Harriet ann McCarter

 Subject Name:    Harriet Ann McCarter (b 1845 – d 1892)                 

Researchers:      Val Pink and Pauline Sieler

ASSISTANT MATRON AT THE GUILDFORD UNION WORKHOUSE
December 1867 – September 1885


PENNSYLVANIAN-BORN NIECE OF GUILDFORD WORKHOUSE MASTER AND MATRON PROVES HER WORTH

Harriet Ann McCarter was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of an English mother and American-Irish father. She came to England in her teens, working at the Guildford Union Workhouse where her uncle Richard Davis was the Master and his wife Elizabeth the Matron.  Although Harriet may have benefited from the family tie, she proved herself invaluable as assistant to the Matron for nearly 20 years.  After resigning, Harriet married into a young family but still found time to be with her aunt Elizabeth when her uncle passed away.  Harriet’s death at just 47 brought a loving, caring life to an untimely end.

Harriet Ann McCarter was born in Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA, on 18th August 1845, the first child of Joseph and Mary Ann McCarter née Davis. She was baptised at the Neshaminy Presbyterian Church in Warwick, Bucks County, where her parents had married in 1844 1 ,2, 3.

Although born in Pennsylvania, Harriet’s father Joseph was of Irish descent. His father, Harriet’s grandfather John, was born in Ireland 4, 5.  John had settled in Bucks County where he raised a large family with his Pennsylvanian-born wife. 

In the 1700s and early 1800s, Pennsylvania was a popular and welcoming emigration destination for Irish and Scottish Protestants, and especially Presbyterians, who sought to escape religious intolerance in their homeland. Pennsylvania’s founder, William Penn, had insisted that all religions were welcome in the State 6. Even before the Irish ‘potato famine’ of 1845-1851, living conditions in Ireland and Scotland were not easy, and between 1815 and 1845 half a million Irish Protestants emigrated to America 7.  

Harriet’s mother Mary Ann Davis was English, born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in about 1824 8, 9. Sometime after the 1841 Census, Mary Ann left Cheltenham for the United States. This was a brave decision for a young, single woman, leading to her marriage to Joseph McCarter in 1844 and the birth of their first child Harriet. The reason for Mary Ann’s move, and how she met Joseph, is not known.  A second daughter, Elizabeth, followed in November 1847, but she lived for just 7 months 10, 11. 

Harriet’s mother Mary Ann passed away in May 1850 from consumption when Harriet was only 4 years old 12. The Census for the following year showed Harriet and her father living with her grandparents, aunts and uncles on the family farm in Warminster, Pennsylvania 5.

Harriet moves to England

Harriet’s father remained on the farm, but by 1860 his teenage daughter had left Pennsylvania for England.  In 1861, age 15, Harriet was a ‘visitor’ in Clerkenwell, London, at the house of William Pilley and family, a master tailor born in Cheltenham 13. Her occupation was given as ‘warehouse girl’.  It is possible that there was a link between Harriet’s mother’s family from Cheltenham and William Pilley who had been born there at much the same time, but no firm connection has been found 14.

Assistant Matron, Guildford Union Workhouse

10 years later in 1871, Harriet McCarter, 25, was ‘Assistant Matron’ in the Guildford Union Workhouse, working alongside Richard Davis and his wife Elizabeth, who had been the Master and Matron of the Workhouse since 1863 15, 16. 

Richard Davis was Harriet’s uncle, the older brother of her mother Mary Ann 9, 17.   He had married Elizabeth Chivers in Cheltenham in December 1845, a short time after his sister Mary Ann (Harriet’s mother) had emigrated to Pennsylvania 18.

Richard and Elizabeth Davis haven’t been found on the 1851 England Census, but there is an 1850 US Census record for a Richard and Elizabeth Davis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, less than 20 miles (32km) from where Harriet and her family were living at that time 19. Richard’s trade was given as a carpenter, the same as his father and brothers. Although there are no travel or other records available, and despite Davis being a common name, it does appear that Harriet’s aunt and uncle had also been in the US.  They had no children and so may well have taken Harriet under their wing, perhaps even travelling back to England together. Whatever the circumstances, aunt, uncle and niece were all working at the Guildford Union Workhouse in the 1860s.

Harriet had been formally appointed as Assistant Matron by the Guildford Union Board of Guardians in December 1867, at a salary of £10 per annum 20.  This position had originally been created the previous year in November 1866, after Matron Elizabeth Davis had requested extra help. It was agreed by the Guildford Guardians at that time that ‘rations’ would be provided, but no salary.  Any new salaried post would have had to have been approved by the Poor Law Commission in their capacity as overseers of all Poor Law Unions 21.

As ‘Assistant Matron’, Harriet’s job was to support and assist her aunt.  The Matron of the Workhouse was not a nursing role as would be perceived today.  She was the most senior of the female workhouse staff, responsible for overseeing the admission and well-being of female inmates and children, assigning work tasks for female paupers, monitoring the upkeep of female and children’s wards, organising the provision of linen and clothing for all inmates, and supervising female employees 22.

The Guildford Board of Guardians had been discussing the adaptation of certain rooms in the Workhouse for ‘normal lunatics’ for a while, rather than incurring the increasing expense of paying for them to be in the Brookwood Asylum 23.  By September 1867, they felt it was time to seek official agreement for Guildford to ‘provide accommodation for the reception of their own patients’.

Later that month, the Poor Law Board reported on the conditions that they had found during an inspection visit, and the specific needs of inmates of ‘unsound mind’ 24.  At the time of the visit, there were 5 males and 10 females in this category, distributed among the ordinary inmates.  The Poor Law Board made several recommendations for them, including an amended diet, males to be engaged in daily in exercise (weather permitting), and the females who were occupied indoors to be given an occasional walk around the garden and farmland under strict supervision of the Master Richard Davis. 

This report caused the Board of Guardians much consternation about the amount of extra work the Poor Law Board recommendations required, highlighting the need for a formal, salaried Assistant Matron.  The Poor Law Board therefore agreed that Guildford could employ an Assistant Matron on a small salary with rations so that all her time would be devoted to the duties of the workhouse.

The Board of Guardians recognised that Harriet, in her unpaid role, had already spent a ‘long period performing various duties in the House which it is impossible the Matron can herself unassisted efficiently perform’, confirming that Harriet had been assisting her aunt for quite a while, even before she was granted ‘rations’ in November 1866.  Certainly, as far back as July 1866, a ‘deputy matron’ had accompanied the workhouse children on a ‘treat’ day out to Worthing 25.  Additionally, the Poor Law Board had stipulated that ‘the duties were more particularly to look after the imbecile inmates and the cutting of clothing’. This also played to Harriet’s background, as she had been living with a tailor in the early 1860s.  Already living in the Workhouse, she was therefore the obvious choice to continue, now as a paid officer.

In 1870 work commenced to improve the upper and lower wards of the Workhouse Infirmary, including converting the upper infirmary into an ‘imbecile ward’ 26.  This must have caused much disruption to the running of the workhouse, as it was 1873 before the work was completed 27.  

Hard work appreciated

Harriet was still Assistant Matron alongside her aunt and uncle at the time of the 1881 Census 28.  She was obviously a diligent worker, as in 1882 she was given a gratuity of £5 and her salary increased to £15 per year by the Board of Guardians, who expressed their ‘great satisfaction’ of her efforts over the past year 29.

The Board of Guardians and staff tried to ensure that Christmas was celebrated appropriately in the Workhouse.  For example, in December 1883, the West Surrey Times reported that the inmates were provided with a ‘sumptuous tea’, and a ‘usual Christmas dinner’ of roast beef, vegetables, Christmas pudding, a pint of beer, tobacco and snuff 30.  

Harriet’s involvement had been to help decorate the schoolroom, dining hall and chapel.  The Board of Guardians recorded that Harriet’s ‘respected’ aunt and uncle Mr and Mrs Davis ‘were indefatigable in their efforts to promote the happiness of inmates’.

This was to be the last Christmas that Harriet shared with her aunt and uncle in the Workhouse as in August 1884, with their health failing and after 21 years as Master and Matron, they were no longer able to continue in their roles 31, 32.  They were given many plaudits – ‘a chorus of praise at the effectiveness of the supervision that has marked the government of the Master and Matron’ 32. How proud Harriet must have been.

 Harriet stays on as Assistant Matron

Following the Davises’ departure, Harriet’s role came under scrutiny.  In November 1884, after some consideration of the duties that she was carrying out, the Board of Guardians recognised that it would not be possible for the newly appointed Matron to also take these on alone 33.  One member of the House Visiting Committee, ‘felt it quite necessary to retain her’. Miss Spottiswoode, the only female Guardian, agreed, saying ‘it would be no economy to dispense with her’, so the subject was dropped.  

Life as an Assistant Matron was not without its difficulties.  In December of the same year Harriet was at the County Petty Sessions to give evidence in a case where a young female inmate had struck several people, including Harriet, leading to a prison sentence of 14 days for the culprit 34.

In September 1885, just after her 40th birthday, Harriet tendered her resignation 35.  The Board of Guardians had some difficulties recruiting a replacement Assistant Matron. When the first selected candidate was informed that she would have to ‘superintend and actively engage in the cooking’ she declined the role, stating that she ‘did not want a cook’s position’ 36.  

Further advertisements clarified that the postholder, in addition to assisting the Matron, would ‘do the cooking in the Workhouse’ 37. This would suggest that cooking had also been part of Harriet’s varied and onerous workload. 

Marriage

Where Harriet went and what she did immediately after leaving is not known.  Her father Joseph died in Pennsylvania in October 1886, aged 75, and left his estate to his ‘beloved daughter Harriet Ann McCarter who resides in England’ 38, 39.  All those years apart must have been difficult for both Joseph and Harriet, so it seems possible that she had returned to America to look after her father, but no records have been found to substantiate this.

On 13th June 1889, at the age of 43, Harriet married recently widowed William Colleton Bulled, a 38-year-old carpenter, at the Holy Trinity Church, Selhurst, Surrey, where they were both living 40, 41.  Harriet became stepmother to William’s three children 42.

The 1891 Census showed that Harriet had left her family behind in West Croydon to be in Cheltenham with her 74-year-old aunt Elizabeth Davis 43, 44.  Harriet’s uncle Richard Davis had died on 31st March just five days before the Census, and had been buried on 3rd April 45, 46.  Harriet and her aunt and uncle had clearly been very close after many years working together, so no doubt Harriet was in Cheltenham to comfort and help her aunt.

Harriet’s new life as a wife and stepmother was not to last long.  On 13th December 1892, aged only 47, Harriet died at home in Croydon from an abscess on the brain and exhaustion for seven weeks prior, with husband William by her side 47.

April 2025
Editor: Carol Thompson

Spike Lives is a Heritage project that chronicles the lives of inmates, staff and the Board of Guardians of the Guildford Union Workhouse at the time of the 1881 Census.  The Spike Heritage Museum in Guildford offers guided tours which present a unique opportunity to discover what life was like in the Casual/Vagrant ward of a Workhouse. More information can be found here

References

Note :  the source for online records is Ancestry.co.uk and Ancestry.com unless otherwise specified

  1. Harriet Ann McCarter 10 Jan 1846 Baptism Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia; US, Presbyterian Church Records; Hartsville, Pennsylvania; Neshaminy Presbyterian Church of Warwick
  2. Joseph McCarter & Mary Ann Davis 2 Oct 1844 Marriage Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, USA; US Presbyterian Church Records, Hartsville, Pennsylvania; Neshaminy Presbyterian Church of Warwick
  3. History of Neshaminy Presbyterian Church of Warwick, Hartsville, Bucks County, PA 1726-1826 published 1876; author Rev. DK Turner
  4. John, Susan, Joseph, William, John, Susan, Catherine, Emily McCarter; William Annaberry; Harriett Ann McCarter 1850 US Federal Census for Warminster, Bucks, Pennsylvania. The National Archives Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Roll: 759; Page: 120b
  5. John, Susan, Joseph, Cath., Emily John McCarter 1860 US Federal Census for Warminster, Bucks, Pennsylvania. The National Archives Washington D.C.; Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Roll: M653_1083; Page: 776; Family History Library Film: 805083
  6. Scots Irish (Scottish Irish) The Encyclopaedia of Greater Philadelphia philadephiaenclyclopedia.org
  7. Irish Americans, Irish Immigration to the United States org
  8. Mary Ann Davis 13 Jun 1824 Baptism Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester; Gloucestershire Church of England Parish Registers; Cheltenham, St Mary; ref P78/1 in 1/9 parents George a carpenter & Ann
  9. George, Ann, William, Richard, Mary, Jane, Maria, George, Thomas, John Davis 1841 England Census for Fair View Place, Cheltenham St Mary; class HO107; piece 353; book 3; folio 47; page 9
  10. Elizabeth McCarter 23 Apr 1848 Baptism 4 Nov 1847 Birth in Warminster Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia; US, Presbyterian Church Records; Hartsville, Pennsylvania; Neshaminy Presbyterian Church of Warwick
  11. Elizabeth McCarter May 1848 Burial Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia; US, Presbyterian Church Records; Hartsville, Pennsylvania; Neshaminy Presbyterian Church of Warwick
  12. Mary Ann McCarter May 1850 Death National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; Non-Population Census Schedules for Pennsylvania, 1850-1880; Mortality; Archive Collection: M1838; Archive Roll Number: 3; Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Warminster, Bucks, Pennsylvania; Page: 321
    Mary Ann McCarter 9 May 1859 Death (sic, worn gravestone mis-read) Gravestone at FindaGrave.com Neshaminy-Warwick Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Hartsville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA
  13. William, Sarah, John W, William, Harriett, Alice L Pilley; Harriett A McCarter 1861 England Census for 26 Amwell Street, Clerkenwell, Middlesex; class RG9; piece 192; folio 6; page 5
  14. William Pilley 1 June 1825 Baptism The National Archives, Kew; Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths surrendered to the Non-parochial Registers Commissions of 1837 and 1857; class RG 4; piece 2853; Cheltenham, King Street, Ebenezer Chapel (Wesleyan)
  15. Richard, Elizabeth Davis; Harriet Ann McCarter 1871 England Census for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke next Guildford, Surrey; class RG10; piece 813; folio 78; page 1
  16. Appointment of Master and Matron Guildford Union Board of Guardians Minute Book Mar 1861–Sep 1863; BG6/11/14; page 502 Available at Surrey History Centre, Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
  17. Richard Davis 8 Sep 1822 Baptism Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester; Gloucestershire Church of England Parish Registers; Cheltenham, St Mary; ref P78/1 in 1/9 parents George a carpenter & Mary Ann
  18. Richard Davis & Elizabeth Chivers 1 Dec 1845 Marriage Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester; Gloucestershire Church of England Parish Registers; Cheltenham; ref Gdr/V1/410
  19. Richard, Elizabeth Davis 1850 USA Census for First Ward, Spring Garden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Record Group Number 29; Series Number M432; Roll 818; Page 306b
  20. Application and Appointment of Assistant Matron Guildford Union Board of Guardians Minute Book Jul 1866–Jun 1869; BG6/11/16; pages 54, 60, 218, 264, 282 Available at Surrey History Centre, Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
  21. Remuneration of the Officers The General Consolidated Order Issued by the Poor Law Commissioners 24th July 1847, and the Other General Orders Applicable to the Unions to which that Order is Addressed; with a Commentary and Notes on the Several Articles, author William Cunnigham Glen Available at Google Books Google.co.uk/books
  22. Workhouse, Management & Staffingorg
    Duties of the Matron The General Consolidated Order Issued by the Poor Law Commissioners 24th July 1847, and the Other General Orders Applicable to the Unions to which that Order is Addressed; with a Commentary and Notes on the Several Articles, author William Cunnigham Glen Available at Google Books Google.co.uk/books
    Poor Law and Workhouse Administration & Staff Workhouses.co.uk
  23. The Increase of Lunacy 28 Sep 1867 The Surrey Advertiser, page 3 FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  24. Report on Conditions Guildford Union Board of Guardians Minute Book Jul 1866–Jun 1869; BG6/11/16; pages 201 and 208 Available at Surrey History Centre, Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
  25. The Treat to the Workhouse Children 28 Jul 1866 The Surrey Advertiser, page 2 co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  26. Work on Upper and Lower Wards Guildford Union Board of Guardians Minute Book Jun 1869–Sep 1872; BG6/11/17; page 213 Available at Surrey History Centre, Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
    Guildford Workhouse Infirmary January 2019 Workhouses of London and the South East; author Peter Higginbotham
    The Spike Heritage Centre Phil Davie GuildfordSpike.co.uk
  27. The Proposed Imbecile Ward 9 Dec 1873 Epsom Journal FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  28. Richard, Elizabeth Davis; Harriet Ann McCarter 1881 England Census for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke next Guildford, Surrey; class RG11; piece 778; folio 90; page 1
  29. The Assistant Matron’s Salary 11 Mar 1882 West Surrey Times, page 6 FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  30. Christmas at the Workhouse 29 Dec 1883 West Surrey Times, page 5 FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  31. Resignation of Richard and Elizabeth Davis Guildford Union Board of Guardians Minute Book Oct 1883–Dec 1886; BG6/11/21 Available at Surrey History Centre, Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
  32. The Workhouse Officers 30 Aug 1884 West Surrey Times, page 5 FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  33. The Assistant Matron 15 Nov 1884 West Surrey Times, page 5 FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  34. County Petty Sessions 13 Dec 1884 West Surrey Times, page 5 FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  35. Resignation of Assistant Matron Guildford Union Board of Guardians Minute Book Oct 1883–Dec 1886; ref BG6/11/21; page 318 Available at Surrey History Centre, Woking Surreycc.gov.uk
  36. Election of Assistant Matron 26 Oct 1885 Surrey Advertiser, page 3 FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  37. Guildford Union Assistant Matron wanted 26 Oct 1885 Surrey Advertiser, page 1 FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archive
  38. Joseph McCarter 26 Aug 1881 date of will Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records; Wills 1713-1906; Bucks County (Pennsylvania) Register of Wills; vol 23-24, 1885-1890
  39. Joseph McCarter 13 Oct 1886 Death Findagrave.com / Ancestry.com
  40. William Colleton Bulled & Harriet Ann McCarter 13 Jun 1889 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Selhurst, Holy Trinity; ref 2856/1/10
  41. William Colleton Bulled & Rachel Easton Jan 1878 South West Heritage Trust, Taunton; Devon Church of England Marriages and Banns; Exeter, St Thomas the Apostle
    Rachel Bulled 1888 Jul-Aug-Sep England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Croydon, Surrey; vol 2A; page 119
  42. Edith Annie Bulled 1878 Apr-May-Jun England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Newton Abbot, Devon; vol 5B; page 130
    Mary Constance Bulled 1880 Jan-Feb-Mar England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Newton Abbot, Devon; vol 5B; page 129
    Edmund Easton Bulled 1882 Jan-Feb-Mar England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index; Croydon, Surrey; vol 2A; page 294
  43. William, Edith A, Mary C, Edmund E Bulled 1891 England Census for 178 Sydenham Rd N, West Croydon, Surrey; class RG12; piece 592; folio 89; page 27
  44. Elizabeth Davis; Harriet Bulled 1891 England Census for 9 Jersey Place, Hewlett Rd, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire; class RG12; piece 2043; folio 76; page 11
  45. Richard Davis 23 Apr 1891 probate, 31 Mar 1891 death Principal Probate Registry, London; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England
  46. Richard Davis 3 Apr 1891 burial Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester; Gloucestershire Church of England Parish Registers; Cheltenham, St Mary; ref P78/1 in 1/69
  47. Harriet Ann Bulled 13 Dec 1892 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Croydon, Surrey; vol 2A; page 151 Digital copy from GRO.gov.uk
    Harriet Bulled 30 Sep 1895 probate, 13 Dec 1892 death Principal Probate Registry, London; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England