Washington District of Columbia

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Apprentice Indenture Documents
from the District of Columbia Archives

Furnished by : John Sharp © Return to : Apprentice Indenture Documents List

 

The following two letters from the Board of Navy Commissioners to Commanders
of naval yards and stations are from the same era as the indentures
and give some idea of how the Navy attempted to regulated apprentice labor and their wages. 

Circular 	  					Nav. Comm: off: 1st May 1817

Sir, 

    When Master Workmen shall be attached to the Navy Yard under your command,  they are 
to be allowed under restrictions, the number of apprentices as follows.


 

Master Carpenter
Cooper
Mast Maker
Sail Maker
Boat Builder
Blockmaker

............ 
............ 
............ 
............ 
............ 
............ 		
Three
Two
Two
Two
Two
Two		



				Apprentices are not allowed to be taken into the yard 
unless they shall, be bound for seven years, and shall have attained the age of fourteen -   For 
the first two years of their apprenticeship, they shall be allowed one fourth the pay allowed to a 
mechanic of the trade at which they are serving , for the third & fourth  years, one half , 
for the fifth & sixth two thirds, and for the Seventh three fourths the pay allowed to a mechanic of 
the trade at which they are serving. {Manuscript is heavily damaged for the following 
sentence]Their progress shall be allowed to the judgment of the master mechanic.

	The Number of apprentices are not allowed, unless the master workmen shall be 
permanently attached to the yard by the authority of the Department. 

					Resp.

Capt 	Macdonough	}			J. Rodgers
	Hull		}					Pres NBoard
	Evans		}
Comm	Murray		}
	Tingey		}




						Navy Comm: Off 2 July 1817



	Sir,

	 From the reports received by Several experienced respectable mechanics employed in 
	some of our Navy Yard, the Commissioners of the Navy are moved to believe that rate of 
	wages fixed on for compensation of apprentices, commencing on the 1st day of the previous 
	month the following rates of pay, instead of those directed by your Circular of the 1st May last.  

	For the first year of their apprenticeship, they shall be allowed, one third of the pay allowed to 
	mechanics of the trade at which they may be serving: for the second at the third years, one half: 
	for the fourth year two thirds; & for the fifth years three fourths.

	With respect to the ages and terms of Service of apprentices its understood that five years will be 
	sufficient to make them workmen , provided they are intelligent and are 16 years of age at the time 
	they are bound . No apprentices except of such character & age, as is before mentioned is here 
	after to be received into the navy yard under your command.  Those apprentices who are at present 
	employed in the yard & bound under different Circumstances may receive the same rates of pay 
	according to merit & terms of service, as they would be entitled to, if they would be entitled to, 
	if they had been 16 years of age at the time of being bound. 

	With respect to the number of apprentices allowed to respective head mechanics, you are to be 
	governed by the Circular of the 1st May.

					Resp
						J. Rodgers  - Pres

Capt    Tho Macdonough  NY   Portsmouth
	Isaac Hull .............N Yard Boston
	Saml Evans............do 	        N. York
CommdMurray-                 do	        Phil
	Tingey................... do        Wash
Capt	John Cassin............do         Norfolk

 

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