working life of women seventeenth century - School of Economics ...

CRAFTS AND TRADESalso met with as booksellers. Anne Bowlersold the book " Catoes Moral1 Distichs " . . . .printed by Annes Griffin. The Quakers at HorsleyDown paid to Eliz. ffoulkes 3s. for their minute book,'while Pepys' bookseller was a certain Mrs. Nicholls."The death of Edward Croft, Bookseller, is recordedin Smyth's Obituary, " his relict, remarried sinceto Mr. Blagrave, an honest bookseller, who livehapily in her house in Little Britain."4The trade of a bookseller was followed by womenin the provinces as well as in London, the Howardspaying " For books bought of Eliz. Sturton iijs.and Sir John Foulis enters in his account book" To Ard. Hissops relict and hir husband for 3 paperbookes at 10 gr. p. peice and binding other 4 bookes,18. 14. o [Scots money], to them for a gramer anda salust to the bairns, 1.2.0. She owes me 6/8. ofchange."'Presumably all the women who were engagedin either of these allied trades in London were freeof the Stationers' Company, and in most cases theywere widows. Many apprentices were made freeon the testimony of a woman,7 and though thesel Arber, Transcript, Vol. V., p. lv.' Monthly Meeting Minutes. Horsleydown, 13 I"'" 167;.' Pepys, Diary, Vol. I., p. 26.' Smyth's Obttuary, p. 77.Howard, Household Books, p. 161, 1622.' Foulis, Sir John, Acct. Book, p. 22, 1680.'" Mistres Gosson. Stephan Coxe, Sworne and Admytted a Freeman of thisCompanie iijs, iiijd. Note that master Warden White Dothe Reporte, for mistre,Gosson's Consent to the makinge of this prentice free. (Arbers, Transcrzpt, Vol. IIvp. 727, 1600.) Alice Gosson Late wyfe of Thomas Gosson. Henry Gosson sworne andadmitted A ffreeman of this company per patrimonium iijs. iiijd, (Ibid, p. 730, 1601.)Mistries Woolff. John Barnes sworne and admitted A freeman (Ibid, p. 73011601. Ja-e proctor, Wydowe of Willlam proctor. Humfrey Lympenny sworneand admitted A ffreeman of this Companye iijs. iiijd. (Ibid: p. 73"'1601.) Mystris Conneway Nicholas Davyes sworn and admitted A freeman of,this company per patrimonium iijs. iiijd, (Ibid, p. 7:2, 1602.)CRAFTS AND TRADES'69in some cases may have almost completed their servitudebefore the death of their master, " MistrisWoolff " gives testimony for one apprentice in 1601,and for another in 1603, showing that she at leastcontinued the management of her husband's businessfor some years, and as she received a new apprenticeduring this time,' it is evident that she had nointention of relinquishing it.When on her husband's death the widow transferredan apprentice to some other master we may inferthat she felt unable to take the charge of businessupon her. This happened not infrequently, " RobertJackson late apprentise with Raffe Jackson is puttouer by consent of his mystres unto master Burby toserve out the Residue of his terms of apprentishoodwith him, the Last yere excepted.Tomson. . . Anthony. . . . hathputt himself anapprenticeto master Gregorie Seton . . . . for 8 yeres. . . . . Eliz. Hawes shall haue the servicesand benefit of this Apprentise during her wydohedor marrying one of the Company capable of him."2" John leonard apprentise to Edmond Bolifantdeceased is putt ouer by- the consent of the said maryBolyfant unto Richard ~radocke . . . . to serueout the residue of his apprenti~hip."~ But whetherthe widow wished to continue the business as a " goingconcern " or not, she, and she only, was in possessionof the privileges connected therewith, for she wasvirtually her husband's partner, and his dearh didnot disturb her possession. The old rule of copyrightrecognised her position, providing " that copies-' Johne Adams of London (stationer's son) apprenticed to Alice Woolff of citie ofLondon widowe for 8 years 2s. 6d. (Arber, Transnipt, Vol. 11, p. 253, 1601.) OtherInstances of apprentices being bound to women occur as for example " Wm. Walk;F'prenticed to Elizabeth Hawes Widow for S years (Ibtd, Vol. 11, ,p. 287, 1604.)Thornas Richardson of York apprenticed to Alice Gosson, of cit~c of LondonVdowe for 7 years, 2s. 6d. (Zbrd, Vol. II., p. 249, 1600).a Ibid, p. 260, 1602.)Ibid, p. 262, 1602.