Hi Jim & Jane
According to my 'Oracle'
The apprenticeship indenture was a legal document which bound a boy to a master, with a premium paid to the master by the boys parents (or, in the case of a pauper by the overseer of the poor)
The boy received board and lodging and his training. He was forbidden to marry or to set up his own business until the completion of his term
Here are a few examples from my Lewes Apprenticeships data base
Parish, Name, Age, Master, Place, Trade, Period, Date, Add Info, ESRO Number
Lewes - St Michael Kent James 14 yrs John Spilsbury Lewes Victualler 10 yrs 07/06/1763 ~ 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Boys Stephen ~ Benjamin Blaber Lewes Cordwainer ~ 13/03/1769 £9 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Westgate Robert ~ Thomas Gorringe Hamsey Farmer ~ 11/01/1771 5 Guineas 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Cook James ~ Henry Marten Ringmer Miller ~ 06/05/1773 £10 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Serjant John ~ John Gubbins Lewes Perukemaker ~ 31/05/1775 £10 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Grisbrook John ~ Samuel Baxter Lewes Victualler 7 yrs 30/06/1775 5 Guineas 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Older Richard ~ Benjamin Older Isfield Bricklayer 7 yrs 28/04/1781 £5 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Watson Richard ~ John Greathead Newhaven Mariner 6 yrs 20/01/1783 of the `Acorn' lying at Newhavern (£2 per annum) 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Balcombe Thomas ~ John Dean Inverkeithing, Fife Mariner ~ 12/06/1784 ~ 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Davis Thomas ~ William Glynne Lewes Clerk of Lewes ~ 09/09/1784 to learn the art of Reading and Writing 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Croucher William ~ Thomas Carpenter Lewes Bricklayer ~ 02/05/1787 ~ 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Whapham John ~ John Whapham Lewes Coopers ~ 24/07/1790 £20 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael West William ~ Robert Higham Lewes Mariner 7 yrs 13/03/1794 minor and pauper' 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Bailey Anne 14 yrs Henry Speltm Lewes Glover ~ 19/09/1802 and Jane his wife and housewifery 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Parker James 10 yrs Robert Metcalfe Uckfield Manufacturer of Cotton 11 yrs 28/12/1811 ~ 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Cole William 15 yrs Robert Metcalfe Buxted ~ ~ 28/12/1811 Manufactory at Buxted or Elsewhere 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Carter Charles 14 yrs John Tapper Lewes Baker 7 yrs 11/07/1812 £5 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Coates John 14 yrs Charles Coates Lewes Plumber & Glazier 7 yrs 15/03/1817 £2 10s 414/33/1-100
Lewes - St Michael Emery William 14 yrs Thomas Officer Brighton Cordwainer ~ 16/05/1818 £6 414/33/1-100
Chris in 1066
