| This Indenture Witnesseth That William Knight a Minor by and with consent of his Grandfather and Guardian Ebenezer Knight Snr. of Rushden in the County of Northampton, Schoolmaster doth put himself Apprentice to William Colson of Rushden aforesaid Boot and Shoe Manufacturer to learn his Art and with him after the manner of an Apprentice to serve from the First day of January instant unto the full End and Term of Three 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 and 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 and shall not waste the goods of his said Master nor lend them unlawfully to any and shall not commit fornication nor contract Matrimony within the said Term and 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 and shall neither buy nor sell and shall not haunt Taverns or Playhouses nor absent himself from his Master's service day or night unlawfully But in all things as a faithful Apprentice and shall behave himself towards his said Master and all his during the said Term And the said William Colson in consideration of such service doth hereby allow for the first year Six shillings per week Second year of the said term Eight shillings per week Third year of the said term Ten shillings per week and doth also agree his said Apprentice in the Art of Clickering which he useth by the best means that he can shall teach and Instruct or cause to be taught and instructed. |
| The above is a copy of William Knight's Indenture, as an apprentice to William Colson, dated 1870. William had been brought up by his grandfather Ebenezer Knight who was born in 1811 and was one of the founders of the Rushden Temperance Society. Ebenezer ran the small boys' school near St. Mary's Church until 1870 and was also a Baptist Lay Preacher and would walk to Sharnbrook and Riseley, some ten miles each way, to preach. He died in March 1886 in his 75th year. The indenture was witnessed by Haydon Packwood, Colson's son-in-law. William Colson's factory was in Wellingborough Road (the premises of the Rushden Adult School from 1923) These premises were the Austin's Soap Works from 1900-1922. Ann Cooper. |
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