West Yorkshire Apprentice Records.

[jillruss]

Would anyone have access to any apprentice records for West Yorkshire?

I'm trying to link my John France (c.1760), a mason of Almondbury to a John Smith, a mason of Halifax.

Can anyone please offer any help?

Jill

[Anothershot]

 Hi,
I have had a look on FindMyPast for above, but the records seem to jump from page 407, Fraer to 409, Francis. I cant see a next page button or anything !! Is it just me?

[Sunlaws]

Hi Jill

If such a record existed it would be among the township records held by West Yorkshire Archive Services, but township records are very patchy. Only upwards of a couple of dozen individual records survive for Almondbury, and these owe their survival to some legal dispute having arisen. Some of the Halifax townships are much better served, so while my BRADLEYs and GLEDHILLs, along with your FRANCEs remain in obscurity in Almondbury township, the very many handouts received by my BEDFORDs in Midgley township are meticulously documented. Win some, lose some....

I can't see anything relevant to either of your stonemasons in the WYAS catalogue.

Regards,
Lesley

[jillruss]

Hi Lesley,

Thanks for the info. I thought you might put me right!

It was always a long shot. Trying to work out how or why John France, a mason (of Huddersfield as per his 1781 Almondbury marriage to Mally Smith - she was otp) ended up living in Berry Brow, as the France family then did for a few generations.

Back to the drawing board!!

Thanks again, Lesley.

Jill