Apprentice Records

The History

Being an apprentice was the way that boys learned a skilled trade.

From the age of about 12 they would be attached to a skilled tradesman for an agreed period of years to learn the trade.

Children were given food, clothes and housing in return for their work.

With reputable tradesmen there was usually a fee payable to the tradesmen by the boys parents.

Illegitimate children in workhouses and in children's homes were usually apprenticed as soon as their age permitted to reduce the costs of their keep on the institution.

Sadly these unfortunate children were often placed with unsuitable masters at ages as young as 7 years old..

Apprentice records will identify these children by the inclusion of an institution in the agreement rather than a parent.

What records can you find?

Apprentice records are found in County Records Offices and Museums although the main repository is the National Archives.