Friday 28th December, 2007
Alice Battersby, the base born daughter of Betty Battersby and James Young, was baptised at Leigh Church on the 20th September, 1795.
Betty Battersby was receiving poor law relief from the township of Abram because she could not support her daughter.
Naturally, Overseers of the Poor were always looking for ways of minimising their payments. One way of doing this was through the apprenticeship system. Instead of paying money directly to the parents, resources were paid to a tradesman, who looked after the child and passed on the knowledge of his/her craft. Typically, children (girls as well as boys) aged 7 to 13, were apprenticed for periods of 7 or 9 years.
The long term aim of an apprenticeship was to give the child a trade and a sense of purpose so s/he would not be a burden on the parish in adult life. There were those, however. who thought the situation was exploitative.
An apprenticeship agreement was set out in a legal contract called an "indenture". This means that the terms and conditions were written in duplicate on one sheet. This was then divided by cutting an irregular jagged or curved line between the duplicate terms. The "indents" so created gave rise to the term "indenture". The authenticity of the document could be later tested by refitting the two parts, rather like joining two pieces of a jigsaw.
The terms set out in the following Abram indenture is typical of the time:
"18th November, 1785 by which John Scotson is indentured to John Prescott. They must co-inhabit, he shall faithfully serve his master, keep him in secrets, obey him. Shall not play cards, dice, or any unlawful game, shall not frequent Alehouses, taverns, evil company, he shall not frequent Fornication or adultery, shall not get married."
"In consideration whereof the sum of two pounds of lawful money before execution of presents... further two pounds paid by said overseer."
In Abram, most apprentices went into the weaving trade but children were also apprenticed to tailors, blacksmiths, shopkeepers and nailers.
In 1805, Betty Battersby was still unmarried, so her daughter, Alice, then aged about 10, was apprenticed into the weaving trade.
It is a little confusing as to whom she was actually apprenticed. One entry in the Abram township papers states:
"July 5th 1805 Alice Battersby parent Betty Battersby Abram to James Lythgo weaver Astley."
Another contradicts this slightly:
"1805 Alice Battersby natural daughter of Betty Battersby late of Abram aforesaid single woman to Thomas Lythgo of Astley weaver."
Perhaps James Lythgo and Thomas Lythgo were related and partners, or perhaps Alice was passed from one to the other.
It is at this stage that Betty Battersby and Alice, her natural daughter, pass from my radar. I hope they both fared well.