CROASDELL FAMILY HISTORY & GENEALOGY
A Copy of John Crosdell's Indenture to Lowca
Indenture of Apprenticeship - John Croasdell 1865
1 This Indenture made the Fifth day of
2 November in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-five
3 Between John Croasdell of Plumpton Hall near Ulverston in the County
4 of Lancashire aged about 18 Years or there abouts and James Croasdell
5 of the said [sic] of the one part and Henry Allason Fletcher,
6 Iron Founder and Engineer Lowca Engine Works
7 of the other Part, witnesseth, that the said John Croasdell of his own voluntary
8 Will, and with the consent of the said James Croasdell testified by his
9 becoming party to, and executing these presents, Hath placed and bound, and by these presents, Doth place and
10 bind himself Apprentice unto the said Henry Allason Fletcher to be taught and instructed in the Art
11 Trade, Mystery, or Occupation of an Engine Fitter and to continue to serve him
12 as an Apprentice from the above mentioned date for and unto the full End and Term of
13 four years from thence next ensuing and fully to be complete and ended, During all which
14 said Term the said John Croasdell for himself, and the said James
15 Croasdell for himself, his Executors, and Administrators, do and each of them doth
16 hereby covenant and promise with and to the said Henry Allason Fletcher
17 his Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, that he the said John Croasdell
18 shall and will well and faithfully serve, demean himself, and be just and true to the said Henry
19 Allason Fletcher as his Master, and keep his Secrets, and everywhere readily obey all his lawful
20 Commands. He shall not do any Hurt, Prejudice, or Damage to the Estate, Goods, Effects,
Merchandizes, or other
21 Affairs whatsoever of his said master; or willingly permit the same to be done by others; but forthwith shall give
22 Notice thereof to his said Master. he shall not embezzle the Goods of his said Master, nor lend them without
23 his consent to any Person or Persons whatsoever. he shall not play at Cards, Dice, or any other unlawful Games,
24 nor haunt, use, or frequent Play houses, Inns, Taverns, or Alehouses, except about his master's Business, to be
25 done or transacted there. he shall not contract Matrimony, nor at any time during the said Term, by Day or
26 Night, absent himself, or depart from the Service of his said Master, without leave for that purpose given, but in
27 all Matters, Transactions and Things, shall and will demean, conduct, and behave himself as a true, just, and
28 faithful Apprentice ought to do. And shall find and provide himself with good & sufficient diet
29 and apparel and washing during all the said term and in
30 case of sickness with medical & surgical assistance
31 and shall subject and conform himself to whatever Rules
32 & Regulations the said Henry Allason Fletcher may think
33 proper to issue from time to time for the better con-
34 -ducting & management of the Work -
35 In consideration whereof the said Henry Allason Fletcher for himself his Heirs
36 Executors, and Administrators, doth hereby covenant, promise, and agree, with and to the said John
37 Croasdell his ["their" crossed out] Executors, Administrators, or Assigns that he the said
38 Henry Allason Fletcher his Executors, Administrators or Assigns, shall and will teach and
39 instruct the said Apprentice, or cause him to be taught and instructed in the said Art, Mystery, Trade, or Occu-
40 pation, after the best way and manner that he can: ["and find and provide for the said Apprentice" crossed out] and will and
41 truly pay him for his first year five shillings per week, for the second
42 year six shillings per week, for the third year seven shillings per
43 week, and for the fourth and last year eight shillings per
44 week. But in the event of the said John Croasdell working out of
45 the establishment any amount of allowance money to be paid
46 byond the foregoing stipulated rate of wages shall be entirely at the
47 option of the said Henry Allason Fletcher the following wage to be paid
48 to the said John Croasdell if he be laid of work by accident got at or con-
49 nected with the work but not otherwise in any other case of sickness
50 And lastly, for the true performance of the several Covenants and Agreements herein contained on the respec
51 tive parts of the said Master and the said Apprentice to be observed, kept, done, and performed in the manner
52 above expressed, according to the true Intent and Meaning of these Presents, they, the said James
53 Croasdell & Henry Allason Fletcher do hereby mutually bind themselves, their
54 respective Heirs, Executives, and Administrators unto each other, and to the Executors, Administrators, and
55 Assigns of each other in the sum or Penalty of Twenty Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain
56 to be paid upon the breach or non-performance of the said Covenants and Agreements, or any of them, to the
57 Party observing or willing to observe and perform the same.
58 In witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals, the Day and
59 Year first above written
60 Signed, Sealed, and Delivered } N Watson John Croasdell (Signed & Sealed)
61 in the presence of } James Croasdell (Signed & Sealed) H A Fletcher (Signed & Sealed)