The Apprenticeship Contract of

Lancelot Larkham

of South Kingstown, Rhode Island

Click on the button below to see a scanned image of the original document which I have in my possession:

The Apprenticeship of Lancelot Larkham

This indenture witnesseth that Frances Larkham of South Kingstown in Kings County in the Colony of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation in New England *Woosted Corner hath put her son Lanceselot Larkham and by these presents doth voluntarily and of her own free will and accord put her aforesaid son Lanceselot Larkham an apprentice unto Joseph Enoss & his wife Margaret Enoss of the town of Richmond in the county & colony aforesaid Weavers to learn their art: Trade or mystery of a weaver after the manner of an apprentice, to serve Them from the Day of the Date hereof for and During the full term of twelve years, four months & Thirteen Days next Ensuring during all which time the said apprentice his said Master and Mistress faith fully shall serve their secrets keep their Lawful Commandments Gladly Every where obey. He shall Do no Damage to his said Master nor Mistress nor see it to be Done by others without Letting or Giving notice thereof to his said Master or Mistress. He shall not waste his said Master or Mistress Goods nor Lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not Commit fornication nor Contract Matrimony within said Term. At Cards, Dice or any other unlawful Game he shall not play, whereby his said Master or Mistress may be Damaged with their own Goods nor the Goods of others. He shall not absent himself Day nor night from his said Master nor Mistress service Without their leave nor haunt alehouses taverns or play houses but in all things behave himself as a faithful apprentice ought to do. During the said Term and the Said Master and Mistress shall use the utmost of their Endeavors to Teach and Instruct or Cause to be Taught and Instructed the said apprentice in the Trade and mastery of a weaver and procure and provide for him sufficient meate Drink apparel washing and lodging fitting for such an apprentice. During the said Term and the said master and mistress shall endeavor to Enstruct the said apprentice in Reading and at the Expiration of the aforesaid Term to Give unto the said apprentice one whole sute of apparrel besides his Every Day wearing apparrel and for the True performance of Every of the Said covenants and agreements Either of the Said parties bind themselves unto the other by these presents in witness whereof they have Interchangeably put their hands and seals this seventh Day of July in the Twenty Third year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George by the Grace of God King our Greate Britain: A.D. 1749

Signed sealed & Delivered	Frances Larkham
in the presence of
Anna Kinyon
John Webster

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Notes:
            *Woosted was the old English term for worsted. The name, Woosted Corner, indicates that Lanceselot’s parents probably worked in the Rhode Island textile industry. This would explain why he was being put into an apprenticeship to learn the trade of weaving.  Although I have found no current record of a place in South Kingstown bearing this name, the name is clear on the original document.

            According to Marjorie Webster Schunke, who wrote A Line of Descent from John Webster of Westerly, it is "possible that the Margaret Webster who married Joseph Enos in Westerly 20 Sep 1716" was a sister of John Webster (who is a witness to this indenture).  Anna Kinyon, who also witnessed the indenture, is no doubt Anna (Barber) Kinyon, wife of Sylvester Kinyon.  There were several documents during the mid-1700s in which John Webster signed as witness along with either Anna Kinyon, Sylvester Kinyon, or both of them.  In fact, on May 15, 1749, all three witnessed the will of John Enoss.

        The connections between John Webster, Anna and Sylvester Kinyon, and Joseph and Margaret Enos are very interesting.  I have to wonder whether they may have had a significant relationship to Frances Larkham, whose maiden name is unknown.  Here are some of the ways in which these individuals were interlinked:

1.  As already discussed, John Webster was probably the brother of Margaret (Webster) Enos.  John Webster married, for his first wife, Sarah Kenyon, a sister of Sylvester Kinyon (husband of Anna Barber Kinyon).  

2.  John Webster's eldest daughter, Hannah Webster, married Ezekiel Barber, Anna (Barber) Kinyon's older brother.

2.  John Webster's youngest daughter, Elizabeth Webster, married John Kenyon, son of Sylvester and Anna (Barber) Kenyon.

3.  John Webster's youngest son, Thomas Webster, married Patience Adams, born ca. 1745 in Richmond, daughter of John and Patience (Hall) Adams.  Lancelot Larkham married 1763-1765, Prudence Adams, born July 29, 1741 in Richmond. I believe it's very likely that Prudence Adams was another daughter of John and Patience (Hall) Adams and a sister to Patience (Adams) Webster.