Elizabeth Bentley began working in a flax-mill at the age of six and worked hard for seventeen years as of 1831, when she appeared before Parliament. As a child, she was subject to cleaning the machines in the factories. Her extensive hours earned her no breaks as well as no time to eat lunch or a snack. From 5am till 9pm she toiled in the factories at such a young age, running from machine to machine for sixteen hours a day. If they were slow to work or carelessness would earn her a severe strapping. She, along with the other workers were forced to sacrifice their own lives and commit completely to the factory in which they worked, as there were no clocks to allow them leisure time, also there was no protective shelter during rainy days where the workers would be forced to stay in the rain till the mill opened. Another past employee of a mill, George Armitage, was a former silk-mill worker. He recalls the inhospitable conditions women and young girls are forced to work in. He recounts how he worked in the pit for just over ten years with wives and young girls work among the men, face to face with them, and the awful language they are subject to along with the company is no place for women and young girls to work. The former workers come from separate factories and also have different views on their individual factory. George Armitage states that the factories are no place for a woman or girl to work; however he makes no reference towards men. On the other hand Elizabeth Bentley speaks of her childhood in the factories, and how they were maltreated if they failed to perform up to the standards of their superior. While both speak of ill conditions and the contrast of a the view of a child who does not wish to work, versus a man who more or less was neutral when working at the mill varies and contrast each other.
Hannah Richardson is the mother of a young son who is ten years of age, recounts in 1842 how her younger son been working in a mill since the age of six and him, along with her seventeen-year-old son help support the family. For if not for their employment, the family would not be able to survive in the harsh times of England. She agrees the mills have done no harm to her boys, as they have not damaged their health, and they are very well proportioned in size regardless of the long hours and hard day they labor. Mrs. Richardson also speaks for her son, and how they would much rather work than attend the pit. Unlike George Armitage and Elizabeth Bentley, Hannah Richardson is thankful that children are allowed to work in factories, as her family would not be able to support itself without the aid of her young sons. She ignores the treatment of the children, stating they are in good health, and leaves out details of how they are treated.
John Wright appeared before the Parliament in 1833 and speaks of the cleanliness of the silk-mills. He swears that the conditions of the mills are kept to help the worker maintain comfort, and not for the production of silk. In addition, he relays numerical information regarding child labor and food. He says the workers are complaining of soot and smoke, which are described as an obligation by the mills to use due to the lack of light six months out of the year. Like Elizabeth Bentley, he speaks of the conditions in the mills, however he attempts to make the accusations appear less severe than in reality.
The workers mentioned, though they come from a variety of mills and from different times, it is apparent that they all suffered from maltreatment during work, awful hours of labor, as well as poor wages and bad working conditions. However, as times were tight in England, many families rely on family income, even of children, to help feed and clothe all of the members of the family. Regardless of the inhospitable conditions that are presented in most factories in the 1830�s and 1840�s money was hard tom come by, and those who did not enjoy the factory still appreciated their job and their miniscule wages.
