HN4/1/43/6

Apprenticeship Indenture for Esau Keep of Ridgmont to Abraham Martendale of Eversholt, blacksmith. Term of five years.

6 June 1834

From: 1834 To: 1834

This Indenture witnesseth that Esau Keep son of Elizabeth keep now the wife of John Whiteman of Flitwick in the County of Bedford, labourer before her marriage Elizabeth Keep, spinster, a poor child belonging to and having a settlement in the Parish of Ridgmont aforesaid by and with the consent of his said mother and also of John Readman and Joseph Norris Churchwardens of the parish of Ridgmont aforesaid (testified by their severally being a Party to and sealing and delivering these presents) doth put himself apprentice to Abraham Martendale of Eversholt in the County of Bedford, Blacksmith to learn his and with him after the manner of an apprentice to serve him from the second day of January last past unto the full end and term of five years from thence next ensuing to be fully to be complete and ended during which term the said apprentice his said Master faithfully shall serve in all lawful businesses according to his power wit and ability and honestly orderly and obediently in all things demean and behave himself towards his said Master and all his during the said term. And the said Abraham Martendale in consideration of the sum of Fifteen pounds ten shillings of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to him by the said John Readman and Joseph Norris Churchwardens of the parish of Ridgmont and their successors in manner following (that is to say) the sum of seven pounds fifteen shillings being one moiety thereof by the said John Readman and Joseph Norris at or before the execution of these presents and the remaining sum of seven pounds fifteen shillings being the residue thereof by the Churchwardens of the parish of Ridgmont for the time being on the sixteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty six – the receipt of which said first mentioned sum is hereby acknowledged (which said sum of fifteen pounds ten shillings pounds is part and parcel of certain charity monies or interest arising therefrom left by the will of Arthur Whitchelsea for the putting out annually poor children of the parish of Ridgmont and other villages therein mentioned apprentices) the said Abraham Martendale his said apprentice in the art or calling of a Blacksmith which he useth by the best means that he can shall and will teach and instruct or cause to be taught or instructed finding unto the said apprentice good and sufficient meat drink clothes washing lodging and all other necessaries during the said term. And for the true performance of all the covenants and agreements aforesaid the said Esau Keep and the said Elizabeth Whiteman and the said Abraham Martendale bindeth himself unto the other and also to the said John Radman and Joseph Norris and their successor Churchwardens of Ridgmont aforesaid by these presents. In Witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto set their hand and seals this sixth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four. Signed: The mark of Esau Keep; the mark of Elizabeth Whiteman; Abraham Martendale; John Readman; Joseph Norris; William Sinfield, Clerk to Mr Green, solicitor, Woburn; With receipt for £7.15.0 signed by Abraham Martendale 6 June 1834.

item

Keep, Elizabeth,
Keep, Esau,
Martendale, Abraham,
Norris, Joseph,
Readman, John,
Sinfield, William,
Whiteman, John,
Whiteman, Elizabeth

RIDGMONT, EVERSHOLT, apprenticeship, parochial charities, Ridgmont Wichelse's Charity, churchwardens, Overseers, solicitor, clerk, employment, wages/conditions, blacksmith