MIDDLE-AGED SERVANTS IN THE CITIES OF THE HETMANSHCHYNA (ACCORDING TO THE MATERIALS OF THE RUMYANTSEV DESCRIPTION OF 1765-1766)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of active age servants in the households of the regimental cities of Poltava and Nizhyn. Based on the General Description of the Left Bank of Ukraine in 1765–1769, the number of servants of the corresponding age of both sexes was calculated. The issue of salaries of servants deserves special attention. Given that some of them received food and clothing in addition to money, and some worked only for food, it is difficult to compare the income levels of different people. Therefore, the article analyzes the remuneration of city servants and its dependence on age, sex, territorial and social origin of servants, social affiliation of the owner of the yard, as well as partially migration, health, level of education. Differentiation of the urban community, belonging of its members to social groups, property status, professional occupations, availability of land or other additional resources significantly affected the conditions of employment in a particular household. Households had different levels of work and consumption needs, which largely depended on the family life cycle. Therefore, changes in household conditions affected the number of servants in the home and their working conditions: some decided to hire minors because they were cheaper to maintain, and sometimes only to provide clothing and food, others needed professionals who could help with craft, etc. We observe large differences in the wages of domestic servants, social status and working conditions. It is difficult to clearly identify the factors that determine these differences in pay: skill and experience played an important role (as predicted by the theory of human capital), but the personal characteristics of the servant (legal status, age, gender, origin) were also fundamental. Probably the individual decisions of employers also played a role. Of course, there was a traditional division into women’s and men’s work. Obviously, the division of labor also took place by age. Unfortunately, no documentary information about this has been preserved. We can only draw indirect conclusions on the basis of the salary specified in the source for servants of different ages.