FRED ARCHER'S INDENTURES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3513, 26 June 1920, Page 7

FRED ARCHER'S INDENTURES.

A few weeks ago it was'mentioned in these columns (writes Beacon in the Melbourne "Leader") thai a re- \ turned soldier had brought back with him the indentures of the famous English Jockey Fred Archer, which he hod found—of .all places in the world—in a German dugout in France. The finder sent me the document last week in order to have it submitted to experts for an opinion as to whether is the original, or merely a copy. Experienced printers to whom 1 have , shown it expressed the belief that it it; not a reproduction, and caligraphv c:q>ert s also say "that the signatures appear, to be genuine. How such a document got into the hands of Germans is a mystery, but I have a faint recollection of reading that at one time a member of the Dawson family trained horses in Austria or Germany, and maybe he took the document over to the Continent with him. Fred Archer married a daughter of his employer, Matthew Dawson, but she died a little while after their only child, a daughter, was born. Archer was never the same- man after thai bereavement. This indenture t'crru of Archer's would no doubt be highly treasured in England, whither it will probably be sent. It measures nbout 16 x 12 inches, and is pasted on cardboard. Although it has been in a frame for years, the printed matter and writing is almost as legible a s it" was 52 years ago. The preamble states that: —"Frederic Archer, now or late of Prestbury, near Cheltenham, in the county of Gloucester, of the age of eleven years, or thereabouts, with the consent of his father, William Archer, doth put himself apprentice to Mathew Dawson, of Newmarket, training groom." The term of apprenticeship was ny e years, and the: statement of conditions makes curious reading. Among other restrictions it is laid down that he (Archer) "shall not play at cards or dicetable . ... he shall not haunt tavern s or playhouses.' ; In consideration of the services of the said Frederick Archer, 'tis master, Matthew Dawson, covenanted to pay him as wage s the sum of seven guineas for the first year, nine guineas for the second year, eleven guineas for the third year, thirteen guineas for the fourth and fifth years. Dawson had to find Archer in ".sufficient meat and drink, and also a hat, coat, and waFstcoat in each yean" Archer's father had to provide all other clothing, etc. The indentures are signed by Frederick Archer, William Archer, and Matthew Dawson, the signatures being witnessed by Richard Cole, "clerk to Messrs Kitchener and Fenn, solicitors, Newmarket, and Frederick Marshall solicitor, Cheltenham." The date given as in the thirty-first ' year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight."