Although still in her early 40s at the time of her husband's death, Sarah Minister Cavanagh didn't remarry. The 1861 census found her at yet another address from the ill-fated one at 31 Devonshire Street which had seen the death of two of her children as well as her husband, Benjamin. According to the census, sharing the accommodation with Sarah were her son, Henry, and daughters, Maria and Emma. Henry was 16 and employed as a shoe black. As a widow Sarah's occupation was also listed. She was a washerwoman. In 1871 this changed to charwoman only to change back again to washerwoman in the 1881 census.
A Dictionary of Old Trades, Titles and Occupations, defines a washerwoman as: "A person who 'took in' other people's washing into her own home for a fixed fee. As opposed to a laundry woman who did the same job in a commercial establishment." Whatever her employment, it was manual labour which makes me question if she had book learning. If she was self-employed she must have been able to keep a tally. Beyond the sheer physicality of the work gave me respect for her stamina. It wasn't as though there was running water readily available or washing machines when it comes to that. She was still performing this work after the age of 65. But in those days the choices were supporting yourself or resorting to the workhouse. Not a decision to be taken lightly.
Sources:
Ancestry.com census returns
Waters, Colin A Dictionary of Old Trades, Titles and Occupations, Countryside Books, Berkshire, 2002
Image:
Washerwoman pic
By Giovanni Boldini - https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/tableaux-omp-19me-sculpture-pf1809/lot.188.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=85308359
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