The Term "Houskeeper".....

[sheilajim]

Hi All

In reading other posts, and in some of mine the term "Housekeeper" seems to imply something else, than what I had first assumed. I thought that a Housekeeper was a domestic servant.
I had found an GG Aunt, who was listed as a Housekeeper, who later married her "Employer" in 1900, in one of those Irregular Marriages.

I have found a widowed GGGrandmother listed as a "Housekeeper" in the 1851 Census. In her case though, she is listed as living with her two sons, 18 and 10 years old. She was only 35 at the time, (at least that was the age on the census). Was she really a housekeeper or something else to someone?

So far I haven't been able to find some really juicy scandals regarding my ancestors. On the surface they seem to be a dull lot. k

Does anyone have any more info on this subject? The Housekeepers I mean, not my ancestors.

Regards

Sheila

[SarahND]

Hi Sheila,
I always assumed the "housekeeper" was like the "keeps house" or "keeping house" that is often written on the U.S. censuses and was applied to the wife if she didn't have a job outside the home. I guess it's ambiguous, since a Housekeeper is also a kind of servant, as you say.
All the best,
Sarah

[AndrewP]

I had always assumed tha the housekeeper kept house, usually for a single or widowed man, normally living in her employer's house. However, the marriage certificates show that a significant number of these housekeepers subsequently married the house owner, most often by Warrant of the Sheriff. My feeling is that they started off keeping house, and became more familiar with their employer. Or if I was more sceptcal, I would say that housekeeper was a polite name for live in lover. often where there was a significant age gap between the couple - normally he was older than her.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Tracey]

My great grandmother was described as "Housekeeper" on web sites, his death certificate and in a book or "Secretary"on a ship list. She lived (in the biblical sence) with a man who was almost double her age. Which echos what Andrew said. There was definitly no marriage of any kind between these two but he did leave her the house !

[Liz Turner]

Have to say I'm with Andrew and Tracey on this one. My first thought on seeing "housekeeper" is not someone who only keeps house. It's a bit of a euphemism!

Liz

[Montrose Budie]

Aye weel, - there were doubtless many men who had a genuine housekeeper, but there were also many where the euphemism applied.

And, in between, just to complicate it all, there were situations that started out as the former but graduated into the latter, not least the occasional minister of the Church of Scotland, who, due the results of such a "liaison", were requested to demit their appointment

Where the balance lay, wha kens

David

[Tracey]

Mine did keep the house - so a true house - keeper !! and sold it for £750 but i wouldnt have put up with that old misery for any amount of money.

[AnneM]

Which American female comedian was it who said. "I'm a very good housekeeper. Every time I get divorced I keep the house"

Anne

[Tracey]

Mae West !

[joette]

Nae Zaa Zaa Gabor surely-I think Mae was only married twice to Zaa Zaa's 7+.