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Bow Parish Apprentice Register 1803
Bow Parish apprenticeship register, 1802-1827 (Ref: L/SMS/C/9/1[BOW/838])
Under the old Poor Law system the overseers of the poor of each parish were empowered, with the consent of the justices of the peace, to apprentice pauper children and the masters chosen were bound to accept the youngsters on penalty of a fine. Under an Act of Parliament of 42 George III [1801 – 2], overseers of the poor were required to keep a register of children apprenticed under a penalty of £5 for not complying.
On each left-hand page of the register is recorded the name, sex and age of each pauper child together with details of parents and their residence. On the facing right-hand page is recorded the name, trade and residence of the person to whom the child is to be bound together with the term of the apprenticeship and the amount of the fee. In addition the names of the overseers are given and the signature of the assenting magistrate.
The alphabetical name index to the register has been compiled by Zoe Ellsmore.
