A VICTORIAN SEAMAN'S APPRENTICE INDENTURE ON VELLUM :

BETWEEN THOMAS REECE AGED 16 OF BISHOPS CASTLE SHROPSHIRE, AND ROBERT OLIVER OF NEWCASTLE TYNESIDE,  IN THE TRADE OF A MARINER OR SEAMAN

A printed manuscript apprentice indenture on parchment, with manuscript entries for the apprentice and his employer, signed by them both. Sl soiled, sl creased, and edge curled. Sl loss to lower right hand corner.    ********  Under the Merchant Seamen, etc, Act 1823, Masters of British merchant ships of 80 tons and over were required to carry a given number of indentured apprentices. These had to be duly enrolled with the local Customs Officer. These provisions were extended by the Merchant Seamen Act 1835  which provided for the registration of these indentures. In London they were registered with the General Register and Record Office of Seamen and in other ports with the Customs officers who were required to submit quarterly lists to the Registrar General. From 1844, copies of the indentures were sent to the Registrar General, and although compulsory apprenticeship was abolished in 1849 the system of registration was maintained.