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Apprenticeships

Terry,

Welcome to the Forum. As far as I know, the ones online stop at 1811. Check out the National Archives or stick the keywords "indentures England" (without the quotes) into Google. Postcard fairs, which generally have a paper ephemera section, and generally have lots of random ones, but I know of no complete lists for that time period.

Maurice
Many thanks, that's given me new avenues to check [so sorry for the delay in replying]
 
It took me about 20mins yesterday to put together the ancestry of Alfred Robert Baker who was born in 1868. His father was also Alfred Robert Baker and a son was named Alfred Robert Baker also. ARB 1868 who's wife is named Elizabeth is shown as a Window Cleaner until his death in 1928. No mention was found of a "Master" window cleaner, probably that he had a lot of experience in all those years. Back to the "Journeyman" he would have been the go between with manufacturer and purchaser not necessarily the skilled maker of the items. Birmingham brass makers were world renowned for their skills however, especially in the making of bedsteads and bicycle frames.
Wow, that's brilliant! I will definitely check that information out. He always went by Alfred Richard & I thought I'd checked out every other possible similar name - clearly I hadn't - there are many similarities for me to follow up. Thanks again. I'll let you know what I find. [please accept my apologies, I didn't realise I had all these replies but that would be down to my lack of skill online] NB it's his life up to 1894 which is a blank, hhis first 30 years
 
The original 'Journeyman' term applied to those who had fulfilled an Indentured Apprenticeship and worked for an identical term in the service of the Master. So a father - often with the means to afford to pay a Master Craftsman (skilled in whatever trade he wished his son (or more rarely a daughter) to learn) - would contact the Master and agree an Indenture fee. From 1760 onwards this would include a Duty Tax which had to be paid by the Master to the Revenue within two months of the Indenture date. The Master's fee would then be paid all up front or over a set period, which varied from Master to Master and trade to trade. Once signed sealed and delivered the new Apprentice would be committed to serve the Master (and join his household with food and tools provided but no wage as such) until his term was served, from between 5 -7 years, the latter being the norm.

Once the term was complete the Master would be required to issue his ex-Apprentice a Trade Certificate as proof that he is now a skilled tradesman, and who from now on can earn a wage, (out of which he must provide his own board and lodgings). The tradesman is now known as a 'Journeyman' and providing he was bound by a formal Indenture, will be further bound to offer his services to the Master for the same period as the Apprenticeship. Only by following this course can a Journeyman hope to become a Guild recognised 'Master' in his own right, and of course offer his own Indentures.

I have a Master Carpenter/Wheelwright in my family and luckily his father - a Yeoman Farmer in North Warwickshire - in 1733 (when his son was 13) could afford the Indenture Fee of £14.00 (worth about £2,500 in today's money). His son went on to serve a 7 year term as Apprentice, and the same again as Journeyman; finally making Master c 1748. He married shortly after this (Apprentices by the way are not allowed to marry until out of time, and even as Journeymen, can usually ill afford to). He ran his own workshop in Coventry, joined the Wheelwrights Guild and took on Apprentices. Eventually, as a serving Guild Member he was sponsored for Freeman status, which he eventually earned by Royal Charter in 1775. With that amount of work and dedication I think he fully deserved it.
Thank you, that was so interesting - I hope to get to that level of detail with as many people in my family as I can, I have many snippets & a lot more work to do. I agree that with that amount of work & dedication he fully deserved his status & reputation.
 
The original 'Journeyman' term applied to those who had fulfilled an Indentured Apprenticeship and worked for an identical term in the service of the Master. So a father - often with the means to afford to pay a Master Craftsman (skilled in whatever trade he wished his son (or more rarely a daughter) to learn) - would contact the Master and agree an Indenture fee. From 1760 onwards this would include a Duty Tax which had to be paid by the Master to the Revenue within two months of the Indenture date. The Master's fee would then be paid all up front or over a set period, which varied from Master to Master and trade to trade. Once signed sealed and delivered the new Apprentice would be committed to serve the Master (and join his household with food and tools provided but no wage as such) until his term was served, from between 5 -7 years, the latter being the norm.

Once the term was complete the Master would be required to issue his ex-Apprentice a Trade Certificate as proof that he is now a skilled tradesman, and who from now on can earn a wage, (out of which he must provide his own board and lodgings). The tradesman is now known as a 'Journeyman' and providing he was bound by a formal Indenture, will be further bound to offer his services to the Master for the same period as the Apprenticeship. Only by following this course can a Journeyman hope to become a Guild recognised 'Master' in his own right, and of course offer his own Indentures.

I have a Master Carpenter/Wheelwright in my family and luckily his father - a Yeoman Farmer in North Warwickshire - in 1733 (when his son was 13) could afford the Indenture Fee of £14.00 (worth about £2,500 in today's money). His son went on to serve a 7 year term as Apprentice, and the same again as Journeyman; finally making Master c 1748. He married shortly after this (Apprentices by the way are not allowed to marry until out of time, and even as Journeymen, can usually ill afford to). He ran his own workshop in Coventry, joined the Wheelwrights Guild and took on Apprentices. Eventually, as a serving Guild Member he was sponsored for Freeman status, which he eventually earned by Royal Charter in 1775. With that amount of work and dedication I think he fully deserved it.
Noodles - Thank you for all the interesting information. Did you find the details of your relative through apprenticeship research. I am trying to find such information for my Great-grandfather. Could you tell me where I would find information on his apprenticeship?
 
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