Hi Listers, Interesting this one, in that the parish poor boy came from Dean, a fair distance away. I'm thinking a copy of this would have been kept at Dean also? Jim Bundy This Indenture made the twenty fift Day of March in the fift Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith, &c. Annoq; Dom. 1731 Witnesseth: That Alexander Skinner and William Wright Churchwardens of the Parish of Dean in the County of Bedford and Richard Simpson and William Wright Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish, by and with the Consent of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said County of Bedford whose Names are hereunto subscribed, have put and placed, and by these Presents do put and place & binde John Brown a poor Child of the said Parish, Apprentice to John Boston of Eaton Suchen in the County of Bedford Cordwainer with him to dwell and serve from the Day of the Date of these Presents, until the said Apprentice shall accomplish his full Age of four and twenty years according to the Statute in that Case made and provided: During all which term, the said Apprentice his said Master faithfully shall serve in all lawful Business, according to his Power, Wit, and Ability; and honestly, orderly, and obediently in all Things demean and behave himself towards his said Master and all his during the said term. And the said Master for himself, his Executors and Administrators, doth Covenant and Grant to and with the said Churchwardens and Overseers, and every of them, their and every of their Executors and Administrators, and their and every of their Successors for the time being, by these Presents, That the said Master the said Apprentice in the trade of a hoe maker shall & will teach or cause to be taught in the best manner he can And shall and will, during all the term aforesaid, find, provide and allow unto the said Apprentice, meet, competent, and sufficient Meat, Drink, and Apparel, Lodging, Washing, and all other Things necessary and fit for an Apprentice. And also shall and will so provide for the said Apprentice, that he be not any was a Charge to the said Parish, or Parishioners of the same; but of and from all Charge shall and will save the said Parish and Parishioners harmless and indemnified during the said term. And at the end of the said term, shall and will make provide, allow, and deliver unto the said Apprentice double Apparel of all sorts, good and new, (that is to say) a good new suit for the Holy-days, and another for the Working-days. In Witness whereof, the Parties abovesaid to these present Indentures interchangeably have put their Hands and Seals the Day and Year above-written. Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of Wy(?) John (?)itchfield We whose Names are Subscribed, Justices of the Peace of the County aforesaid do (quorum un) consent to the putting forth of the abovesaid John Brown Apprentice, according to the Intent and Meaning of the Indenture abovesaid. Denis Farrer Wm Aspin Churchwardens Alexander Skinner William Wright Overseers Rich Simpson Memorand that within named Churchwardens & Overseers of the poor of the with Mentioned parish of Dean do promise to pay to the within named John Boston the sum of three pounds Seven Shillings upon the 25th day of March 1733 witness our hands William Wright Alexander Skinner Church Wardens Memorad William Wright and Rich Simpson Overseers that is agreed before the Enseating hereof by the within named Churchwardens and Overseers that the within named Master shall deliver up the said Apprentice at the Expiration of the ??? of Apparil only ?? our hands William Wright Alexander Skinner Churchwardens William Wright Richard Simpson Overseers