66 THE WEDGWOODS. 



moulds was Aaron Wood, who was apprenticed to Dr. Thomas 

 Wedgwood in 1731. The following is the indenture of this 

 apprenticeship, and will serve to show the wages then paid. 

 and many other interesting particulars relating to the pot- 

 ter's art : 



" This Indenture, made the three-and-twentieth day of August, 

 in the fifth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King George 

 the Second over Great Brittaine, &c., Anno Dni. 1731, between 

 Ralph Wood of Burslem, in the County of Stafford, miller, and 

 Aaron Wood his son, of the one part, and Dr. Thomas Wedgwood, 

 of Burslem aforesaid, potter, of the other part ; Witnesseth that the 

 said Aaron Wood, with his own free will and consent, and to and 

 with the direction and appointment of his said father, Hath put 

 himself, and doth hereby bind and put himself apprentice unto the 

 said Dr. Thomas Wedgwood, the art, trade, mystery, and occupation 

 of a potter to learn ; that is to say, turning in the lathe, handling 

 and trimming (throwing on the wheel being out of this indenture 

 excepted), and with him the said Dr. Thomas Wedgwood, to worke 

 from the eleventh day of November next, being Martinmas day, for 

 during and until the full end and terme of seven years from thence 

 \t ensuing and following, and fully to be compleat and endnl. 

 and during all which terme and time of seven years the said Aaron 

 Wood, as an apprentice to his said master, will and faithfully shall 

 serve, his secrets shall keep, his commands lawfuU ami hone-: , \\ \ 

 where shall do, the goods of his said master he shall not inordinately 

 waste, northern to anyone lend without thesaid master'* hveiu-e. from 

 the business of his said master he shall not absent himself, but as a 

 true and faithful servant shall, during the said terme of seven years, 

 behave and demean himself towards his said master and aU his. 

 And the said Ralph Wood shall, during the said terme of 8ev< 

 years, find and provide for his son all sorts of apparell, whether 

 linen, woollen, or other, as also meat, drink, washing, and lodging, 

 fitting and necessary for an apprentice to such trade as aforesaid. 

 And the said Dr. Thomas Wedgwood, in consideration thereof, ami 

 of the said seven years* service, doth hereby covenant, promise, and 

 agree, that hee, the said Dr. Thomas Wedgwood, shall and will 

 during the said terme of seven years, teach and instruct, or cause 

 and procure to be taught and instructed, him the said Aaron 

 Wedgwood, his said apprentice, in the business of the said trade 

 aforesaid, so far as turning in the lathe, handling and trimming, as 

 much as thereunto belongeth, or the best way and method he can. 



