Blackburn, John | Day 15

Engaged as a messenger receiving £1 for 12 days during the election going to and fro between Deal and Sandwich. Normal wages as a shipwright to Mr Pain was 4s a day or 24s a week. Work was slack which is why he took a job that paid half as much as his normal wage.


Witness Type: Other


Witness Testimony:

  • 17635.

    (Mr. Turner.) What are you ? — A shipwright. 

  • 17636.

    Where do you live ? — Knightrider Street, Sandwich. 

  • 17637.

    What did you receive at this election ? — 1L.

  • 17638.

    From whom ? — Mr. Slaughter. 

  • 17639.

    Was that for your vote ? — It was for being a messenger. 

  • 17640.

    You were a messenger ? — Yes. 

  • 17641.

    How many days were you a messenger ? — 12 days ; 11 days before the election, and one day upon the polling day, 

  • 17642.

    Did you receive nothing else ?  — No. 

  • 17643.

    Nor the promise of anything else ?  — No. 

  • 17644.

    Who canvassed you ? — No one. 

  • 17645.

    (Mr. Jeune.) When were you engaged as a messenger ? — 12 days before the election. 

  • 17646.

    What did you do as a messenger; did you carry any messages ? — Yes, I came to and fro to Deal.

  • 17647.

    From Sandwich to Deal ? — Yes. 

  • 17648.

    How often did you go in the course of the day ; more than once ? — No. 

  • 17649.

    What is your ordinary occupation ? — A shipwright. 

  • 17650.

    For whom do you work ? — Mr. Pain. 

  • 17651.

    Did you give up working for him during those days ? — Yes, we were slack of work at the time. 

  • 17652.

    You had no other occupation at that time at all ? — No. 

  • 17653.

    What are your ordinary wages as a shipwright 4s. a day.

  • 17654.

    That would be 24s. a week ? — Yes. 

  • 17655.

    Here you see you got more than twice as much for about the same time ? — We were slack of work at the time.