Martha Adcock - Lady's Maid at Soho
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Martha Adcock came to Soho as a lady's
maid on 11th January 1796. Her main duty was to attend Matthew Boulton's
daughter Ann, and indeed Boulton referred to her as his "daughter's
maid."
| Twice, however, when there was a gap between
the departure of one housekeeper and the arrival of the next,
Martha took on the extra duties. The purchases she made at these
times were entered in the Housekeeper's Book. As mistress of
the house, Ann Boulton may have helped with some duties, but
Martha, it seems, did not recive any extra payment for acting
as housekeeper. |
| Right: Sketch of Martha
Adcock by John Phillp, 1797 |
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Martha evidently satisfied her employer, for at the begining of 1799
her wages were raised from six to seven guineas. However she was not
at Soho for much longer, for on the 19th of July her final wages were
sent on to her, with a parting gift of half a guinea. Where she went
is not known. Without the recourds from Soho House, she might not
have been remembered at all.
| Left: A Selection of Houskeeper's
Books, 1805 |
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| Above:
Record of Martha's wages in the Servants' Wages Ledger, 1799
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