The following were sent to me by a friend who is both a member of the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums list and the RevWar list. They were posted on the RevWar list a few years ago and further explain some of what Neil Howlett refers to in his post. Martha Katz-Hyman **************** This is from the Pennsylvania Gazette: City of Philadelphia, December 13, 1763. AS it is intended to put in Execution the Law for cleaning the paved Streets and Alleys of this City, and in order thereto to divide the same into two Parts; one to contain all the Pavements South of High (or Market) Street, together with the same; the other, those Northward of said Street; any Persons willing to undertake this Business, under the Regulations of the Act of Assembly, are desired to send in their Proposals, sealed, on or before the 30th Instant, to the MAYOR, for Consideration. By the Law it is enacted, "That the Mayor or Recorder, with four Aldermen, and four City Commissioners, shall, from time to time, employ and agree with proper and capable Persons to clean the Streets, &c. and to remove and carry off the Dirt and Filth, in such Manner, and at such Times, as they shall appoint; and a Penalty of Five Pounds is laid on such Person, so agreed with, for not taking on him the Office of Scavenger, and Twenty Shillings for every Offence, in not removing all and every Part of the Filth, &c. "And all Housekeepers, and Owners or Occupiers of Lots, and Sextons or Keepers of Churches, and other public Buildings, and of Burying Grounds, are to sweep their Footways, where the Cartway is paved, once a Week, when not hindered by Ice, under the Penalty of Five Shillings for Neglect or Refusal. "And no Person is to cast, or lay any Shavings, Ashes, Dung, or other Filth, or Annoyance, on any Pavement, under a Penalty not exceeding Twenty Shillings for each Offence, but is to keep such Shavings, &c. in some other Place, till the Scavenger shall attend with his Cart to carry off the same, which he is to do once a Week, if required, under the Penalty of Five Shillings for Neglect or Refusal. "Provided that all Persons pay such Price as shall be settled, for carrying off all Mud, Ashes, and other Filth, arising from their Trades or Occupations, and not incident to common Housekeeping; unless they chuse to carry it off otherwise at their own Expence." There are later references in the PA Gazette which are similar in nature. Elizabeth Drinker also talks about having the nightmen come to clean out the privy. My great great great grandfather was a carter, according to the 1850 Census. I'm guessing that this was not the same thing as a scavenger. Karen Mullian *********************** This was actually brought up on the list [RevWar list] a while back. Scavengers (or night scavengers) apparently were the ones who emptied the public privies. Though it's not exactly Rochester, here's what the Laws of the City of New York, 1834, have to say about scavengers: Under Chapter XVI, Title II, Paragraphs 15 to 20: 15. The City Inspector may grant permission to empty any sink, privy or cistpool, which may, in his judgement, require the same, and by which emptying the public health will not be endangered. 16. The said City Inspector shall inspect or cause to be inspected, all privies, sinks and cistpools which may hereafter be built in the city of New-York, and shall report all infractions of the the laws of the said city in the building of the same, to the Attorney of the Corporation. 17. The said City Inspector shall keep a register designating the situation of such sinks or privies as are authorized to be emptied, and the days on which the emptying thereof is required. 18. The City Inspector shall license under his hand, so many and such persons as may be necessary to act as night scavengers; displacing all or any of them at pleasure, and appointing others in their places: he shall also make such rules and regulations for the government of night scavengers as he may think just and proper. 19. Any night scavengers who shall, after being served with a copy of such rules and regulations, violate any or either of the provisions thereof, shall forfeit and pay for every such offense, the sum of five dollars. 20. No person shall act as a night scavenger without being licensed as provided in the eighteenth section of this title, under penalty of ten dollars for each offense. More than you'll ever want to know about night scavengers. Scott Peters