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

CRAFTS AND TRADESone month the Master or Mistress is to Bring theirIndentures to the hall to be Registered and Entered,etc " " None to Receive or take into their serviceor house any Man or Woman's Apprentice CovenantServant or Journeyman within the limits aforesaid,-4.- 771CLL.When a carpenter's widow could keep her husband'sbusiness together, no one disputed her right toreceive apprentices. Several instances of their doingso are recorded towards the end of the ~entury.~ Theright to succeed her husband in his position as carpenterand member of the worshipful company was immediatelyallowed when claimed by a widow ; thus thecourt " agreed. . . . that Johan burton wydowelate wife of [ ] burton citezein and Carpenter ofLondon for that'warninge hathe not ben goven untoher from tyme to tyme at the Quarterdaies heretoforeFrom henseforthe shall have due warninge goven untoher everye Quarterdaye and at the next Quarterdaiel Records of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, Vol. l., Intro. vii-viii.Ibid, p. 137, May 2, 1671. Richardus Read filius Thome Read de ChartMagna in Com. Kanc. Shoemaker po : se appren Josepho Hutchinson Bedello HujusSocietat pro Septem Ann a die dat Indre Dat die et ann ult pred (AssignimmediateSusanne Catlin vid nuper uxor. Johannis Catlin nuper Civis et Carpenter Londondefunct uten etc).Ibid, p. 153. Dec. 5, 1676. Johannes Keyes filius Willi. Keyes nuper deHampsted in Com. Middx. Milwright ed Elizabetham Davis vid. willi Davis nuperCivi & Carpentar de London a die date pred etc (sic)Ibrd, p. 158. July I, 1679. Samuell Goodfellow filius Johanni of Rowell inCom. Northton Corwayner pon se Martha Wildey relict of Robert pro septem annlsa dat etc.Ibid, p. 161. Ap. 5, 1681. Georg Thomas filius Thome nuper de Carlyon in CornMonmouth gent pon se Apprenticum Elizabeth Whitehorne of Aldermanburyvid. Johis. pro septem Annis a dat.Ibtd, p. 164. Oct. 4, 1681. Richard Lynn sonn of William Lynn decd. pon seApprent~com Marie Lynn widdow Relict of the said William C : C: pro septema& a dat.Ibrd, p. 165. March 7, 1681-2. John Whitehorne son of John Whitehorne C : CLd, pon se apprenticum Elizabethe Relict. ejusdem Joh's Whitehnrne pro septemannis a dat.Ibrd, p. 171. Apr. 5. 1686. Richard S'evensonsonne of Robt Stevenson late of- Dl~hlin --.. . in the Kineedome of Ireland Pavier bound to Anne Nicholson Widowe theRelict of Anthony Nicholson. for eight yeares.Ibid, p. 189. June 7, 1692. Rohert Harper sonne of William Harper ofNotchford in the county of Chesheire, bound to Abigail Taylor for Seaven YeareS.CRAFTS AND TRADESshe shall paye in discharge of tharrerages behind Twelvepence & so shall paye her Quateridge (pd xijd.) "l ;a year later " burtons widow" makes free anapprentice Mighell Pattinson.'Curiously enough, during the period 1654 to 1670,twenty-one girls were bound apprentice at Carpenters'Hall. Probably none of these expected to learn thetrade of a carpenter.' Nine were apprenticed toRichard Hill and his wife, who lived first near St.Michae17s, C~rnehill,~ and afterwards against TrinityMin~ries.~ They were apprenticed for seven yearsto learn the trade of a sempstress, and probably ineach case a heavy premium was paid, a note beingmade against the name of Prudentia Cooper, who wasbound in 1664 " (obligatur Pater in 50' pro ventuteapprenticij).""Richard Hill's wife's name is included in the Indenturesthree times, and in 1672 a boy was apprenticedto " Ric. Hill Civi et Carpenter London necnon delittle Minories Silk Winder."' We map infer thatMrs. Hill had founded the business before or afterher marriage with the carpenter, and that hers provingprofitable the husband had been satisfied with workingfor wages, while retaining the freedom of the Company,or had transferred his services to his wife's business,adding that of a Silk winder to it. One girl originallyapprenticed to Henry Joyse was " turned over toAnne Joyse sempstress & sole merchant withoutThomas Joyse her husband,"' five were apprenticedRecords of Worshrpful Company ofcarpenters, Vol. III., p. 102, Court Book, I 567.a Ibtd, Vol. III., p. zoo.Ib~d, Vol. I.. Intro. p. X-xi. Apprentice Entry Book.a Ibld, Vol. I., p. 62.Ibld, Vol. I., p. 125.lbtd,Vol. I., p. 78.Ibid. Vol. I., p. 145.ihri, Vol. I., p. 136