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

I 88 CRAFTS AND TRADES CRAFTS AND TRADESEdward Fish, late member of this Comp" decd, andsince marryed to one Moore, a fforeignir, now alsodecd, desired to be admitted into the ffreedome ofthis Compa. After some debate the Court agreedand soe Ordered that she shall be received into theffreedom of the Compa Gratis, onely paying usual1ffees and this Condition that she shall not bind anyapp'ntice by virtue of the sd Freedom."'Instances occur in which an apprentice was dischargedbecause " the wife, after the death of her Husband,taught him not."' The apprentice naturally broughtforward this claim if by so doing there was a chanceof shortening the term of his service, but he was notalways successful. The Justices dismissed a casebrought by Edward Steel, ordering him to serveElizabeth Apprice, widow, the remainder of histerm. He was apprenticed in 1684 to John AppricePainter-Stainer for nine years ; he had served sevenyears when his master died, and he now declares thatElizabeth, the widow, refuses to instruct him.Sheinsists that since her husband's death she has providedable workmen to instruct this apprentice, andthat he was now capable of doing her good service.'When the " widowe Holton prayed that she[being executor to her husband] maye have the benefittof the service of Roger Jakes, her husband's apprenticeby Indenture, for the residue of the years to come,which he denyeth to performe, it was ordered thatth'apprentice shall dwell and serve his dame duringethe residue of his terme, she providing for him aswell work as other things fitt for him." ' TheGirdlers having accused Richard Northy of havingmore than the just number of apprentices, he statedWelch, Hist. of Pewterers' Company, Vol. IT., p. 153.Stow, London, Book V., p. 33 j.,llrddlescx Scsstons Book, p. 47, 169 I.Guilding, Readq Records, Vol. II., p. 362.in his defence that the apprentice " was not anythat was taken or bound by him, but was left untohim by express words in the will of his deceasedmother-in-law whch will, the probate thereof,he now produced in ~ourt."'The occurrence of widows' names among the caseswhich came before the Courts for infringementsof the Company's rules is further evidence that theywere actively engaged in business. " Two bundlesof unmade girdles were taken from widows Mayburyand Bliss, young widows " they were ordered topay SS. each by way of fine for making and selling unlawfulware^."^ Richard Hewatt, of Northover inGlastonbury, fuller, when summoned to appear beforethe Somerset Quarter Sessions as a witness, refersto his dame Ursula Lance who had " lost 2 larrowsworth five shillings and that Robert Marsh, one ofthe constables of Somerton Hundred, found in thehouse of William Wilmat the Larrows cloven in piecesand put in the oven, and the Rack-hookes that werein the larrows were found in the fire in the said h~use."~Widows were very dependent upon the assistanceof journeymen, and often chose a relation for thisresponsible position. At Reading " All the fremanBlacksmiths in this Towne complayne that one EdwardNitingale, a smith, beinge a forreynour, useth the tradeof a blacksmith in this Corporacion to the greatdammage of the freemen : it was answered that he is ajourney-man to the Widowe Parker, late wife toHumfrey Parker, a blacksmith, deceased, and workethas her servant at ss. a weeke, she being his aunt, andwas advised to worke in noe other manner but as ajo~rne~-rnan."~ The connection often ended inSmythe, Company of Girdlers, p. 133, 1635.' Ibld, p. 87, 1627.Sumerset Q.S. Rec., Vol. III., pp. 365-6, 1659.Guilding, Reading Records, Vol. III., p. 502, 1640.