Ten hours Act


Instructions to Mr. Oastler 1846

You are a Member of Parliament for HAMPSTEAD & KILBURN constituency. You are very familiar with the problems of the poor.
You try to improve the Factory Act by imposing a ten hour limit to the work of children and women.

Using the documents, prepare a speech at the house of commons where you will explain that less hours of work will give more time to children to get some education and become honest citizen instead of being attracted to crime. Less hours of work will also mean more work for other children that have no other means to survive
Evidence of children working in the mines, from the 1842 Parliamentary Commission’s Report on conditions in the mines

No. 38. — Joshua Stephenson. Heaton Colliery I am aged 8 years. I have been down the pit two years and more. I went down the pit before I was six years old. I keep a switch and a door. I get up out of bed at 3 o’clock and go down the pit at 4 o’clock a.m. The pit looses at 4, and I get up and home about 5 o’clock; then I wash myself and get my dinner, meat and potatoes. After dinner I go to bed; I never play about first. I go down the pit in the cage. I take baits [food] down with me; mostly bread and cheese, sometimes beef; always as much as I want. I cannot read at all. I never was at any school in my life, day or Sunday school. I never go to any church or chapel.
No. 111. — William Laws. Blackboy Pit I am ten years and three months old. I have worked two years. I was a trapper when I first went down; I was a barrow-way trapper. I am now a trapper in the horseway. The doors are larger. I sit and pull the door with a string. The door shuts of itself. I never fall asleep. I like the pit nicely; I get 10 pence a day. I go to school sometimes on Sundays; cannot read; cannot say the Lord’s Prayer or the Commandments. When I am in the pit nobody comes to talk to me. I set mice-traps in the pit, and catch two sometimes; I bring them to the cat in the stable of the pit. I never play at anything the days I work in the pit; on other days I play at marbles; throw a ball at the wall; play at running and catch another boy; play at the hoop; quarrel with other boys.
List of convicts embarked on the Elphinstone for Van Diemen’s Land (Australia) 1842

  • What is the average age of these convicts who are being transported?
  • What are the crimes that most of them have been convicted of? (Hint : Larceny means theft)
  • How long is the average sentence?
  • Do you think they were allowed to come home at the end of their sentence?
  • Why do you think these children committed these crimes?
 
John Greening 5997
Transcript Name No – John Greening 5997 and Aliases _______________ Description: Age (on discharge) ________11 Height __________________4ft 4 1/4 Hair ___________________ Lt Brown Eyes ___________________D Grey Complexion _____________Fresh Where Born _____________Mortlake Married or Single _________Single Trade or occupation ______ None Distinguishing marks – Scar on forehead Address at time of apprehension – 1 Senior Place, Mortlake Place and date of conviction – Richmond 10 June 73 Offence for which convicted – St[ealin]g a Q[uar]t[er] of Goosberries (growing) Sentence – 1 Cal[endar] M[on]th H[ard] L[abour] & 5 years Ref[ormitor]y Date to be liberated – 17 Jult 73 Indended residence after liberation – Boleyn Castle, East Ham, Essex Previous Convictions: Summary 11 March 71 – St[ealin]g coal J.O.A. 10 Days H[ard] L[abour] or 10/- Richmond 1 5 Feb 73 St[ealin]g coal St[ealin]g coal 2 cal[endar] mo[nth]s H[ard] L[abour] & whipped Richmond By Jury Remarks, antecedents &c Rab. sent 5-April 73

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Questions to help you:
  • How old was John?
  • What offence had he committed?
  • What was his sentence?
  • Why do you think he committed this crime
  • Why do you think his sentence is so harsh ?
 
Joseph Lewis 5248
Transcript Name No – Joseph Lewis 5248 and Aliases.___________________ Description Age (on discharge) _____ 11 Height _______________ 4ft 6 3/4 Hair _________________ Lt Brown Eyes _________________Dk Grey Complexion ___________ Fresh Where Born ___________England Married or Single _______Single Trade or occupation _____None Distinguishing marks _____Pockmarked Scar rght wrist Address at time of apprehension – 32 Princess St Rotherhithe Place and date of conviction – Greenwich 10 April 73 Offence for which convicted – Simple Larceny for st[ealin]g 28lb of Iron = 3/- Sentence – 1 Cal[endar] Mo[nth] H[ard] L[abour] Date to be liberated – 9 May 1873 Intended residence after liberation – Same Previous Convictions: Summary By Jury Remarks antecedents &c

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Questions to help you:

  • How old was Joseph?
  • What offence had he committed?
  • What was his sentence?
  • Why do you think a photograph and description of this boy was included in his record?
  • Why do you think he committed this crime?

 
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