Framework Knitters, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire

[Frank E Masland]

Keith,

Thanks for your interest, I'll keep you posted on the book's progress.

I have attached a picture that may be of some interest. It is a scan of a certificate of indenture dated 1725 for Charles Paulson, son of John Pawson (Paulson) of Clipston in Nottinghamshire, as an apprentice FWK. I have the original. Charles Paulson was my 6th great grandfather.

Frank

[Keith Sherwood]

Frank,
What a wonderful personal family artefact that is! And nearly 300 years old too...
keith

[Frank E Masland]

Keith,

The Framework Knitters of Nottingham are of great fascination to me. I am enclosing another picture, this one is of a small packet of needles from a frame that belonged to John Masland, my 3rd great grandfather. He arrived in the US in 1833, a refugee of the poverty that beset the industry at that time.

I have another curious connection to the area and the trade: John Masland's great aunt, Nancy Masland (also spelled Marsland or Marsden), was the governess at Annesley Hall and was the nanny of Mary Ann Chaworth, Lord Byron's distant cousin and love interest. Nancy is mentioned in the book, "Queen of a Fantastic Realm" by Megan Boyes and by Washington Irving in his account of his visit to Annesley and Newstead. Nancy's older sister, Elizabeth, was John Masland's grandmother who bore his father, James, out of wedlock. There is some speculation that she killed herself at Annesley Hall and that her ghost haunts the old hall to this day. Speculation.


Frank

[Keith Sherwood]

Frank,
Can't wait to read the book now!  Looking at those needles reminds me that my COCKER family were involved in the manufacture of steel sewing needles in Derbyshire in the early 1800's.  When I went to stay for a few days in the village they had their factory in - Hathersage - there were illustrations of the little coloured packets of needles round the border of the map of the village they were selling in the post office.
Nothing to do with the Framework Knitters, but still a fascinating family link with our industrial past...
keith
N.B. I read all about Byron's "calf-love" for Mary Ann Chaworth recently in Ian Gilmour's book: "The Making of The Poets"...

[wilkipet]

Frank, I am Gerald and at present living in Spain but returning to Leicestershire in September. Your artifacts are fantastic. My family comes from Mansfield and Mansfield Woodhouse. I knew Clipstone very well when I was a boy. It has changed since the Collieries ere closed.
     Would you let me send copies of your indenture and needles to Professor Marilyn Palmer the head of Industrial Archaeology at Leicester University where I am studying (on line).
Remember me when the book comes out.
Gerald

[Frank E Masland]

Gerald,

Thanks for your interest. Feel free to forward the pictures to Marilyn.

Here is the text of the indenture:

“This Indenture Witnesseth, That Charles Pawson, son of John Pawson of Clipston in the County of Nottingham, Husbandman, doth put himself apprentice to Christopher Strutt, foreign Brother of the Company of FRAMEWORK-KNITTERS of the City of London, to learn his art, and with him (after the manner of an Apprentice) to serve from the day of this date unto the full End and term of Seven Years from thence next following to be fully complete and ended. During which term the said Apprentice his said Master shall serve, his secrets keep, his lawful Commandments everywhere gladly do. He shall do no Damage to his said Master, nor to see it to be done by others, but that he, to his Power, shall let or forthwith give warning to his said Master of the same. He shall not waste the goods of his said Master, nor lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not commit Fornication, nor contract Matrimony within the said term. He shall not play at Cards, Dice Tables, or any other unlawful games, whereby his Master shall have any loss. With his own goods or other during the said term, without license from his said Master, he shall neither buy nor sell. He shall not haunt Taverns not Play-houses, nor absent himself from his Master’s service day or night unlawfully, but in all things, as a faithful Apprentice he shall behave himself toward his said Master, and all his, during the said term. And the said Master, in consideration of       , being the money given him with his said Apprentice, his said Apprentice, in the same Art and Mastery which he useth by the best means he can, shall teach and instruct, or cause to be taught and instructed, finding unto said Apprentice, Meat, Drink, Lodging and all other necessaries, according to the Custom of the City of London, during said term. And for the true Performance of all and every said Covenants and Agreements, either of the said Parties bindeth himself unto the other by these Presents. In Witness thereof the Parties above named to these Indentures interchangeably have put their Hands and Seals the Second Day of November in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, Anno Domini 1725.”

Another FWK family connection:

Charles Pawson's father was John Pawson of Clipston as previously mentioned, his mother was Elizabeth Brandreth, born 1690 in Sutton-in-Ashfield.   The Brandreth family of Sutton-in-Ashfield were also framework knitters, the most famous (or infamous) member being Jeremiah Brandreth, aka "The Captain." He led the failed Pentrich Revolution and lost his head in the process. Another cousin, Thomas Masland, marched along and was held for trial but was not convicted since he was probably just a fringe sympathizer.

Frank Masland

[Keith Sherwood]

What an undertaking that was, according to the indenture.  But I suppose it was O.K. once departed from "this mortal coil" to come back and haunt the pub or playhouse that you'd always wanted to patronise during your apprentice years, but weren't allowed to...
keith

[soulsister]

I have found this thread really interesting! Having just found a few of my past relatives who were in the same trade in Anstey in leicestershire!
Not a job i would envy!

Emma.

[Jane Eden]

Keith

Thanks for alerting me to this thread.

Gerald and Frank: as you both live abroad please let me help if need anything from Nottm.

Many of my relatives, Comerys and Burrows were FWKs then lace trade, so this is where my interest has come from. I have not been able to place your Sarah Burrows yet but I may find a link. I work in Arnold at present in an old mill!

Keep posting as this thread is so interesting to many people. I will come back and study it when I have more time.

Jane