Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) a menial labourer, a domestic servant.

1903		A.H. Lewis Boss 199: Th’ Chief of Tammany don’t deal with deck hands.
1908		J.M. Sullivan Criminal Sl.
1926		J.J. Finerty Criminalese.
1939		Howsley Argot: Dict. of Und. Sl.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).
1950		Goldin et al. DAUL 57/1: Deck-hand. A domestic servant, especially a cook or scullery maid.