The sources for these apprenticeship records are various, but mainly from the Apprentices Index kept by the Society of Genealogists in London. These latter records are predominantly London apprentices where a stamp duty had to be paid on indentures during the period 1710-1784. However, other apprenticeship records survive in numerous other sources, mainly due to the activities of the overseers of the Poor, who would apprentice out youngsters rather than have them living off the poor rate.
Apprentices were normally about 14 years of age at the start of their indenture and the period of indenture was 7 years. However, an apprentice could be as old as 21 at the start, but they still had to serve a period of 7 years. An apprentice normally lived in the shop or household of his master and was not able to marry until he was free. Except for those apprenticed out under the various poor regulations, a fee was payable to the master for the training and the indenture contained details of any other costs and/or allowances. It is worth noting that in London, in order to practice one's trade one had to be a member of a Livery Company (or Guild)but from the mid 17th century you did not necessarily have to follow the trade of that Livery Company. So, for example, rather confusingly, one might be a member of the Apothocary's Company, but be a weaver by trade.
| Year | Apprentice | Abode, parentage | County | Master | Apprenticeship Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1559 | Andrew Foskett | LDN | Stationers Company | ||
| 1636 | John Foscett | son of Thomas of Milbourne, yeoman | WIL | John Moncke | Tallow Chandlers Company |
| 1658 | William FFOSCOT | son of Christopher Ffoscot of Great Horwood | BKM | Ralph Stables | London Cordwainers Company |
| 1674 | John Foskett | son of Henry Foskett, late of Great Horwood | BKM | William Foskett | London Cordwainers Company |
| 1694 | Thomas Foscott | son of John Foscott of Rothwell, dec | NTH | Samuel Thompson | London Carmens Company |
| 1705 | Caleb Foskett | son of William, North Crawley | BKM | Daniel Jenkins | London Curriers Company |
| 1720 | Jarvis William | son of William William of Hertford | HRT | Caleb Foskett | London Curriers Company |
| 1730 | Nicholls Joseph | son of Roger Nicholls of Northaw | HRT | Caleb Foskett | London Curriers Company |
| 1733 | Henry Foskett | son of Joseph Foskett of Liberty of the Tower, weaver, deceased | MDX | James Pinchen | London Dyers Company |
| 1751 | Robert Forsket | son of Margaret, St Katherine Coleman, wid | LDN | James Tomlinson | London Spectaclemakers Company |
| 1753 | William Foskett | BKM | William Parrett | Tailor, of Mursley, BKM | |
| 1757 | Thomas Foskett | son of William Foskett of Islington | MDX | Thomas House | London Pattenmakers Company |
| 1758 | Ebenezer Foskett | son of Henry Foskett,Spitalfields, dyer, deceased | MDX | Robert Harwood | London Glass-sellers Company |
| 1758 | George Forskett | son of Robert, Crutched Friars, shoemaker, deceased | LDN | Robert Forskett | London Spectaclemakers Company |
| 1758 | James Field | LDN | Samuel Foskett | Leather Seller | |
| 1774 | Benjamin Foskett | Cambridge | CAM | - | |
| 1774 | - - | Cambridge | CAM | Stephen Foskett | |
| 1780 | Amos Adams | son of Thomas Adams, stationer | LDN | Robert Forskett | London Spectaclemakers Company |
| 1788 | John Gutteridge | son of John Gutteridge, gent, deceased | MDX | Robert Forskett | London Spectaclemakers Company |
| 1790 | John Robertshaw | son of Thomas Robertshaw of St Sepulchre | LDN | Robert Forskett | London Spectaclemakers Company |
| 1792 | Joseph Merchant | son of Johhn Merchant of Hoxton, milkman | MDX | Robert Forskett | London Spectaclemakers Company |
| 1792 | Benjamin Waddington | son of William Waddington, Shoreditch | MDX | Robert Forskett | London Spectaclemakers Company |
| 1792 | William Forskett | son of Robert Forskett, apprenticed to his father | MDX | Robert Forskett | London Spectaclemakers Company |
| 1793 | Samuel Forscutt | Kimbolton | HUN | Thomas Haddon | Staymaking |
| 1817 | Bernard Foskett | North Crawley | BKM | George Austin | baker |
| 1818 | William Foskett | LDN | Stationers Company | ||
| 1846 | James Foskett | 4 Friars St, Blackfriars | LDN | (Trading Dates) | Leather Dresser/Currier |
| 1867 | Edward Foskett | 23 The Drapery, Northampton | NTH | Horatio Warren | tea dealer and provision merchant |
© Sandra J Smith MBE 2008