Why would a child be indentured to his father?

[johngosling]

Hi,

I've just received a fantastic indenture document, detailing a 1797 indenture of a Thomas Prigg of Devon to his father, also Thomas Prigg.

I'm curious to understand why a father would feel the need to indenture his own son? Would he not simply pass the skills on as a matter of course and provide a roof over his child's head? Why was there a need to formalise the arrangement in this manner?

Many thanks,

John

[stanmapstone]

The Statute of Apprentices 1563, made apprenticeship compulsory for anyone who wished to enter a trade. An apprenticeship usually lasted seven years. The apprentice could not marry or set up business on his own account until he had finished his training.
See https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Apprenticeship_in_England

Stan

[johngosling]

Thanks Stan.

The Statute of Apprentices 1563, made apprenticeship compulsory for anyone who wished to enter a trade. An apprenticeship usually lasted seven years. The apprentice could not marry or set up business on his own account until he had finished his training.
See https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Apprenticeship_in_England

Stan

[PATc3]

Hi,
I have just read your post as I am in the midst of trying to find some apprentice records for some of my family. From what I have read in the last few days about  mills and the woollen industry it seems that woolcombers were a very organised bunch. They were very protective over their trade and took part in many of the labour riots in the 18th/19th century.

Apparently the trade guild (?) stipulated that a wool comber could pass the trade or teach his son by means of a formal apprenticeship. My ancestry is in Devon but I think this applied nationally. So maybe that is why you have this situation.
Best wishes.