Find your ancestors in Manchester Apprentices 1700-1849

The amount of information listed varies, but the Manchester Apprenticeships records usually include the following information about your ancestor:

  • Name of the apprentice
  • Age
  • Name of the master
  • Occupation
  • Length of the apprenticeship

    Ages are not stated in the early indentures. The first instance in this collection of noting a child's age is in No. 42 (item number within the Manchester Archives records), 1730. Here it is given in the form "now about eleven years of age". Ages are stated with more certainty from 1810 (No. 390).

    • Discover more details about the Manchester Apprenticeships

    This collection consists of 609 indentures, ranging in date from 1700-1849, most of which were promoted by the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of Manchester and their successors, the Guardians of the Poor of the Manchester Union. The full title is Manchester Overseers of the Poor Apprenticeship Indentures.

    Also included are 68 indentures made between private parties, the apprentices not necessarily being children or paupers, and 14 promoted by the overseers of places other than Manchester. Many of these record apprenticeships to Manchester tradespeople. Others have no apparent relevance to the work of the Manchester Overseers of the Poor.