"At the Castle,on Friday last, Mrs. Elliott, of Exminster, appeared on a summons, to answer the charge of having permitted a chimney sweeper, named Jarman, who was under he age of 21, to ascend the chimney of her house, and sweep it, contrary to the provisions of the chimney sweepers' act.
"Mrs. Elliott stated that she agreed with Abraham Jarman, brother of the one who ascended the chimney, to have it cleaned, but she didn't know of the younger one being sent up it. The case against her was dismissed but Jarman was fined £5, or in default, to be imprisoned a month for having permitted his brother to go up the chimney."
The Chimney Sweepers Act had only come into force in 1840. It was nationally being little regarded but Exeter was quick to see justice done. Poor Mrs. Elliot only wanted her chimney cleaned but ended up in court.
We don't learn whether Abraham Jarman paid his, significant, fine or went to gaol. In any case he lived on in Exeter to witness a new era of chimney-sweeping and in 1849 he was a valued employee of the Vulcan Patent Sweeping Company, 93, North Street. The Patent Vulcan Sweeping Machine ushered in a climbing-boy-free age. I wonder if Exeter and Mr. H.W. Frampton, the inventor, can claim to have used the first such machine. If so, they contributed as much as Lord Shaftesbury to saving young lives.
I don't know what happened to the little brother. I hope not stuck up a chimney.
Source: The Western Times, 3rd June 1843 and 12th October, 1850.
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