HN4/1/43/25

Apprenticeship Indenture for Alfred Pridmore of Ridgmont to Matthew Judge of Luton, watchmaker and jeweller. Term of four and a half years.

18 April 1884 – 10 March 1886

From: 1884 To: 1884

This Indenture witnesseth that Alfred Pridmore a poor boy belonging to and having a settlement in the Parish of Ridgmont in the County of Bedford with the consent of his father John Pridmore of the parish of Ridgmont aforesaid labourer, and also of George Matthias Hipwell and John Tacchi Churchwardens of the parish of Ridgmont aforesaid doth put himself apprentice to Matthew Judge of Luton in the County of Bedford, watchmaker and jeweller to learn his art or trade of watchmaker and jeweller with him after the manner of an apprentice to serve him from the eleventh day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighty four for the term of four and a half years during which term the said apprentice his said Master faithfully shall serve in all lawful businesses according to his power skill and ability and behave himself towards his said Master in all matters and concerns honestly orderly and obediently. And in consideration of such faithful service and of the sum of fifteen pounds sterling to be paid to him the said Matthew Judge by the said Churchwardens in manner following (that is to say) the sum of seven pounds ten shillings on the execution of these presents and the like sum of seven pounds ten shillings on the ninth day of September one thousand eight hundred and eighty six if the said apprentice shall then be living and in the service of the said Matthew Judge the receipt of which said first mentioned sum of seven pounds ten shillings is hereby acknowledged (which said sum of fifteen 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) he the said Matthew Judge doth hereby accept and take the said Alfred Pridmore as his apprentice and shall and will teach and instruct the said Alfred Pridmore in the said art or trade of a watchmaker and jeweller which he useth by the best means that he can during the said term of four and a half years and the said Matthew Judge doth hereby agree during the continuance of the said term to find and provide for his said apprentice proper and sufficient tools for his use in the said art or trade and to pay to his said apprentice weekly and every week during the said term the wages or sums of money following, that is tio say the sum of five shillings per week during the first and second years of the said term, the sum of six shillings per week during the third year of the said term and the sum of seven shillings per week during the remainder of the said term. And the said John Pridmore agrees during the said term to find and provide for his said son good and sufficient food drink lodging and washing and medicine nursing and surgery in case of sickness or accident. Provided always that if the said apprentice shall be absent from the service of his said Master during any part of the said term on account of illness or from any other cause without the consent of his said Master for that purpose first contained in writing It is hereby agreed between all the parties that each of the same respective weekly payments as would in pursuance of the covenant in that behalf accrue or become due during such time as the said Apprentice shall be so absent shall not be payable or a due proportion thereof for the time of such absence shall be deducted therefrom. And I case of such absence the said Apprentice shall continue to serve Matthew Judge as such apprentice for such further time beyond the said term of four and a half years as shall make up the full period of his said apprenticeship. And lastly for the true performance of all several agreements hereinbefore contained either of them the said either of the said parties bindeth himself unto the other by these presents. In Witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto set their hand and seals the eighteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty four. Signed: Alfred Pridmore; mark of John Pridmore; Matthew Judge; Francis Smith, Woburn. With receipts for £7.10.0 signed by Matthew Judge on 18 April1884. Two enclosed notes on the headed paper of M Judge, Watchmaker & Jeweller, 18 Manchester Street, Luton, the first concerning the detail and terms for the above dated 1 April 1884 noting that the apprenticeship would terminate on 11 September 1888, the second acknowledging receipt from Mr John Tacchi of the second payment of £7.10.0 dated 10th March 1886

item

Judge, Matthew,
Hipwell, George Matthias,
Pridmore, Alfred,
Pridmore, John,
Smith, Francis,
Tacchi, John

RIDGMONT, LUTON, Luton Manchester Street, apprenticeship, parochial charities, Ridgmont Wichelse's Charity, churchwardens, Overseers, solicitor, clerk, employment, wages/conditions, labourer, jeweller, watchmaker