a little.
422. Samuel Bickly, age 10.Here on and off for thee
years. Work from 8 till 7, sometimes till 7½ or 8.
Sit most of the say close by the fire here sticking on buttons.
It makes me hot but not poorly.
Before I came here, I filled gun locks, working from 8 til7.
Cannot read, but know the letters.
[Of 5 other girls of from 9 to 12, 3 knew no or only some
letters, 2 could not spell, and another girl of 17 could not
read words of two syllables without spelling.]
423. Martha Ross.Have been at work since I was 8 years
old, am 23 now. Polish for my husband here. The work in not
unhealthy.
Went to day school when I was little, and for the last year
and a half have been to the Quakers' Sunday school. Could
not tell my letters when I first went there, but now can read
the Testament pretty well, spelling some of the words, and
am beginning to write.
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