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 The hiring of farm servants was well established by the eighteenth century. Young peoplelooking for work would gather in the centre of the town and farmers looking for servants would inspect them there. Servants judged how they were treated mainly by the food they were given. A farmer who had a good 'mate house' had no difficulty finding workers.
Based on the memories of Sam King, Maggie Faulkner and Jim McAuley who were hired themselves during the 1920s and 30s. This video traces the fortunes of 16 year old Mary Mullan and her brother Jimmy who was 8 years old. Mary and Jimmy were hired for six months to a rich farmer from Co. Antrim. At the end of 6 months their mother would receive £10. In those days a £10 note could have held the balance between eviction and survival.
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