Apprenticeship Indentures 

from St Mary Steps, Exeter (1626-1700)

Prepared by Stuart Raymond

The apprenticeship indentures abstracted below were originally held in the Holy Trinity parish chest, but are now in Devon Heritage Centre. Despite their origins in the parish chest, they are not all pauper indentures. They are abstracted below in accordance with the following scheme:

A. The reference number assigned by Devon Heritage Centre.

B. The dates of the indentures.

C. The names of parents. This usually includes their parishes and occupations (or status), and occasionally indicates their deaths. Parishes within Exeter are not always mentioned.

D. The names of masters and (frequently) their wives. Also indicated here are their parishes and occupations. Again, parishes within Exeter are not always mentioned.

E. The name of the person(s) paying the premium. Where these persons were churchwardens, overseers, and/or mayors, that indicates a pauper indenture. Where ‘none’ is entered, the apprenticeship is private.

F. The trade that an apprentice will learn. This is usually, but not always, that of his master. Sometimes it is not specified.

G. The premium paid, together with any notes relating to its receipt.

H. The term of apprenticeship, usually until age 24 for male pauper apprentices, 21 for female paupers, or 7 years for private and charity apprentices, although this does vary.

I. Special provisions or notes.

J. Provision for the apprentice at the end of his term. He/she was frequently (but not always) to be given two ‘suits of apparrell’, one for Sunday best, the other for working days. A monetary payment was sometimes made, and occasionally (in private indentures) the freedom of the City was to be sought..

K. Signatures of parties (pauper apprentices did not usually sign). These are recorded here exactly as they were spelt. Sometimes, the spelling differs from that used in the actual indenture.  If they made their mark, that is recorded by an ‘X’ between forename and surname. Note that sometimes spellings differ from the spelling in the body of the indenture.

L. Witnesses signatures. Again, an ‘X’ indicates illiterates who made their mark 

1. THOMAS COMBE

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/34/1.

B. 4th  May 1626.

C. Robert Comb of St Mary Steps, deceased.

D. John Larrimore of Stoke Canon, taylor.

E. Robert Lewes & Nicholas Rawlings, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps.

F. Taylor.

G. 40/- paid by Churchwardens.

H. 7 years, plus 1 year as covenant servant.

I. To be paid 40/- for covenant year.

J. 2 suits of apparel

K. John X Larrimore.

L.Nicholas Rawling; Arthur X Willen; Rich Parsons ‘notary publique’.

2. RICHARD BYNMORE.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/34/2.

B. 29th Ma[ ]  1626.

C. Isaac Bynmore of St Mary Steps, Exeter, fuller, deceased.

D. William Fill of St Mary Steps, Exeter, fuller, deceased.

E. Robert Lewes & Nicholas Rawling, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; Isaac Parradice & Henry Dabnett, Overseers.

F. Fuller.

G. 45/- paid by Churchwardens & Overseers; also ‘parte of a Tucker Racke now or heretofore in the custodie of ye said William Hall’

 H. Until age 24.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel. Verso: to be made free of the City of Exeter, & of the Incorporation of Fullers, at the master’s cost.

K. Willia X Fall .

L. William Martyne; Isacke Paradis; Rich Parsons ‘notary publique’.

3. RICHARD RATTENBURIE.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/34/3.

B. 24th June 1632.

C. John Rattenburie of St Mary Steps, tinker, deceased.

D. Edward Till of Exeter, fuller, & Katherine his wife.

E. Thomas Busse & Samuel Clarke, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; Gilbert Tothill & Richard Miller, Overseers; Nicholas Martine, mayor; other JPs.

F. Fuller.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 24.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel; to be made free of the City of Exeter, & of the Incorporation of Weavers & Tuckers.

K. Edward Till; Katherine X Till.

L. Jo Ticknor [?]; Johem Boomer.

4. JOHN EDMONDS.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/1/11/1.

B. 8th January 1635/6.

C. Not stated.

D. James Marshall of Exeter, merchant, & Thomas Marshfeild of Doncaster, New England.

E. Mr Gilbert Wheaton & Rico Miller, churchwardens of St Mary Steps.

F. Not stated.

G. Not stated.

H. 9 years.

I. Of St Mary Steps.

J. To be ‘decentlie apparelled’; also 10/-.

K. James Marshall, ‘for myself And Thomas Marshfeild’.

L. Rich Williams; Thom Mathew; Robert Eastabrook.

5. ALCE SMYTH.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/1/11/2.

B. 10th April 1644.

C. William Smyth of Exeter, deceased.

D. Jesper Hayne of Exeter, & Agnes  his wife.

E. John Gill & Edward Paradice, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; John Read & Wm Rawlings, Overseers.

F. Housewifery.

G. Not stated.

H. 7 years.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel.

K. Jaspar X Haine; Agnes X Haynes.

L. Ann X Read; James Taylor.

6. RICHARD WALTERS.

 A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/34/4.

B. 30th April 1649.

C. Roger Walters of St Mary Steps, worsted comber.

D. Nicholas Rawlinge of Exeter, dyer.

E. James Slade & John Pyne, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; William Poole & James Archepoole, Overseers; James Gould, mayor; Adame Bennett, JP,

F. Dyer.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 24.

I. Verso: ‘useless papers examined Sept 23 1786’.

J. 2 suits of apparel; 10/-.

K. Nicholas Rawling.

L. Nicholas Trosse; Richard Miller; John Marker.

7. MARY TINGCOME.

A. D.R.O. 72/1/34/5.

B. 1st May 1649.

C. Richard Tingcome of Exeter, brewer.

D. Elizabeth Stone of Exeter, widow.

E. James Slade & John Pyne , churchwardens of St Mary Steps, Exeter; William Poole & James Archipoole, Overseers; James Gould, mayor; Adam Bennett, JP.

F. Housewifery, & ‘in makinge of playne worke’.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 21.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel, plus 5/-.

K. Elizabith X Stone

L. Nicholas Trosse; Richard Miller; John Marker.

8. RICHARD WALTERS.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/1/11/3.

B.  27th January 1653/4.

C. Roger Walters of St Mary Steps, Exeter, deceased.

D. Richard Myller of St Mary Steps, white baker, & Katherine his wife.

E. William Collings, Churchwarden of St Mary Steps; Richard Medyatt & John Ball, Overseers; Symon Snowe, esq., mayor, & other JPs.

F. White baker.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 24.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel; to be made free of the City of Exeter, & of the Incorporation of White Bakers, at master’s cost.

K. Richard Miller.

L. William Leach; John Tayler.

9. ANNE RICE.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/34/6.

B. 4th June 1679.

C. Not stated.

D. John Boone of St Mary Steps, woolcomber, & Cicely his wife.

E. John Ball & John Gale, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; Richard Ford; Francis Bass, Overseers; Isaac Mawditt; John Parr, JPs.

F. Not stated.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 21.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel.

K. John Boone; Isaac Mawdit; John Parr, JP.

L. Joseph Wreyford; Geo Hishiell [?]

10. FRANCES HEARD.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/11/4.

B. 21st April 1687.

C. Not stated.

D. Joane Perry of Allhallows, Exeter, widow.

E. Thomas Templer & Peter Carter, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; John Turner & Samuel Bidwell, Overseers.

F. Not stated.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 21.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel

K. Joane X Perry.

L. Richard Salsbury; William Midyatt.

11. MARTHA LEWIS.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/1/11/5.

B. 21st April 1687.

C. Not stated.

D. John Yelland of St Mary Steps, Exeter, joiner.

E. Thomas Templer & Peter Carter, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; John Turner & Samuell Bidwill, Overseers.

F. Not stated.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 21.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel

K. John Yelland.

L. Richard Salsbury; William Midyatt.

12. HUGH BENT.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/1/11/6.

B. 2nd June 1687.

C. Benjamin Bent of St Mary Steps, Exeter.

D. Thomas Sanford of St Mary Major, Exeter, serge weaver.

E. Thomas Templer & Peter Carter, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; John Turner & Samuell Bidwill, Overseers.

F. Serge weaver.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 21.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel

K. Thomas Sanford.

L. William Cheney; Richard Salsbury.

13. CATHERINE WALL.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/1/11/7.

B. 20th September 1697.

C. Not stated.

D. Nicholas Yeo of  Exeter, & Catherine his wife.

E. Joseph Bass & John Pearce, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; Hugh Andrews & William Hart, Overseers.

F. Housewifery.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 24.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel.

K. Nicho X Yeo.

L. Wm Heard; Tho Boyland.

14. MARY SYMMS.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/1/11/8.

B. 29th January 1699/1700.

C. Not stated.

D. William Mason of Exeter, millwright, & Febey his wife.

E. Hugh Andrews & William Hart, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; Abraham Worth & Richard Mapowder, Overseers.

F. Not stated.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 21.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel.

K. Willm Mason; Febey X Mason. ‘Approved by’ Rob Dabynett; John Chell.

L. Samuell Bidwill; Richd Salsbury.

15. DABORH HOSGOOD.

A. Devon Heritage Centre 72/1/11/9.

B. 20th March 1699/1700.

C. Not stated.

D. John Boynes of Exeter, fuller, & Ann his wife.

E. Hugh Andrews & William Hart, Churchwardens of St Mary Steps; Abraham North & Richard Mapowder, Overseers.

F. Not stated.

G. Not stated.

H. Until age 21.

I. None.

J. 2 suits of apparel

K. John Boynes.

L. Samuell Bidwill; Richd Salsbury.