John Langdon Down’s indenture to his father
Document kindly donated in June 2015 by John Langdon Down’s great grandson Michael Brain
Text:
This Indenture Witnesseth That John Langdon Down
of Torpoint Cornwall
doth put himself Apprentice to Joseph Almond Down Apothecary
to learn his Art and with him after the Manner of an Apprentice to serve from the first day of
eighteen hundred and forty nine
unto the full End and Term of five years from thence next following to be fully complete and ended During which Term the said Apprentice his Master faithfully shall serve his secrets keep his lawful commands everywhere gladly do he shall do no damage to his said Master nor see to be done of others but to his Power shall tell or forthwith give warning to his said Master of the same he shall not waste the goods of his said Master nor lend them unlawfully to any he shall not commit fornication nor contract Matrimony within the said Term … shall not play at Cards or Dice Tables or any other unlawful Games whereby his said Master may have any loss with his own goods or others during the said Term without licence of his said Master he shall neither buy nor sell he shall not haunt Taverns or Playhouses nor absent himself from his said Master’s service day or night unlawfully But in all things as a faithful Apprentice he shall behave himself towards his said Master and all his during the said Term And the said Joseph Almond Down….
his said Apprentice in the … of an Apothecary … which he useth by the best means that he can shall teach and Instruct or cause to be taught and instructed Finding unto the said Apprentice sufficient Meat Drink Lodging and all other Necessaries during the said Term.
And for the true performance of all and every the said Covenants and Agreements either of the said Parties bindeth himself unto the other by these Presents In witness whereof the Parties above named .… these Indentures interchangeably have put their Hands and Seals the first day of January and in the … Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland QUEEN Defender of the Faith and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty …
NB the Indenture Covenant Article or Contract must bear the day it is executed and what Money or other thing is given or contracted for with the Clerk or Apprentice must be inserted in Words at Length otherwise the Indenture will be void the Master or Mistress forfeit Fifty Pounds and another Penalty and the Apprentice be disabled to follow h … trade or be made free.
Witnessed [2 signatures]
