take receipt of someone

[jiho]

Hi all,

Imagine the following situation:
- you are rich :-D
- you are getting married soon ;-)
- you are setting up your new house a few days before the wedding and you take on a butler and a housemaid (remember, you are rich!)
and, finally you tell somebody –in a formal way, i think– that:
«I took receipt of the housemaid»

Does it mean you welcomed her into the house?

Thanks!

 

[Anglika]

It is not something I would expect to hear, unless the housemaid was a robot.

What are you trying to say - that the maid has started work?

 

[jiho]

It is not something I would expect to hear, unless the housemaid was a robot.

What are you trying to say - that the maid has started work?

Hi Anglika,
Well, certainly she was not a robot... I get your point, you do not sign a receipt of a person.
From the context i thought of three possibilities:
- you already know the first, that she started to work,
- the second was that she, as a part of her job, told you what things to buy (food, etc.) in a receipt-like list.
- The third, that she went shopping herself and gave you the receipt of the goods to justify the expense.

The full context is: London 1839:
«He ordered coal, took receipt of the housemaid Mary, interviewed and appointed a butler...». There is no previous mention of that Mary.

Thanks!

 

[Anglika]

That actually puts a different complexion on your query.

In terms of the early 19th century, this would be an acceptable use of the term "receipt" - he received the maid [into the house].

 

[jiho]

That actually puts a different complexion on your query.

In terms of the early 19th century, this would be an acceptable use of the term "receipt" - he received the maid [into the house].

That was it... always the context. I do promise to be fully specific from now on :-D

Thank You, Anglika.