Source: The Rules and
Regulations of New England Mills
Rules and Regulations to
be attended to and Followed by the Young Persons who
come to Board in this House:
Rule first: Each one to enter
the house without unnecessary noise or confusion, and hang up their bonnet,
shawl, coat, etc., etc., in the entry.
Rule second: Each one to
have their place at the table during meals, the two which have worked the
greatest length of time in the Factory to sit on each side of the head of the
table, so that all new hands will of course take their seats lower down,
according to the length of time they have been here.
Rule third: It is
expected that order and good manners will be preserved at table during meals
and at all other times either upstairs or down.
Rule fourth: There is no
unnecessary dirt to be brought into the house by the Boarders, such as apple
cores or peels, or nut shells, etc.
Rule fifth: Each boarder
is to take her turn in making the bed and sweeping the chamber in which she
sleeps.
Rule sixth: Those who
have worked the longest in the Factory are to sleep in the North Chamber and
the new hands will sleep in the South Chamber.
Rule seventh: As a lamp
will be lighted every night upstairs and placed in a lanthorn
[lantern,] it is expected that no boarder will take a light into the chambers.
Rule eighth: The doors
will be closed at ten o'clock at night, winter and summer, at which time each
boarder will be expected to retire to bed.
Rule ninth: Sunday being
appointed by our Creator as a Day of Rest and Religious Exercises, it is
expected that all boarders will have sufficient discretion as to pay suitable
attention to the day, and if they cannot attend to some place of Public Worship
they will keep within doors and improve their time in reading, writing, and in
other valuable and harmless employment.
The overseers are to be
punctually in their Rooms at the starting of the Mill, and not to be absent
unnecessarily during working hours. They are to see that all those employed in
their Rooms are in their places in due season; they may grant leave of absence
to those employed under them, when there are spare hands in the Room to supply
their places; otherwise they are not to grant leave of absence, except in cases
of absolute necessity.
All persons in the employ of the Lowell Manufacturing Company are required to
observe the Regulations of the overseer of the Room where they are employed;
they are not to be absent from work without his consent, except in cases of
sickness, and then they are to send him word of the cause of their absence.
They are to board in one
of the Boarding Houses belonging to the Company, and to conform to the
regulations of the House where they board; they are to give information at the
Counting-Room, of the place where they board, when they begin; and also give
notice whenever they change their boarding-place.
The Company will not
employ any one who is habitually absent from public
worship on the Sabbath.
It is considered a part
of the engagement that each person remains twelve months if required; and all
persons intending to leave the employment of the Company are to give two weeks'
notice of their intention to their Overseer, and their engagement is not
considered as fulfilled unless they comply with this Regulation.
The Pay Roll will be made up to the last Saturday of every month, and the
payment made to the Carpet Mill the following Saturday, and the Cotton Mill the
succeeding Tuesday, when every person will be expected to pay their board.
The Company will not continue to employ any person who shall be
wanting in proper respect to the females employed by the Company, or who
shall smoke within the Company's premises, or be guilty of inebriety
[drunkenness,] or other improper conduct. The Tenants of the Boarding-Houses
are not to board or permit any part of their houses to be occupied by any
person, except those in the employ of the Company.
They will be considered answerable for any improper conduct in their Houses,
and are not to permit their Boarders to have company at unseasonable hours.
The doors must be closed at ten o'clock in the evening, and no person admitted
after that time without some reasonable excuse.
The keeper of the Boarding-House must give an account of the number, names and employment of the Boarders when required, and report the names of
such as are guilty of any improper conduct.
The Buildings, and yards about them, must be kept clean and in good order, and
if they are injured otherwise than from ordinary use, all necessary repairs
will be made and charged to the occupant.
It is desirable that the families of those who live in the Houses, as well as
the Boarders, who have not had the Kine [cowl Pox, should be vaccinated; which will be done at the
expense of the Company for such as wish it.
Some suitable chamber in the House must be reserved, and appropriated for the
use of the sick, so that others may not be under the necessity of sleeping in
the same room.
No one will be continued as a Tenant who shall suffer ashes to be put into any
place other than the place made to receive them, or shall, by any carelessness
in the use of fire, or lights, endanger the Company's property.
These regulations are considered a part of the contract with the persons
entering into the employment of the Lowell Manufacturing Company.