In 1813, my 4 × great grandfather Joseph Coles was apprenticed to George Adcock of Holywell Street, a tinsmith. A copy of Joseph’s indenture was written into the minute book of the Somersetshire Society following the minutes of the committee meeting held at the Turk’s Head, Strand on Tuesday, 21 September 1813 (Somersetshire Society, 1813, September 21).

The following is a Copy of the Indenture of Apprenticeship of Joseph Coles left with the Secretary the 5th of October 1813 viz.
This Indenture witnesseth that Joseph Coles by and with the consent of his Father Benjamin Coles of Crown Street Westminster in the County of Middx testified by his being a party to and sealing and delivering of these present doth put himself Apprentice to George Adcock of Holywell Street Strand in the said County of Middlesex Tin plate
worker to learn his art and with him (after the manner of an apprentice) to serve from the day of the date hereof unto the full end and term of Seven years from hence 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 shall do no damage to his said Master nor see to be done of others but to his power shall let or forthwith give warning to his said Master of the same Shall not waste the goods of his said Master nor lend them unlawfully to any He shall not do any act whereby his said Master may have any loss with his own goods or others during the said term without licence of his said Master shall neither buy nor sell nor absent himself from his said Masters Service day or night unlawfully but in all things as a faithful apprentice shall behave himself towards his said Master and all his during the said term – and the said George Adcock for and in consideration of the sum of Forty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain in hand paid to the said George Adcock by the said Benjamin Coles the receipt of which said sum he the said George Adcock doth hereby acknowledge and also for and in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter contained doth covenant promise and agree to and with the said Benjamin Coles in manner following (that is to say) his said apprentice in the Art of a Tin plate worker which

he useth by the best means that he can shall teach and instruct or cause to be taught and instructed finding unto the said Apprentice sufficient Meat Drink and Lodging during the said term and the said Benjamin Coles for the considerations aforesaid doth hereby Covenant promise and agree to and with the said George Adcock to find and provide the said Joseph Coles during the said term in good and sufficient wearing apparel washing and mending and every other necessary except as hereinbefore stated And for the true performances of all and every the said Covenants and agreements either of the said parties bindeth himself unto the other by these present In witness whereof the parties above named to these Indentures have put their hands and Seals the Second day of October and in the fifty third year of the Reign of our Sovereing [sic] Lord George the third by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King defender of the Faith and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirteen.

Signed Sealed and delivered (being first duly stamped) in the presence of – Joseph Coles  Benjn. Coles  George Adcock
Alban Ainge 48 Upper Thornaugh Street Bedford Square
D. Shuter, 14 Wood Street, Westminster

[in margin] Recd. 5th Octr. 1813. P.H.

1. Somersetshire Society (1813, September 21). Meeting of the Committee, Turk’s Head. Minute Book of the Somersetshire Society, 1811-1819, 58-59.
Somerset Record Office: DD\SMS/2/1