The following is a transcription of a draft Apprenticeship Indenture from October 1809 between Thomas Brew and Samuel & John Brookman, Ropemakers, of Chepstow, held by the Gwent Record Office, Cwmbran, Gwent, Wales. (Article No. D25/0993)
Apparently, an existing apprenticeship indenture from 1805 between Thomas Brew and Samuel Brookman became void upon Samuel Brookman's death in 1809 and was replaced by the below agreement with his sons, who appear to have taken over their father’s business.
This document gives the only evidence of Thomas' father John's early death.
"This Ind’re made the [blank] Day of Octr. in the year of our Lord 1809 Between Ths. Brew of Chepstow in the Co. of Monmouth Ropemaker of the one part & Saml. Brookman & John Brookman of the same place Ropemakers [‘Mariners’ has been crossed out] of the other part wh’as by Ind’re bearing Date the 2d Day of July 1805 [‘made between the sd. Ths. Brew of’ is crossed out] it is witnessed that the sd. Ths. Brew with the Consent of his mother Mary Brew of Chepstow afsd. widow did put himself apprentice to Saml. Brookman of Chepstow afsd. Ropemaker father of the sd. Sl. Brookman Party hereto & John Brookman to learn his art & with him after the manner of an apprentice to serve from the 11th Day of May then last past until the full End & term of 7 years from thence next foll[owin]g. & fully to be compleat [sic] & ended by & under the Covenants & agreemts. therein contained and the sd. Sl. Brookman decd. did thereby agree to pay the sd. apprentice 4s per week for the 1st & 2d years of the sd. term 5s for per week for the 3d and 4th years 6s for the 5th & 6th years & 7s per week for the 7th year of the sd. term and wh’as the sd. Saml. Brookman lately departed this life & before the expir’on of the sd. Ths. Brew’s apprenticeship who is desirous to serve the rest of the sd. term with the sd. Sl. Brookman Party hereto & John Brookman. Now this Ind’re witnesseth that the sd. Ths. Brew doth hereby put himself apprentice to the sd. Sl. Brookman Party hereto & John Brookman to learn their art & with them after the manner of an apprentice to serve from the Day of the Date hereof for & during all the residue & remr. of the sd. Term of 7 years now to come & unexpired by under & subject to the several Covenants Contain’d & agreemts. in the sd. reached Ind’re cont'd and the sd. Sl. Brookman Party hereto & John Brookman in Consent of the Work & Labour & Service of the sd. apprentice to be performed [by] their sd. apprentice in the art of of [sic] a Ropemaker which they use by the best means that they can shall teach & instruct or cause to be taught & instructed & shall & will pay the sd. apprentice the sd. weekly wages in manner as in the sd. reached Ind’re is specified & sets forth and for the true performance of all & every [of the] sd. Covenants & agreements either of the sd. Parties bindeth himself unto the other by those Presents In Witness."