George Standing's Autobiography

Having been requested to give a few incidents of my early English life, I at first could not entertain it, but thinking again there might be some that would like to hear of my early happenings I concluded to comply. The most remarkable has been the merciful and tender care of my Heavenly Father.

To begin with my memory will not take me back to my first being, but they tell me I was born at Battersey on the border of the Thames (which has long since been absorbed in the ever growing town of London). (May 29, 1830) I think I have not been misinformed regarding my birthplace as I have an old-fashioned birth note which perhaps some of you older ones would like to see. From there my parents moved into Essex.

I think my father managed a farm for a friend named James Marrlege. The first trouble that I can remember happening to me was when I was a very little fellow, even smaller than I am now. The servants were ironing clothes and I was just learning to walk and one of them was carrying a hot iron. I ran my eye against it burning it badly. I remember the servants caught me up and sang an old-fashioned nursery song and took me to see the tame rabbits. I think my parents could not have been at home. After a few days painful attention it was all right again.

I cannot remember much about my mother, but one time when I was with her in the garden I picked up a poisonous adder and said “See, Mother, what a large worm I have.” I do not remember her knocking it out of my hands, but she called a man that was working near to kill it.

From there Father moved to the county of Sussex. As there were no railways in those days (at least only one that was in the north of England from Stockton to Darlington called the Quaker Line) we traveled by coach and Father sent the furniture etc. on by wagon. Father rented a farm of 80 acres, a fine old-fashioned place with a small river running through with beautiful green meadows and fine shade trees on either side, where the cattle would rest in mid day chewing their cuds and seemed to enjoy for us children to crawl over them and play about them.

There were no schools near. I do not remember going to any school until I was 11 years old, unless it was for a day or two at a dames (?) school. After we had been there for some time we lost our mother. She died leaving us motherless and Father with seven children, the youngest twin babies. After that, Father had a housekeeper. I do not remember but that she was kind to us, but she could not take the place of a mother. After a time, Father married again.

Soon after I went to live with my uncle, John Cheal, at Crawley, a village about 3 miles from Father's. There was a school there, but I never attended it. My uncle gave up some of his time teaching me. He kept a general country store and did considerable business. About that time the second railway was projected which was to run from London to Brighton, a distance of 50 miles, which was quite an event. It took a great many hands to make it as they had not the appliances for quick work as they have now and there was considerable tunneling and grading to be done and most of the earth was moved in barrows. I think it took about two years.

On Seventh Day my uncle’s store was crowded with men and their wives purchasing clothing, groceries etc. It used to be my place to keep a sharp lookout to see that they did not take what did not belong to them. As they knew what my duty was they gave me many a kindly rub. When the road was finished it was opened by the Queen. She traveled from London to Brighton. I well remember the train going through decorated with flags.

My uncle used to be very fond of walking into the country and would have me go with him. He would get up quite early and would tell his dog, Fury by name, to go get George. The dog would come to my room and bark, and if I did not get up, would jump onto my bed and pull the clothes off of me. We often walked 5 or 6 miles before breakfast.

After a time my uncle married a friend named Mary Fox, eldest daughter of David Fox of Dewsbury, Yorkshire. She brought with her a younger sister for company. Her name was Deborah. I had no playmates, with the exception of the dog, Fury, with which I had many a romp. You may be very enjoyable to me to have so pleasant a companion. I expect I would rather play with him than give attention to my books.

When I was 11 years old I was sent to a Boarding school at Croyden about 10 miles from London. (It has since become a part of London.) I think there were 80 boys and 60 girls. Great care was taken that there was no intercourse between the boys and girls. There were two high walls and a lawn between us. Those that had sisters were allowed to walk together on the lawn on First Days. On later years unnecessary restriction has been much modified.

When I was thirteen and a half years old I went again to live with my Uncle John Cheal to help in the store. I think I was with him for about two years when I went to live with a friend John Harniman at Newport on the Isle of Wight. I was apprenticed to stay with him until I was 21 years old. In those times it was expected for lads to be bound as apprentices, the employer being expected to give the apprentice a full insight into the business. John Harniman was a good businessman, very particular in his ways and with a hasty temper. The consequence was frequent change of hands. I know I had my faults as well as others but he did not either see them or kindly overlooked them. He was always very kind to me. I do not once remember falling under his displeasure.

When I had been with him for about half of my time, I was helping him in the tea warehouse. I said to him I hoped I was giving him satisfaction. He said he had no fault to find. I then told him my father had not prospered well of late and found it difficult to send me money for clothing and washing. Would it be too much if I asked for him to begin to give me a salary? He said it would not be according to the indentures. I told him I knew I had right to expect it. He said he would think it over and I might go to him in the office in the evening. When I went to him he said that he would commence from that time to comply with my request and he made me a present then of a sovereign. The next time he went to London he brought home with him a nice writing desk which I have by me now. I have often thought how nice it would be if the same kind of feeling generally existed between employer and employee.

There was a pleasant little incident that happened one time when I was going home for a holiday. I was on a steamboat going from Ryde to Portsmouth and was seated by myself. A gentleman came and seated himself by me and among other things he asked me where I was going. I told him that I was going home and that I expected to go by the Bryson & South Coast Line. He said the time of the trains was altered and that I would not be able to get on that night. I said in that case I would have to stay in Portsmouth and go on in the morning. He then asked if I had friends there. I said no but I expected I could find some hotel. He said Portsmouth was a great naval town with many bad characters and he thought not a safe place for a youth of my age. He said he had to stay there overnight and if I liked I might go with him. I thanked him and said I would accept his kindness.

When we landed he hired a cab and we went to a first class hotel. He ordered Tea (supper) for two. He asked me if I had seen the fortifications. He said after we had finished our tea we would go and see them and see them fire their big guns at sundown. When he returned he spoke for two rooms for us. In the morning after breakfast he said he thought my train would soon be due and I was about to pay my part of the hotel expense. He said he would settle for that. In after years I have often looked back with pleasure to his thoughtful care and kindness.

Before I had finished my time out with Harniman he sold his business and went into the wholesale business in London. I then had my choice of going with him or staying on with his successor, James Groves, as an assistant with more salary. I concluded to stay on. It was quite a change going from a friend’s family to live with a zealous non-Wesleyan. Instead of living as part of a family, the young men had a room to themselves. I objected to it and I was given the liberty of sitting with James Groves if I chose. I did not like it so well and James Groves was of quite a different temperament. The young men took advantage of it and some of them got into a loose way.

After being with him about six months I engaged again with my other employer in London. Instead of living with the family the foreman and myself had comfortable apartments not far from the establishment. That was in 1851, the time the first World’s Fair was held. We did not see the opening, but saw the illumination at night. We thought them very fine. I expect they would be but little thought of now. Electric light had not yet then been brought into use. I stayed about six months in London.