Reactions to a Young Time Traveller












4














My question is simple. What would people in England in 1700 think of a modern, history loving, 12-14 year old girl? This particular girl was a case of time travel gone wrong. A school trip meant to be observational only and mostly simulational where the travelers aren’t physically there fails and leaves one member of the class stranded. There is no hope of getting back, and she is near the Scottish border. She is wearing a Cotton T-shirt, leggings, and skirt. She is wearing brown leather ankle boots with laces and rubber bottoms. She does not have a phone. She fortunately likes history enough to have some basic skills like sewing, cooking, building things, making things like candles and soap, weaving, etc, without modern tools. She looks like she is from the area, and apart from clothing, would not be too odd if you passed her on the street.



How would people of the time and place react to her is she walked into town one random morning.



Edit: Farther along the insomnia trail, would it help if she were dubious of the machine and decided to take a few things with her? They couldn’t be to large or expensive, and no computers or cellphones. Size limit around a large satchel with possible wearable items?










share|improve this question




















  • 3




    One thing ti consider in the early 18th century your protagonist would not be considered a child, she is a young adult capable of marriage, of giving concent, and of working age.
    – Sarriesfan
    21 hours ago










  • Exactly. I was thinking of this. She would still be considered young though. I was thinking of having her lie a bit to add a couple years.
    – Tanzanite Dragoness
    21 hours ago






  • 1




    @Sarriesfan - I agree but turning up with no funds and no family is a recipe for disaster. She would be regarded with suspicion in a small village - they have enough to do supporting themselves and their children without taking in a stranger - except perhaps as a worker for food and board but no pay. She would be exploited in a large city.
    – chasly from UK
    21 hours ago








  • 1




    @L.Dutch this one adds the parameter of the protagonist being a particular age one that is possibly quite and intresting one, we consider the person a child as tech protogonist will herself, people of the age a young adult. Some story consequences may occur due to this if I understand Tanzanite Dragoness correctly.
    – Sarriesfan
    20 hours ago






  • 1




    On a tangent, some of the border accents would have been pretty thick back in the day before mass media - you might want to ask, to what extent would they even be mutually intelligible?
    – Duckisaduckisaduck
    16 hours ago
















4














My question is simple. What would people in England in 1700 think of a modern, history loving, 12-14 year old girl? This particular girl was a case of time travel gone wrong. A school trip meant to be observational only and mostly simulational where the travelers aren’t physically there fails and leaves one member of the class stranded. There is no hope of getting back, and she is near the Scottish border. She is wearing a Cotton T-shirt, leggings, and skirt. She is wearing brown leather ankle boots with laces and rubber bottoms. She does not have a phone. She fortunately likes history enough to have some basic skills like sewing, cooking, building things, making things like candles and soap, weaving, etc, without modern tools. She looks like she is from the area, and apart from clothing, would not be too odd if you passed her on the street.



How would people of the time and place react to her is she walked into town one random morning.



Edit: Farther along the insomnia trail, would it help if she were dubious of the machine and decided to take a few things with her? They couldn’t be to large or expensive, and no computers or cellphones. Size limit around a large satchel with possible wearable items?










share|improve this question




















  • 3




    One thing ti consider in the early 18th century your protagonist would not be considered a child, she is a young adult capable of marriage, of giving concent, and of working age.
    – Sarriesfan
    21 hours ago










  • Exactly. I was thinking of this. She would still be considered young though. I was thinking of having her lie a bit to add a couple years.
    – Tanzanite Dragoness
    21 hours ago






  • 1




    @Sarriesfan - I agree but turning up with no funds and no family is a recipe for disaster. She would be regarded with suspicion in a small village - they have enough to do supporting themselves and their children without taking in a stranger - except perhaps as a worker for food and board but no pay. She would be exploited in a large city.
    – chasly from UK
    21 hours ago








  • 1




    @L.Dutch this one adds the parameter of the protagonist being a particular age one that is possibly quite and intresting one, we consider the person a child as tech protogonist will herself, people of the age a young adult. Some story consequences may occur due to this if I understand Tanzanite Dragoness correctly.
    – Sarriesfan
    20 hours ago






  • 1




    On a tangent, some of the border accents would have been pretty thick back in the day before mass media - you might want to ask, to what extent would they even be mutually intelligible?
    – Duckisaduckisaduck
    16 hours ago














4












4








4







My question is simple. What would people in England in 1700 think of a modern, history loving, 12-14 year old girl? This particular girl was a case of time travel gone wrong. A school trip meant to be observational only and mostly simulational where the travelers aren’t physically there fails and leaves one member of the class stranded. There is no hope of getting back, and she is near the Scottish border. She is wearing a Cotton T-shirt, leggings, and skirt. She is wearing brown leather ankle boots with laces and rubber bottoms. She does not have a phone. She fortunately likes history enough to have some basic skills like sewing, cooking, building things, making things like candles and soap, weaving, etc, without modern tools. She looks like she is from the area, and apart from clothing, would not be too odd if you passed her on the street.



How would people of the time and place react to her is she walked into town one random morning.



Edit: Farther along the insomnia trail, would it help if she were dubious of the machine and decided to take a few things with her? They couldn’t be to large or expensive, and no computers or cellphones. Size limit around a large satchel with possible wearable items?










share|improve this question















My question is simple. What would people in England in 1700 think of a modern, history loving, 12-14 year old girl? This particular girl was a case of time travel gone wrong. A school trip meant to be observational only and mostly simulational where the travelers aren’t physically there fails and leaves one member of the class stranded. There is no hope of getting back, and she is near the Scottish border. She is wearing a Cotton T-shirt, leggings, and skirt. She is wearing brown leather ankle boots with laces and rubber bottoms. She does not have a phone. She fortunately likes history enough to have some basic skills like sewing, cooking, building things, making things like candles and soap, weaving, etc, without modern tools. She looks like she is from the area, and apart from clothing, would not be too odd if you passed her on the street.



How would people of the time and place react to her is she walked into town one random morning.



Edit: Farther along the insomnia trail, would it help if she were dubious of the machine and decided to take a few things with her? They couldn’t be to large or expensive, and no computers or cellphones. Size limit around a large satchel with possible wearable items?







time-travel history






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 20 hours ago

























asked 22 hours ago









Tanzanite Dragoness

555317




555317








  • 3




    One thing ti consider in the early 18th century your protagonist would not be considered a child, she is a young adult capable of marriage, of giving concent, and of working age.
    – Sarriesfan
    21 hours ago










  • Exactly. I was thinking of this. She would still be considered young though. I was thinking of having her lie a bit to add a couple years.
    – Tanzanite Dragoness
    21 hours ago






  • 1




    @Sarriesfan - I agree but turning up with no funds and no family is a recipe for disaster. She would be regarded with suspicion in a small village - they have enough to do supporting themselves and their children without taking in a stranger - except perhaps as a worker for food and board but no pay. She would be exploited in a large city.
    – chasly from UK
    21 hours ago








  • 1




    @L.Dutch this one adds the parameter of the protagonist being a particular age one that is possibly quite and intresting one, we consider the person a child as tech protogonist will herself, people of the age a young adult. Some story consequences may occur due to this if I understand Tanzanite Dragoness correctly.
    – Sarriesfan
    20 hours ago






  • 1




    On a tangent, some of the border accents would have been pretty thick back in the day before mass media - you might want to ask, to what extent would they even be mutually intelligible?
    – Duckisaduckisaduck
    16 hours ago














  • 3




    One thing ti consider in the early 18th century your protagonist would not be considered a child, she is a young adult capable of marriage, of giving concent, and of working age.
    – Sarriesfan
    21 hours ago










  • Exactly. I was thinking of this. She would still be considered young though. I was thinking of having her lie a bit to add a couple years.
    – Tanzanite Dragoness
    21 hours ago






  • 1




    @Sarriesfan - I agree but turning up with no funds and no family is a recipe for disaster. She would be regarded with suspicion in a small village - they have enough to do supporting themselves and their children without taking in a stranger - except perhaps as a worker for food and board but no pay. She would be exploited in a large city.
    – chasly from UK
    21 hours ago








  • 1




    @L.Dutch this one adds the parameter of the protagonist being a particular age one that is possibly quite and intresting one, we consider the person a child as tech protogonist will herself, people of the age a young adult. Some story consequences may occur due to this if I understand Tanzanite Dragoness correctly.
    – Sarriesfan
    20 hours ago






  • 1




    On a tangent, some of the border accents would have been pretty thick back in the day before mass media - you might want to ask, to what extent would they even be mutually intelligible?
    – Duckisaduckisaduck
    16 hours ago








3




3




One thing ti consider in the early 18th century your protagonist would not be considered a child, she is a young adult capable of marriage, of giving concent, and of working age.
– Sarriesfan
21 hours ago




One thing ti consider in the early 18th century your protagonist would not be considered a child, she is a young adult capable of marriage, of giving concent, and of working age.
– Sarriesfan
21 hours ago












Exactly. I was thinking of this. She would still be considered young though. I was thinking of having her lie a bit to add a couple years.
– Tanzanite Dragoness
21 hours ago




Exactly. I was thinking of this. She would still be considered young though. I was thinking of having her lie a bit to add a couple years.
– Tanzanite Dragoness
21 hours ago




1




1




@Sarriesfan - I agree but turning up with no funds and no family is a recipe for disaster. She would be regarded with suspicion in a small village - they have enough to do supporting themselves and their children without taking in a stranger - except perhaps as a worker for food and board but no pay. She would be exploited in a large city.
– chasly from UK
21 hours ago






@Sarriesfan - I agree but turning up with no funds and no family is a recipe for disaster. She would be regarded with suspicion in a small village - they have enough to do supporting themselves and their children without taking in a stranger - except perhaps as a worker for food and board but no pay. She would be exploited in a large city.
– chasly from UK
21 hours ago






1




1




@L.Dutch this one adds the parameter of the protagonist being a particular age one that is possibly quite and intresting one, we consider the person a child as tech protogonist will herself, people of the age a young adult. Some story consequences may occur due to this if I understand Tanzanite Dragoness correctly.
– Sarriesfan
20 hours ago




@L.Dutch this one adds the parameter of the protagonist being a particular age one that is possibly quite and intresting one, we consider the person a child as tech protogonist will herself, people of the age a young adult. Some story consequences may occur due to this if I understand Tanzanite Dragoness correctly.
– Sarriesfan
20 hours ago




1




1




On a tangent, some of the border accents would have been pretty thick back in the day before mass media - you might want to ask, to what extent would they even be mutually intelligible?
– Duckisaduckisaduck
16 hours ago




On a tangent, some of the border accents would have been pretty thick back in the day before mass media - you might want to ask, to what extent would they even be mutually intelligible?
– Duckisaduckisaduck
16 hours ago










1 Answer
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It depends exactly where she turns up and in what country. I'm British so I'll imagine Britain.





Initial reactions will be surprise and suspicion. She will almost immediately be labelled a 'foreigner' - probably French which was the default foreigner in those times - because of her funny way of speaking and dressing. Local children will gather round, asking questions and eventually possibly bullying her for her differences. The adults will be curious but not at all trusting. They are used to sameness, and difference will be viewed with extreme suspicion. Poverty is everywhere that she is actually likely to meet people on the street. Upper classes will travel by carriage or horse and not speak to people in the street. To speak to a wealthy person she would have to approach the mansion and knock at the door. The servant who first answered the door would probably just shut it again after telling her to go away.



Time-travel simply wouldn't be believed in those days. No-one would want to listen except perhaps she might be considered a good teller of fairy-tales where people can fly through the air and other marvels. The idea of having toilet facilities within the house would be considered disgusting by lower class people and unnecessary by the upper classes who have servants to empty the chamber pots.



Perhaps the best place to arrive would be in a farming community. There was always plenty of work to do and hands needed to do it. Workers would likely eat at the large kitchen table and there would be some kind of family atmosphere. The work would be hard and require long hours. When harvesting is impossible because of rain then she would be sent out in the rain to pull weeds. (I know I used to spend the summer on my uncle's farm. You couldn't just sit around doing nothing).



There would likely be no pay - just bed and board.





In a big city, not having any money or family to call her own, she would be considered an orphan or waif or stray.




The orphanages in 18th century England; particularly London were
terrible, terrible places for a child of low class.



They; most of them situated in ‘Working Homes’ were particularly not
even a ‘orphanage’ of any kind. They were simply a workforce with
children labour.



The nannies, or the masters of the houses were usually cruel,
cold-hearted people who beat and forced the child into work. Babies
were very rare to survive if given to the ‘orphanage.’ In early 18th
century England it was estimated every 12 deaths 11 were infants.



https://www.quora.com/What-happened-to-orphaned-children-in-18th-century-England




If she was very lucky she would be offered a job as a servant with a wealthy land-owner. Even then she would be at the bottom of the pecking order among all the servants and would end up scrubbing floors and taking out chamber pots.




At this time children worked in many different and dangerous places
such as farms, coal mines and even in chimneys. There were no laws to
protect people at work until the Industrial Revolution was well under
way. http://www.newlanark.org/learningzone/clitp-industrialrevolution.php




By the later 1700s, if she arrived near a cotton-mill town for example then she would be put to work in fairly inhumane conditions with no health and safety provision and long hours.



![enter image description here





Even children with relatives had it bad. Consider the case of Jane Eyre.




Jane Eyre is a young orphan being raised by Mrs. Reed, her cruel,
wealthy aunt. A servant named Bessie provides Jane with some of the
few kindnesses she receives, telling her stories and singing songs to
her. One day, as punishment for fighting with her bullying cousin John
Reed, Jane’s aunt imprisons Jane in the red-room, the room in which
Jane’s Uncle Reed died. While locked in, Jane, believing that she sees
her uncle’s ghost, screams and faints.
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/summary/




Read the original novel to find out what a terrible time Jane Eyre had whilst young.






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    It depends exactly where she turns up and in what country. I'm British so I'll imagine Britain.





    Initial reactions will be surprise and suspicion. She will almost immediately be labelled a 'foreigner' - probably French which was the default foreigner in those times - because of her funny way of speaking and dressing. Local children will gather round, asking questions and eventually possibly bullying her for her differences. The adults will be curious but not at all trusting. They are used to sameness, and difference will be viewed with extreme suspicion. Poverty is everywhere that she is actually likely to meet people on the street. Upper classes will travel by carriage or horse and not speak to people in the street. To speak to a wealthy person she would have to approach the mansion and knock at the door. The servant who first answered the door would probably just shut it again after telling her to go away.



    Time-travel simply wouldn't be believed in those days. No-one would want to listen except perhaps she might be considered a good teller of fairy-tales where people can fly through the air and other marvels. The idea of having toilet facilities within the house would be considered disgusting by lower class people and unnecessary by the upper classes who have servants to empty the chamber pots.



    Perhaps the best place to arrive would be in a farming community. There was always plenty of work to do and hands needed to do it. Workers would likely eat at the large kitchen table and there would be some kind of family atmosphere. The work would be hard and require long hours. When harvesting is impossible because of rain then she would be sent out in the rain to pull weeds. (I know I used to spend the summer on my uncle's farm. You couldn't just sit around doing nothing).



    There would likely be no pay - just bed and board.





    In a big city, not having any money or family to call her own, she would be considered an orphan or waif or stray.




    The orphanages in 18th century England; particularly London were
    terrible, terrible places for a child of low class.



    They; most of them situated in ‘Working Homes’ were particularly not
    even a ‘orphanage’ of any kind. They were simply a workforce with
    children labour.



    The nannies, or the masters of the houses were usually cruel,
    cold-hearted people who beat and forced the child into work. Babies
    were very rare to survive if given to the ‘orphanage.’ In early 18th
    century England it was estimated every 12 deaths 11 were infants.



    https://www.quora.com/What-happened-to-orphaned-children-in-18th-century-England




    If she was very lucky she would be offered a job as a servant with a wealthy land-owner. Even then she would be at the bottom of the pecking order among all the servants and would end up scrubbing floors and taking out chamber pots.




    At this time children worked in many different and dangerous places
    such as farms, coal mines and even in chimneys. There were no laws to
    protect people at work until the Industrial Revolution was well under
    way. http://www.newlanark.org/learningzone/clitp-industrialrevolution.php




    By the later 1700s, if she arrived near a cotton-mill town for example then she would be put to work in fairly inhumane conditions with no health and safety provision and long hours.



    ![enter image description here





    Even children with relatives had it bad. Consider the case of Jane Eyre.




    Jane Eyre is a young orphan being raised by Mrs. Reed, her cruel,
    wealthy aunt. A servant named Bessie provides Jane with some of the
    few kindnesses she receives, telling her stories and singing songs to
    her. One day, as punishment for fighting with her bullying cousin John
    Reed, Jane’s aunt imprisons Jane in the red-room, the room in which
    Jane’s Uncle Reed died. While locked in, Jane, believing that she sees
    her uncle’s ghost, screams and faints.
    https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/summary/




    Read the original novel to find out what a terrible time Jane Eyre had whilst young.






    share|improve this answer




























      2














      It depends exactly where she turns up and in what country. I'm British so I'll imagine Britain.





      Initial reactions will be surprise and suspicion. She will almost immediately be labelled a 'foreigner' - probably French which was the default foreigner in those times - because of her funny way of speaking and dressing. Local children will gather round, asking questions and eventually possibly bullying her for her differences. The adults will be curious but not at all trusting. They are used to sameness, and difference will be viewed with extreme suspicion. Poverty is everywhere that she is actually likely to meet people on the street. Upper classes will travel by carriage or horse and not speak to people in the street. To speak to a wealthy person she would have to approach the mansion and knock at the door. The servant who first answered the door would probably just shut it again after telling her to go away.



      Time-travel simply wouldn't be believed in those days. No-one would want to listen except perhaps she might be considered a good teller of fairy-tales where people can fly through the air and other marvels. The idea of having toilet facilities within the house would be considered disgusting by lower class people and unnecessary by the upper classes who have servants to empty the chamber pots.



      Perhaps the best place to arrive would be in a farming community. There was always plenty of work to do and hands needed to do it. Workers would likely eat at the large kitchen table and there would be some kind of family atmosphere. The work would be hard and require long hours. When harvesting is impossible because of rain then she would be sent out in the rain to pull weeds. (I know I used to spend the summer on my uncle's farm. You couldn't just sit around doing nothing).



      There would likely be no pay - just bed and board.





      In a big city, not having any money or family to call her own, she would be considered an orphan or waif or stray.




      The orphanages in 18th century England; particularly London were
      terrible, terrible places for a child of low class.



      They; most of them situated in ‘Working Homes’ were particularly not
      even a ‘orphanage’ of any kind. They were simply a workforce with
      children labour.



      The nannies, or the masters of the houses were usually cruel,
      cold-hearted people who beat and forced the child into work. Babies
      were very rare to survive if given to the ‘orphanage.’ In early 18th
      century England it was estimated every 12 deaths 11 were infants.



      https://www.quora.com/What-happened-to-orphaned-children-in-18th-century-England




      If she was very lucky she would be offered a job as a servant with a wealthy land-owner. Even then she would be at the bottom of the pecking order among all the servants and would end up scrubbing floors and taking out chamber pots.




      At this time children worked in many different and dangerous places
      such as farms, coal mines and even in chimneys. There were no laws to
      protect people at work until the Industrial Revolution was well under
      way. http://www.newlanark.org/learningzone/clitp-industrialrevolution.php




      By the later 1700s, if she arrived near a cotton-mill town for example then she would be put to work in fairly inhumane conditions with no health and safety provision and long hours.



      ![enter image description here





      Even children with relatives had it bad. Consider the case of Jane Eyre.




      Jane Eyre is a young orphan being raised by Mrs. Reed, her cruel,
      wealthy aunt. A servant named Bessie provides Jane with some of the
      few kindnesses she receives, telling her stories and singing songs to
      her. One day, as punishment for fighting with her bullying cousin John
      Reed, Jane’s aunt imprisons Jane in the red-room, the room in which
      Jane’s Uncle Reed died. While locked in, Jane, believing that she sees
      her uncle’s ghost, screams and faints.
      https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/summary/




      Read the original novel to find out what a terrible time Jane Eyre had whilst young.






      share|improve this answer


























        2












        2








        2






        It depends exactly where she turns up and in what country. I'm British so I'll imagine Britain.





        Initial reactions will be surprise and suspicion. She will almost immediately be labelled a 'foreigner' - probably French which was the default foreigner in those times - because of her funny way of speaking and dressing. Local children will gather round, asking questions and eventually possibly bullying her for her differences. The adults will be curious but not at all trusting. They are used to sameness, and difference will be viewed with extreme suspicion. Poverty is everywhere that she is actually likely to meet people on the street. Upper classes will travel by carriage or horse and not speak to people in the street. To speak to a wealthy person she would have to approach the mansion and knock at the door. The servant who first answered the door would probably just shut it again after telling her to go away.



        Time-travel simply wouldn't be believed in those days. No-one would want to listen except perhaps she might be considered a good teller of fairy-tales where people can fly through the air and other marvels. The idea of having toilet facilities within the house would be considered disgusting by lower class people and unnecessary by the upper classes who have servants to empty the chamber pots.



        Perhaps the best place to arrive would be in a farming community. There was always plenty of work to do and hands needed to do it. Workers would likely eat at the large kitchen table and there would be some kind of family atmosphere. The work would be hard and require long hours. When harvesting is impossible because of rain then she would be sent out in the rain to pull weeds. (I know I used to spend the summer on my uncle's farm. You couldn't just sit around doing nothing).



        There would likely be no pay - just bed and board.





        In a big city, not having any money or family to call her own, she would be considered an orphan or waif or stray.




        The orphanages in 18th century England; particularly London were
        terrible, terrible places for a child of low class.



        They; most of them situated in ‘Working Homes’ were particularly not
        even a ‘orphanage’ of any kind. They were simply a workforce with
        children labour.



        The nannies, or the masters of the houses were usually cruel,
        cold-hearted people who beat and forced the child into work. Babies
        were very rare to survive if given to the ‘orphanage.’ In early 18th
        century England it was estimated every 12 deaths 11 were infants.



        https://www.quora.com/What-happened-to-orphaned-children-in-18th-century-England




        If she was very lucky she would be offered a job as a servant with a wealthy land-owner. Even then she would be at the bottom of the pecking order among all the servants and would end up scrubbing floors and taking out chamber pots.




        At this time children worked in many different and dangerous places
        such as farms, coal mines and even in chimneys. There were no laws to
        protect people at work until the Industrial Revolution was well under
        way. http://www.newlanark.org/learningzone/clitp-industrialrevolution.php




        By the later 1700s, if she arrived near a cotton-mill town for example then she would be put to work in fairly inhumane conditions with no health and safety provision and long hours.



        ![enter image description here





        Even children with relatives had it bad. Consider the case of Jane Eyre.




        Jane Eyre is a young orphan being raised by Mrs. Reed, her cruel,
        wealthy aunt. A servant named Bessie provides Jane with some of the
        few kindnesses she receives, telling her stories and singing songs to
        her. One day, as punishment for fighting with her bullying cousin John
        Reed, Jane’s aunt imprisons Jane in the red-room, the room in which
        Jane’s Uncle Reed died. While locked in, Jane, believing that she sees
        her uncle’s ghost, screams and faints.
        https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/summary/




        Read the original novel to find out what a terrible time Jane Eyre had whilst young.






        share|improve this answer














        It depends exactly where she turns up and in what country. I'm British so I'll imagine Britain.





        Initial reactions will be surprise and suspicion. She will almost immediately be labelled a 'foreigner' - probably French which was the default foreigner in those times - because of her funny way of speaking and dressing. Local children will gather round, asking questions and eventually possibly bullying her for her differences. The adults will be curious but not at all trusting. They are used to sameness, and difference will be viewed with extreme suspicion. Poverty is everywhere that she is actually likely to meet people on the street. Upper classes will travel by carriage or horse and not speak to people in the street. To speak to a wealthy person she would have to approach the mansion and knock at the door. The servant who first answered the door would probably just shut it again after telling her to go away.



        Time-travel simply wouldn't be believed in those days. No-one would want to listen except perhaps she might be considered a good teller of fairy-tales where people can fly through the air and other marvels. The idea of having toilet facilities within the house would be considered disgusting by lower class people and unnecessary by the upper classes who have servants to empty the chamber pots.



        Perhaps the best place to arrive would be in a farming community. There was always plenty of work to do and hands needed to do it. Workers would likely eat at the large kitchen table and there would be some kind of family atmosphere. The work would be hard and require long hours. When harvesting is impossible because of rain then she would be sent out in the rain to pull weeds. (I know I used to spend the summer on my uncle's farm. You couldn't just sit around doing nothing).



        There would likely be no pay - just bed and board.





        In a big city, not having any money or family to call her own, she would be considered an orphan or waif or stray.




        The orphanages in 18th century England; particularly London were
        terrible, terrible places for a child of low class.



        They; most of them situated in ‘Working Homes’ were particularly not
        even a ‘orphanage’ of any kind. They were simply a workforce with
        children labour.



        The nannies, or the masters of the houses were usually cruel,
        cold-hearted people who beat and forced the child into work. Babies
        were very rare to survive if given to the ‘orphanage.’ In early 18th
        century England it was estimated every 12 deaths 11 were infants.



        https://www.quora.com/What-happened-to-orphaned-children-in-18th-century-England




        If she was very lucky she would be offered a job as a servant with a wealthy land-owner. Even then she would be at the bottom of the pecking order among all the servants and would end up scrubbing floors and taking out chamber pots.




        At this time children worked in many different and dangerous places
        such as farms, coal mines and even in chimneys. There were no laws to
        protect people at work until the Industrial Revolution was well under
        way. http://www.newlanark.org/learningzone/clitp-industrialrevolution.php




        By the later 1700s, if she arrived near a cotton-mill town for example then she would be put to work in fairly inhumane conditions with no health and safety provision and long hours.



        ![enter image description here





        Even children with relatives had it bad. Consider the case of Jane Eyre.




        Jane Eyre is a young orphan being raised by Mrs. Reed, her cruel,
        wealthy aunt. A servant named Bessie provides Jane with some of the
        few kindnesses she receives, telling her stories and singing songs to
        her. One day, as punishment for fighting with her bullying cousin John
        Reed, Jane’s aunt imprisons Jane in the red-room, the room in which
        Jane’s Uncle Reed died. While locked in, Jane, believing that she sees
        her uncle’s ghost, screams and faints.
        https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/summary/




        Read the original novel to find out what a terrible time Jane Eyre had whilst young.







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        edited 19 hours ago

























        answered 21 hours ago









        chasly from UK

        12.6k356112




        12.6k356112






























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