FRED ARCHER'S INDENTURES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1819, 1 October 1886, Page 25

FRED ARCHER'S INDENTURES.

(Sporting Times.) The following is a copy of the indentures of F. Archer, the celebrated jockey : — This Indentuke witnesseth -. That Frederick Archer, now or late of Prestbury, near Cheltenham, in the county of Gloucester, of the age of eleven years or thereabout^ with the consent of his father, William Archer, of Prestbury aforesaid, innkeeper, doth put himself apprentice to Mathew Dawson, of Newmarket, All Saints, in the county of Cambridge, training groom, to learn his art, and with him after the manner of an apprentice to servo from the -day of the date hereof unto the full end' and term of five years from thence next following to be fully complete aud 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 bo 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 ; he shall not play at cards or dice tables, or auy 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^s a faithful apprentice he shall behave himself towards his said master and all his during the said term. And the saidTSJathew Dawson, in consideration of the services of the said Frederick Archer, doth covenant with the said William Archer that he, the said Mathew Dawson, will pay unto the said Frederick Archer the undermentioned wages during the said term —that is to say : Seven guineas for the first year, nine guineas for the second year, eleven guineas for the third year, and thirteen guineas for the fourth and fifth years respectively • and his said apprentice in the art of a jockey and trainer of racehorses, 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, and also a hat, coat, and waistcoat in each year, and lodging during the said term. And the said William Archer doth hereby covenant with the said Mathew Dawson that he, the said William Archer, shall and will find and provide the said Frederick Archer with washing, mending, clothing, and other necessaries during the said term, except as aforesaid. And for the true performance of all and every the said covenants and agreements either of the said parties bindefch himself unto the other by these presents. In witness whereof the parties above named to these Indentures interchangeably have put their hands and seals the tenth day of February, and in the thirty-first 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 sixty eight. FREDERICK ARCHER (seal) WILLIAM ARCHER MATHEW DAWSON (seal). Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above-named Frederick Archer and Mathew Dawson in the presence of Richard Cole, s Clerl^Sto Messrs Kitcheners'and Fenn, Solicitors, Newmarket. Signed, sealed, an 4 delivered by the l above-named Wiiliam Archer in the presence of Fredkmck Marshall, Solicitor, Cheltenham. The amount of the money of the value of any other matter or thing given or agreed to be given with the apprentice by way of premium must be truly inserted in words at length, otherwise the Indenture will be void, and double such amount or value forfeited. Archer's lucky star was' in the ascendant the day his father apprenticed him to Mr Mathew Dawson. The indentures of his apprenticeship, framed and glazed, now occupy one of the most conspicuous places in the apprentice's sumptuous dwelling. It is curious to read of a man who last year unsuccessfully appealed to the Income Tax Commissioners against an ment of £10,000 per annum, that not long ago his master undertook to provide him with a hat, coat, and waistcoat every year, and to give him a salary of seven guineas. Mathew Dawson religiously kept his word in undertaking to teach Archer the art of jockeyship. Did Archer equally keep 'his word in respect to many of the things of which it is said in the indentures "Thou shalt not?"