The following “Boys’ Indenture” was signed by Matthew Byrne of Martinstown, Athboy in 1934 when he was just 14 years old and was brought to use by his son Michael. As the contract was a generic form parts are blank because they obviously didn’t apply to the apprenticeship in question.
THIS INDENTURE
WITNESSETH That Matthew Byrne
doth put himself apprentice to Matthew Tevlin
to learn Carpentry and Joinery
and with ______ (after the manner of an Apprentice) to Faithfully serve
from the First of June one thousand nine hundred and thirty four until the end and term of five Years, from thence next following, to be fully completed and ended. During which term the said Apprentice his said Term faithfully shall serve, ______ secrets keep _____ lawful commands everywhere gladly do. He shall do no damage to his said Employer nor see it be done by others, but that he to the best of his power shall prevent or forthwith give warning to his said Employer of the same. He shall not waste the goods of his said Employer nor give or lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not contract matrimony within the said term.
Hurt to his said Employer he shall not do or cause or procure it to be done by others. He shall not play cards, dice-tables, or any other unlawful games whereby his said Employer may have loss, with his own or others’ goods during said term. Without the license of said Employer he shall neither buy nor sell. He shall not haunt or use taverns, ale-houses, or play-houses, or absent himself from his said Employers service day or night unlawfully but in all things as an honest and faithful Apprentice he shall behave himself towards his said Employer and all Superiors during said term. – And the said Matthew Byrne said Apprentice in the same Art which They use by the best ways and means they can, shall teach and instruct, or cause to be taught or instructed with due correction; finding unto the said Apprentice
Matthew Tevlin, Rathbrooks Kells Co. Meath
Matthew Byrne, Robinstown Kilsykre Kells Co. Meath
And for the due performance of all and every the said covenants and agreements, either of the said parties bindeth himself to the other by these Presents. IN WITNESS whereof the parties above named to these Indentures, interchangeably have put their Hands and Seals, the Second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and Thirty Four.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of
Mary K. Tevlin
What is really interesting about this document is what limits it put on the Apprentice. He could not marry, he could not frequent taverns or gamble or buy and sell without his Employers permission. The amount of limits put on a young boy of 14 seems incredibly restrictive to the modern eye.
Athboy 100 