George chalfont holley 1870-1950 [Archive] - East Durham History Project

Graeme Lacey

06-06-2010, 12:33 pm

I have GC Holley's Indenture contract dated 11 August 1887 when he became an apprentice joiner at the Candlish Bottle Works.
The document size is too large to fit onto my scanner so I've copied the wording and it's reproduced below. I hope you may find it interesting.

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH THAT George Chalfont Holley aged Seventeen Years with the consent of his Father William George Holley as testified by his being a party to these presents doth put himself Apprentice to Robert Candlish Glass bottle Manufacturer Seaham Harbour in the County of Durham to learn his Art and with him after the Manner of an Apprentice to serve him from the present date
unto the full End and Term of the Four Years from thence next following to be fully complete and ended DURING which Term the said Apprentice his Master faithfully shall serve his secrets keep his lawful commands every where gladly do. He shall do no damage to his said Master nor see to be done of others but to his Power shall tell or forthwith give warning to his said Master of the same. He shall not waste the Goods of his said Master nor lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not contract Matrimony within the said Term nor play at Cards or Dice Tables or any unlawful Games whereby the said Master may have loss with his own goods or others during the said Term without Licence of his said Master. He shall neither buy nor sell he shall not haunt Taverns or Playhouses nor absent himself from his said Masters service day or night unlawfully. But in all things as a faithful Apprentice He shall behave himself towards his said Master and all his during the said Term
and the said William George Holley the Father doth hereby covenant with the said Robert Candlish that the said Apprentice shall well and faithfully serve his said Master during the full term of Four Years in the manner aforesaid and the said Robert Candlish his said Apprentice in the Art of Joinering.
The said William George Holley the Father hereby covenants to which he useth by the best means that he can teach and Instruct or cause to be taught and instructed Find unto the said Apprentice sufficient Meat Drink Clothing and Medical and Surgical attendance in case of Sickness Lodging and all other Necessaries during the said Term and the said Robert Candlish hereby covenants to pay the said Apprentice during such period of the said term as he shall actually be at work but not absence from sickness or any cause the Wages following:- For the First Year the weekly wages of seven shillings. The Second Year the weekly wages of Eight shillings. Third Year the weekly wages of Nine shillings & for the Fourth and last Year of the said Term the weekly wages of Ten shillings:-
And for the true performance of all and every the said Covenants and Agreements either of the said Parties bindeth himself to the other by these Presents IN WITNESS whereof the Parties above named to these Indentures interchangeably have put their Hands and Seals the eleventh day of August in the Fifty First Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God of the united Kingdom of GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND QUEEN Defender of the Faith and in the Year of our LORD One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Seven
The Amount of the Money or the value of any other matter or thing given or agreed to be given with the Apprentice by way of Premium must be truly inserted in words at length otherwise the Indenture will be void and double such amount or value forfeited.
Signed Sealed and delivered being first duly stamped in the presence of Chas A Johnson
George Chalfont Holley William George Holley Per pro Robert Candlish signature illegible