Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices’ Indentures, 1710-1811
The 1709 Stamp Act extended stamp duty to cover apprenticeship indentures. The duty or tax was payable on the fee charged by a master for an indentured apprentice. Until the act was repealed in 1811 apprenticeships were listed in a register to enable the Board of Stamps to
keep track of the fees and taxes. The registers are compiled in the date order in which the tax was paid, which is not always the date of the apprenticeship
Until 1752, the apprentice’s parents’ names were included, but afterward are rare. At a minimum, the records usually include:
- Date of registration
- Name of master
- Address of master
- Trade
- Name of apprentice
- Date of articles of apprenticeship
- Sum received
- Tax payable
The stamp duty was levied at 6d (sixpence) for every £1 of apprenticeship fee up to £50 and 1s (one shilling or twelvepence) for every £1 above £50. The masters did not have to pay stamp duty on the apprentices that were assigned by the common or public charge of any township or parish. This means a lot of apprentices won’t be included in these records. Local or charity records are the best place to find records of these types of apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships in Staffordshire, potters
| Registration Date | Name & address of master | Name of apprentice | Date of apprenticeship | Fee and Tax | Comments |
| 1716/17* 21 Jan | Ralph Haynes of Stoke | Thos. son of Francis Hitchcock of Meere Heath Stafford [illegible word] | 5 Nov 1716 5 years | £7 Tax 3s 6d | Town name difficult to decipher but a Ralph Haynes was living in Stoke. |
| 1717/18 25 Jan | Thos. Heath of Shelton | Enoch son of Ephraim Booth of Astbury, Chester
| From 29 Sep 1717 7 years | £10 Tax 5s | |
| 1718 1 Dec | John Astbury of Shelton | Wm. Stockley of Shelton | 31 Dec 1717 7 years | £4.10 Tax 2s 3d | |
| 1719 21 Sep | John Wright | Wm Lester | 21 Sept 1719 8 years | £5.10 Tax 2s 9d | No place listed but in between several Staffordshire entries and both names are found in appropriate Staffordshire parish registers |
| 1720 20 Jul | Richd. Meare of Lane Delfe [sic] | Randle Brookes | 2 Feb. 1719/20* 5 years | £15 Tax 7s 6d | |
| 1720 19 Sep | Hen. Glass of Shelton | James son of Wm. Lewis | From 24 June 1720 5 years | £10 Tax 5s | |
| 1721/22* 20 Jan | Thos. Heath of Shelton | Thos. Henshaw | 11Nov 1721 7 years from date | £10 Tax 5s | |
| 1722 3 Dec | Ralph Saw of Burslem | Wm son of Jn. Lycett of Burslem | 21 Dec 1721 7 years from date | £6. 6s Tax 3s 2d | |
| 1723 2 Dec | Thos. Mitchell of Burslem | Hugh Thomason | 10 June 1723 7 years from date | £15 Tax 7s 6d | |
| 1723/24* 2 Mar | John Simpson of Handley Green
| John Adams | 20 Feb 1723/24* 7 years | £5 Tax 2s 6d | |
1730 27 Apr | John Ellis of Hanley | Joshua son of Mary Ellis of Mear lane End Widow | 1 May last [1729?] 8 years | £4 Tax 2s | 8 years is an usual length of apprenticeship
|
| 1742 14 Jun | John Warberton [sic] of Burslem | Thos. son of John Machin | 10 Nov Last [1741?] 7 years | £13.3s Tax 6s 7d | Last column for date says 8 June 1742 – this may be date of signing agreement |
| 1743 12 Nov | John Adams & Compy. Burslem | Will. Son of Thos. Harrison | 11 Nov 1743 8 years from date | £1. 1s Tax 6½d | |
| 1750 8 Jun | William Tams of Shelton
| Charles Palin | 4 June [year illegible, probably 1750] 7 years | £10 Tax 5s | |
| 1750 8 Jun | Richard Meir of Lanedeph [sic] | John son of Edward Bartlam | 10 April 1751 [or 1750 unclear] 7 years from [illegible could be 11 Nov] | £15 Tax 7s 6d | |
1751 18 Nov | William Warburton & Co. | Edward Dale | 11 Nov 1751 7 years from date | £15 Tax 7s 6d | |
| 1752 1 May | Thos. Booth of Tunstall | John son of John Holland | 25 Dec 1750 7 years | £5. 10s Tax 2s 9d | Record indicates the apprenticeship was recorded in Stafford on 14 March 1752 |
| 1752 7 May | Enoch Booth of Tunstall | Robt. son of Thos. White | 25 March 1752 7 years from date | £12.12s Tax 6s 3½d | |
| 1753 12 Mar | Thos. Daniel & Co. of Cobridgegate | Thos .Twemlow | 26 Feb 1753 6 years from date | £15. 15s Tax 7s 10½d | |
| 1753 23 Apr | Danl. Bird Penkhull | John Turner | 25 March 1753 5 Years from date | £20. Tax 10s | |
| 1753 20 Jun | Enoch Booth of Tunstall | John Holland | 29 May 1753 7 years from date | £15. Tax 7s 6d | |
| 1753 6 Jul | Thos. Denill & Co of Burslem | Saml. Sharratt | 3 July 1753 6 years from date | £16 Tax 8s | |
| 1754 1 Feb | Enoch Booth near Newcastle | Henry Bee | 29 Sept 1753 7 years | £12 Tax 6s | Record indicates apprenticeship was recorded in Lichfield on 2 Jan 1754 |
| 1754 11 Dec | Moses Keeling | George Boulton | 11 Nov. 1754 6 years from date | £4. Tax 2s | |
| 1755 21 Jun | Enoch Booth | Thomas Potts | 9 June 1755 7 years from date | £21. Tax 10s 6d | |
| 1755 16 May | Wm. ShuffleBottom of Burslem | Will. Smith | 27 July 1752 7 years from Nov. last [1751?] | £15.15s Tax 7s 10½d | |
| 1757 18 Apr | Thos. Broome of Stoke | John Bennett | 11 August 1752 7 years | £30 Tax 16s | The name is annotated DD indicating master was charged Double duty for late registration |
| 1758 3 Feb | Will. Lockett of Burslem
| James Barber | 30 Jan 1758 7 years | £14 Tax 7s | |
| 1758 23 May | Hannah Payne of Handley Green | John Allen | 1 Inst. [1 May 1758?] 7 years | £21 Tax 10s 6d | |
| 1760 12 Jul | Enoch Booth of Tunstall | John Bourne | From date 7 years | £17.10 Tax 8s 9d | |
| 1761 23 Apr | Richd. Daniel of Cobridge Gate Potter | John Cobb | 25 March 1761 7 years from date | £20 Tax 10s | |
| 1763 2 Aug | Saml. Perry of Stoke-upon-Trent | Thos. Cotton | 20 June 1763 7 years | £21 Tax £1.1s | This looks like double duty for reasons not explained |
| 1767 6 Nov | Saml. Perry of Handley Green | Stephen Cotton | 8 Sept 1767 4 Years | £31. 10 Tax 15s 9d | |
| 1769 20 Mar | Wm. Parrott of Burslem | Joseph Ward | 11 Feb 1768 6 years | £20 Tax 10s | |
| 1771 5 Dec | William Banks of Stoke-upon-Trent | Samuel Harrison [?] | 4 Nov. 1771 5 years | £50 Tax £1 | Last name of apprentice is not very legible but seems likely to be Harrison |
| 1773 7 May | Anthony Keeling of Tunstall | Abraham de la Pryme | 13 April 1773 6 years | £105 Tax £5.5s | Paid 1s in the £ tax for premium over £50 |
| 1774 25 Nov | Sam: Perry of Hanley | Benj. Godwyn | 11 Oct. 1773 7 years | £6.6s Tax 3s 2d | |
| 1776 19 Mar | Joseph Stephens of Cobridge | Jno. Graham | 30 Sept. 1771 5 years | £50 Tax £2.10s | May have been charged double for late registration |
| 1778 10 Sep | Jno. Hassells of Shelton | Jonathan Hulley | 2 Sept 1778 5 years | £100 Tax £5 | Paid 1s in the £ tax for premium over £50 |
| 1781 10 Feb | Rob: Bucknall of Cobridge, | Jno. Bucknall | 22 Jan 1780 5 & 8 years | £50 Tax £1.5s | Unusual to have two numbers of years |
| 1782 5 Apr | Rob: Garner Lane End | Daniel Johnson | 12 Nov 1781 7 years | £10 Tax 10s | Seems to have been charged double tax, may be for late registration, but seems to be no later than many others! |
| 1783 3 Apr | Messrs Adams & Cole Burslem
| John Lowe | 1 Mar 1783 3 years | £100 Tax £5 | |
| 1784 3 Sep | Joshua Heath & Co. of Stoke-upon-Trent | John Weston | 12 May 1784 7 years | £5 Tax 5s | There is no obvious reason for the double Taxation |
| 1784 20 Sep | Josiah Spode of Stoke-on-Trent | Richard Poole | 14 Mar 1784 5 years | £105 Tax £10.10s | |
| 1785 22 Dec | Robt. Wilson Hanley | Martin Bedford | 11 Nov. 1785 9 years | £30 Tax 15s | |
| 1785 1 Feb | Messrs Garner & Moreton, Laneend | Jno. Faulkner | 1 Feb 85 7 years from 1 May last | £50 Tax £1.5s | |
| 1787 29 Apr | Thos Balls Burslem | Jno. Prince | 12 April 1787 7 years | £7 Tax 3s 6d | |
| 1788 12 May | Thos. Davonport (sic) Mitchells in the Fields [County of Stafford] | Wm. Prince | 30 Apr 1788 7 years | £7 Tax 3s 6d | The location of Mitchells in the Fields is unknown |
| 1788 9 Sep | Jno. Blackwell Burslem | Geo: Hill | 19 August 1786 7 Years from 25 Dec last | £20 Tax £1 | Double Tax charged presumably for late registration |
| 1794 9 Jan | Messrs Bulkeley & Bent Newcastle under Lyme | Wm. Hindley | 27 Dec 1793 7 years | £10 Tax 5s | |
| 1794 28 Mar | John Harrison Cliffe Gate bank | Wm Goodwin | 25 March 1794 6 years | £200 Tax £10 | |
| 1797 13 March | Thos. Godwin Cobridge | Jno. Hales | 1 Feb 1797 5 years | £100 Tax £5 | |
| 1797 17 Oct | Wm. & Jno. Turner Stoke | Jno. P B. Newbury | 26 Aug 1797 5 years | £525 Tax £26. 5s | This is an extremely large premium. Perhaps J.P. Newbury was connected to the Newbury who was partner in a London dealership associated with Turner & Abbott |
| 1800 14 Aug | Thos. Godwin Cobridge | Thos. Godwin Jnr. | 31 July 1800 5 years | £100 Tax £5 |
Staffordshire apprenticeships – Ancillary trades
Engravers
| Registration Date | Name & address of master | Name of apprentice | Date of apprenticeship | Fee and Tax | comments |
| 1788 13 Oct | John Luckcock Stoke-upon-Trent Engraver | Edwd. Whitehouse | 13 October 1788 6 years | £40 Tax £1 | |
| 1796 2 Jun | Edwd. Whitehouse Stoke-upon-Trent Engraver | John Newark | 25 May 1796 7 years from 13 March last | £21 Tax 10s 6d | |
| 1798 28 April | Edwd. Whitehouse Stoke-upon-Trent Engraver | Wm. Smith | 17 April 1798 7 years from 17 Octr. last | £40 Tax £1 | |
| 1798 15 Dec | Saml. Doncaster Engraver | Thos. Hodgkinson | 24 November 1798 7 years | £20 Tax 10s | Although town is not named see below Saml. Doncaster 1801. Also a man of this name was living in Penkhull in 1793 when he married Margaret Broad |
| 1800 15 Aug | Messrs Mollart & Vernon Shelton Engravers & partners | Thos. Mellard | 29 July 1800 4 years | £10 Tax 5s | |
| 1800 11 Jun | Moses Ryles Laneend Engraver | Saml. Waller | 19 April 1800 6 years from 1 Janry. 1800 | £40 Tax £1 | |
| 1800 11 Dec | John Walton Stoke-upon-Trent Engraver | Saml. Stubbs | 9 Nov 1800 7 years | £10 Tax 5s | |
| 1801 5 Aug | Saml. Doncaster Penkhull Ingraver (sic) | John Broom | 3 Aug 1801 7 years | £50 Tax £1. 5s | |
| 1801 28 Oct | Geo: Ryles Burslem Copper plate Ingraver (sic) | Wm. Hulme | 28 Oct 1801 7 years | £10 Tax 5s | |
| 1802 27 Jan | Messrs Hackwood & Bentley of Hanley Engravers | Moses Morris | 1 Dec 1801 7 years | £10 Tax 5s | |
| 1803 2 Apr | John Walton Stoke-upon-Trent Engraver | John Hammock | 14 Feb 1803 6 years | £15 Tax 7s 6d | In various lists the names have been erroneously transcribed as John Watton and as John Hammond |
| 1805 22 May | Thos. Sparkes Stoke-upon-Trent Engraver | Richd Garle | 9 Mar 1805 7 years from 9 Feb last | £50 £2. 10s |
Staffordshire apprenticeships – Ancillary trades
Other
| Registration Date | Name & address of master | Name of apprentice | Date of apprenticeship | Fee and Tax | comments |
| 1772 15 Oct | John Curzon of Stoke-upon-Trent Enameler | Charles Green | 20 April 1767 7 years | £6 Tax 6s | Double Tax charged probably because of late registration |
| 1794 13 Oct | Jos. Masland Paris of Stoke upon Trent Printer upon earthenware | Richd. Salt | 29 Sep 1794 5 years | £8 Tax 4s | |
| 1795 4 Feb | Richard Allington Stoke upon Trent Pot Painter | Sarah Fairbanks | 16 Dec 1794 7 years | £9.19 s 6d Tax 5s | Should this be Richard Abbington? |
| 1796 31 May | Peter Stephen Shelton Artist | Richard Dean | 28 Jan 176 5 years | £15. 15s Tax 15s 9d | There is no obvious reason for the double Taxation |
| 1799 7 Jan | John Cook Newcastle under Lyme Painter | Josiah Pepper | 2 Jan 1799 7 years | £25 Tax 12s 6d | |
| 1803 10 Oct | Thomas Hill Harley(sic) Painter &c. | Charles Keates | 21 Sep 1803 4 years from 25 Mar last | £21 Tax 10s 6d | Harley may be Hanley in the Potteries, the entry is in the midst of North Staffordshire entries |
Explanatory notes
* prior to the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1752, the first day of the year was Lady Day, 25 March, the last day was 24 March. I have therefore chosen to express years associated with the calendar moths of January, February, and March prior to 1752 with two years separated by a forward slash, the first being transcription of the original, the second being the year in the modern Gregorian system, e.g. 1716/17 means the record states 1716, but in modern calendar this would be 1717.
NB In 1704, for reasons that are not immediately obvious, a number of men in the north Staffordshire pottery industry were indicted for not having served a proper apprenticeship. The indictments can be found in the Sessions Roll – Michaelmas 1704 held by Staffordshire County Record Office. The men listed below are charged with carrying on the occupation of potter not having served an apprenticeship in accordance to a statute of 12 January 5 Elizabeth.
Richard Glasse, of Hanley Green
John Ellis senior, of Hanley Green
William Jackson, lately of the parish of Burslem
William Addams, yeoman, of Burslem
John Tynsley, gentleman, of Burslem