- Finding Number: SD 1705/MS591
- Date: c1859-c1899
- Level: Item
- Extent: 1 item
- Description: The details given include; apprentice's name, name of parent or guardian, residence (see 1 below), trade (see 2 below), and indenture 1,303 entries, each cancelled by a red ink line on completion of apprenticeship up to 1891. Thereafter they are only sporadically cancelled. Several apprenticeships are prematurely cancelled: "Left"; "Left early"; "Ran off"; "Bad eyes"; "Dead"; "Discharged for incorrigible conduct"; "Ill health"; "Left for immorality" (this of a girl); "Indenture destroyed at his own request, he being utterly worthless to us, and most troublesome - H. M."; or merely "Cancelled".
1). Residences: these present the uniform recurrence of Newcastle, Stoke, Hanley, Fenton, Hartshill, Hanford, Shelton, Penkhull, Boothen, Trentham, Etruria, etc.
2). Trades: earthenware enamelling, pressing, turning, mouldmaking, warehouse work, biscuit warehouse work, handling, plate making, packing, placing, throwing and hollow-ware pressing; china enamelling, modelling, warehouse work, turning and handling; stone pressing; figure making; Parian figure making; dish making; painting; gilding; engraving (for surface printing); bat printing; block printing; fitting; bricklaying; clerking; and bookkeeping.
3). Terms: terms for certain trades are given on the first two pages - e.g. paintresses are bound until they are 21 and are paid 2s [shillings] per week for the first year, this sum thereafter being increased by 4d [pence] in the shilling per week for the remainder of the term (the full term to be 7 years minimum). Gilders, painters and modellers are to receive certain stipulated instruction at a school of art. The terms as written appear to be motivated by H [Herbert]. Minton (June 1882) and H [Herbert] Minton-Senhouse (August 1889). 1 bound volume; index of apprentices at front.
Addition made to this catalogue 16.06.2017:
In the back of this volume on pages 83 to 85 are employment and business agreements. The employment agreements include artists, engravers etc., some of whom have served apprenticeships, as shown earlier in the volume). The business agreements are with other allied trades and industries.
An index of the names in this volume is currently being constructed and will appear on the Staffordshire Name Index shortly.
Addition made to this catalogue by Archive Volunteer on 08.12.2016:
For all transcriptions the text in square brackets [ ] contains a sensible suggestion of what might be missing. ??? indicate illegible writing. Brackets ( ) contain notes.
Transcription of a fragment of a note inside the front cover of the register:
The note was originally pasted on the inside cover over the stationer's label. Only the word Staffordshire is visible of this label. An attempt to remove the note at some stage left only the central portion. There are 12 handwritten lines none of which are complete. See the other transcriptions in this entry for help in understanding the gaps and illegible words.
This is the transcription in line number order:
1). "??? of ???
2). ??? in cases where [app]rentices
3). h until they are more than 14 ye[ars] [o]ld
4). (No text just a short line drawn in)
5). [shall] agree that [afores]aid apprentice shall se[rve]
6). has comp[leted] his or her full term of serv[ice] (Note: her was originally omitted and added as an insert)
7). [anything contained in this] indenture notwithstandin[g] (Note: this line has been scribbled through)
8). (No text just a short line drawn in and the writing below is different either a different hand or different pen)
9). ??? they are 21 [years of] age the begin to work, except Bur[nishers]
10). [appren]tices Paintres[s] [bo]und within the month (Note: Paintress has been scribbled through)
11). ??? or else the matter (thought to be 'the' not 'she' - see 'they' in line 9)
12). ??? on"
Transcription of a page of notes at the front of the register (4 paragraphs):
The page has been annotated both in red and in black ink; portions crossed out.
The whole of paragraph 1 is crossed though in red and annotated 'See Opposite'- which refers to the note on thr following page of the register dated 1889. Monetary values are entered as given in the document i.e. pounds, shillings and pence.
There are 27 handwritten lines. Line 22: the Gilders Painters and Modellers will almost certainly be boys i.e. no females and would be regarded as a superior to the paintresses.
This is the transcription in line number order:
Paragraph 1:
1). "[A]ll (Note: annotated in red and then scribbled out in red) Apprentice Paintresses (Note: Paintresses crossed out in red and the written in again (in a different hand ? above in black) are bound until (Note: spelt 'untill' and then corrected).
2). they are 21 and are paid 2/- per week for
3). the first twelve months and then allow
4). 4d in the shilling for the remainder of the
5). term. They must be bound within the month
6). from their commencing to work and the
7). above rules apply to every case whether (Note: originally written as wether and corrected with insertion of h) under
8). or over 14 years of age on commencing work
9). Mr H. Minton
10). June 14/82 (Note: 14 Jun 1882)"
Paragraph 2:
11). "Special Note (Note: preceded by a cross symbol with a dot in each segment perhaps referring to line 22 although symbols slightly different)
12). We do all agree that the said apprentice shall
13). serve until he or she has completed his or her full
14). term of seven years. Anything (Note: corrected from 'Nothing') contained in the
15). indenture notwithstanding."
Paragraph 3:
16). "The above clause to be written on a seperate (sic) piece
17). of paper and signed by all parties concerned
18). in cases where (originally written as were and corrected with insertion of h) Apprentices do (sic) not begin to work
19). until they are more than (corrected from then) 14 years old
20). Mr H Minton order
21). June 14/82 (Note: 14 Jun 1882)"
Paragraph 4:
22). "[A]ll Gilders Painters and Modellers a special note in the Indenture (Note: then a cross symbol with a dot in each segment referring perhaps to line 11 although symbols slightly different)
23). and will cause the said apprentice to attend a school of art at least two
24). evenings a week during the time the school is opon (sic) and that the Father
25). or Guardian will pay the usual fees of the school on failing such
26). payment that the Masters be authorised to deduct the sum from
27). from (Note: repeated word) the wages due to the said apprentice"
Transcription of a page of notes at the front of the register (1 paragraph):
There are 3 handwritten lines.
1). "Paintresses
2). Terms altered to 1st year 2/- -2nd 3rd 4th & 5th years price - remainder two thirds (shown as a fraction)
3). H. Minton-Senhouse August 1 1889 (Note: 1 Aug 1889)" - Access Status: Open
- Keywords: