Apprenticeship Indenture dated 28th April 1815, relating to William Rawes, son of Robert & Sarah Rawes of Mardale, Shap, Westmorland. Carlisle Record Office, WPR84. (William Wilson Line)

This Indenture made the twenty eight Day of April in the fifty fifth year of the reign of King George the third and in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and fifteen. Between Christopher Hodgson of the City of Carlisle in the County of Cumberland Slater John Atkinson of the same Place Slater Richard Wellington Hodgson of Heworth in the Parish of Jarrow in the county of Durham, a minor, by the Reverend John Hodgson of Heworth aforesaid, Clerk his Guardian and next friend testified by his sealing and delivery hereof and Robert Watts of the City of Carlisle aforesaid Joiner of the one Part and Robert Rawes of Mardale in the Parish of Shap in the County of Westmoreland Yeoman and William Rawes his son of the other part Witnesseth that the said William Rawes of his own free will and good liking and by and with the consent of the said Robert Rawes his father doth hereby put and bind himself to the said Christopher Hodgson John Atkinson Richard Wellington Hodgson they the said John Hodgson and Robert Watts as an apprentice to serve them in their trade art or Business of riving tearing and Dressing of Blue slates in their slate Quarries at Mardale water or elsewhere in the County of Westmoreland from whitsuntide next for and during and unto the full end and term of seven years and fully to be complete and Ended and that the said William Rawes shall and will during all the said term well and faithfully serve and to the utmost [----------------]agly obey and perform all the [-----------------]s of his said Masters in all respects [---------------] in faithful apprentice ought to do [------------][Chr]istopher Hodgson John Atkinson [----------------]n Hodgson by the said John Hodgson [---------------] doth hereby for themselves severally [---------------]ed for their several and respective [--------------] Administrators Covenant Promise [---------------- w]ith the said Robert Rawes his Heirs [------------- Ad]ministrators in manner following [---------------] they the said Christopher Hodgson [-------------- Ric]hard Wellington Hodgson and [-------------------] to the best of their power skill [----------------]ale and will teach and instruct [On reverse] or cause to be taught and instructed the said William Rawes in the trade, art or business of Riving tearing and Dressing Blue slates and in all things whatsoever incident thereto in such manner as they the said Christopher Hodgson John Atkinson Richard Wellington Hodgson and Robert Watts now or at any time hereafter during the said term shall use practise or follow the same And also that the said Christopher Hodgson John Atkinson Richard Wellington Hodgson and Robert Watts their Executors or Administrators shall and will during the whole of the said term of the said appren= ticeship find and provide for their said Apprentice good and sufficient meat washing lodging necessary Clothes wearing apparel and apparel and all other suitable and proper necessaries And the said Robert Rawes for himself his heirs Executors and Administrators doth hereby Covenant promise and agree to and with the said Christopher Hodgson John Atkinson Richard Wellington Hodgson and Robert Watts their Executors and Administrators in manner following that is to say that the said William Rawes shall and will faithfully serve his said Apprenticeship in manner and form aforesaid. In witness whereof the said Parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals the Day and year first within written.       N.B. The above mentioned William Rawes shall at the end of the Apprenticeship, have the sum of ten quineas Sealed and delivered by the within named Christopher Hodgson John Atkinson and Robert Watts being first duly stamped[?] in the presence of Hodgson[?] Chris Wan[-]ess[?] For self and Rich Wellington Hodgson Christr Hodgson Sealed and delivered by the within named Robert Rawes and William Rawes in the presence of Gerard Rawes [signed] Notes:- The above records are to be found amongst the Lowther estate papers (Lons). Richard Wellington Hodgson was the nephew of Christopher Hodgson and the grandson of Betty wife of Isaac Hodgson and daughter of William Rawes of Wetsleddale. The illegible area above indicates where in the past a small section has been cut out of the original Indenture. Transcribed from the original by Julian Rawes of Cheltenham, 1998