The Apprenticeship of Henry Darrell

Submitted by Anne (Darrell) De Vent

Henry Darrell, when 80 years of age, was retired from the business of Henry Darrell and Son, joiner, builders, contractors and funeral directors, Cooper Street, Withington, Manchester, England. Henry was my great-grandfather, born 9 November 1853 in Stockton on the Forest, Yorkshire, England. He was the son of William Darrell, a groom at Stockton Hall, and Mary Speck. 

Henry married Mary Ann Coulthread of Finningley, Nottinghamshire, on 16 August 1879 in Withington. He died 29 August 1937 in Withington. His indenture paper for apprenticeship as a "joiner" gives some insight into what life must have been like for anyone learning a trade. 

Here is Henry's indenture contract:

This Indenture made the eight day of September in the Thirty-second 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 sixty-eight Between Henry Darrell the son of William Darrell of Stockton on Forest in the East Riding of the County of York of the one part, and Mary Ann Hudson and to William Hudson her son of Acomb in the County of York of the other Part:

Witnesseth, That the said Henry Darrell hath of his own Free Will, and with the Consent of William Darrell his Father put and bound himself Apprentice to and with the said William Hudson and with him after the manner of an Apprentice to dwell, remain and serve from the Ninth day of November One Thousand eight hundred and sixty seven for, during and until the Term of seven Years thence next following to be fully completed and ended;

During all which Term the said Apprentice his said Master well and faithfully shall serve, his Secrets shall keep, his lawful Commands shall do, Fornication or Adultery shall not commit, Hurt or Damage to his said Master or Mistress shall not do, or consent to be done, but to the utmost of his power shall prevent it, and forthwith his Master and Mistress thereof warn:

Taverns or Ale-houses he shall not haunt or frequent unless it be about his Master's or Mistress Business there to be done;

At Dice, Cards, Tables, Bowls or any other unlawful Games he shall not play;

The Goods of his said Master or Mistress shall not waste nor them lend, or give to any Person without his Masters Licence;

Matrimony within the said Term shall not contract, nor from his Master's service at and time absent himself;

But a true and faithful Apprentice shall order and behave himself towards his said Master, Mistress, and all their family, as well in Words as in Deeds during the said Term;

And a true and just Account of all his said Masters and Mistress Goods, Chattels, and Money committed to his Charge, or which shall come to his Hands, faithfully he shall give at all Times when thereunto required by his said Master, his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns.

And the said William Darrell the father doth hereby promise and agree to find and provide for his said son Henry Darrell all his shoes and wearing apparel and also washing during the said Term of his Apprenticeship, and the said William Hudson do hereby promise and agree to teach and instruct him in the art of Joiner and Carpenter, or himself, his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, doth covenant, promise, and agree by these Presents, to and with the said Henry Darrell the said Apprentice:

That he the said William Hudson his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, shall and will teach, learn and instruct him the said Apprentice, or cause him to be taught, learned, or instructed in the art of Joiner and Carpenter which the said Master now useth, after the best manner that he or they may or can, with all Circumstances thereunto belonging;

And also shall find and provide to and for him the said Apprentice, sufficient and enough of Meat, Drink, and lodging and all other Necessaries during the said term, also the sum of one shilling a year and the same to be paid to him every Shrove Tuesday during the Term of his Apprenticeship, and that I, William Darrell do agree to pay the sum of Eight pounds, Five pounds to be paid on the Eight day of September 1868 and the remaining three pounds to be paid on the eight day of September 1871.

And for the true performance of all and singular the Covenants and Agreements aforesaid, each of the parties aforesaid doth bind himself unto the other firmly by these Presents. In Witness whereof, the Parties above-named to these present Indentures, interchangeably have set their Hands and Seals the Day and Year above-written.

Signed, sealed and Delivered, (being first duly Stamped), in the presence of,

Witnesses: John Wilstrop William Darrell's Mark X
Wm Kay Henry Darrell
William Hudson