Maid of all Work

Lucy Griffith is 18 years old, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Griffith. Lucy’s father was a tenant farmer and she originally lived with her parents, her seven-year-old sister, Ruth, and her thirteen year old brother, Thomas, in a tenanted cottage on a landowner’s estate in the Gelligaer area.
Lucy’s father sadly died of a fever in March 1644, leaving the family with no income to support themselves or pay rent on their cottage.
The landowner evicted them from their home and they had to stay with grandparents living on their own farm in Bedlinog, six miles from Gelligaer. However, there was not enough space to accommodate Lucy’s mother and her three children so Lucy, as the eldest child, was expected to find employment elsewhere.

Fortunately, her grandmother heard that the Pritchards were in need of a Maid of all Work. The Housekeeper, Ann Thomas, was satisfied that Lucy could work hard and do as she was told so she began her employment at the Manor in July 1644.
Lucy enjoys her work which includes cleansing the dust, helping in the Stillroom, sweeping the floors and helping the laundry maids but she doesn’t like needlework. She prefers practical things and working out of doors as she used to when she helped her father on the land.
Lucy is paid one pound per year, most of which she sends to her mother to help support the family.

Quick Links

Produced by CCBC Communications Unit