Apprentices - Smiths, Jewellers

[t@nya]

My great great great grandfather George Tickell was listed as a silver plate worker on his convict records. His father, William, was also a silver plate worker, whilst his brothers were silver plate workers and silversmiths. His brothers' children and grandchildren include silversmiths, bellfounders, jewellers, and other metal related trades. Are there likely to be any apprentice records for them?

[Peter Goodey]

There was a tax on apprenticeships from 1710 to 1811. After that date, searching for apprenticeships is usually a pretty hopeless task.

[Geoffers]

Apprenticeship indentures were for the most part private agreements and their survival is very patchy. You mention a realtionship, but not an approximate time period which would help.

If this was likely to be before 1811, then there may be some record as a result of taxation.

Some companies retain records over a long period, but you'd need to know to whom someone was apprenticed.

The Society of Genealogists has a small collection, County Record Offices often have small collections.

Have a browse of TNA's research guide on Apprenticeship records (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=295)

[t@nya]

As for dates, George Tickell was born in 1818, so I gather this apprenticeship isn't likely to survive. Ditto for his brothers. His father, William, however, was born in 1788 and I might be able to find records of his apprenticeship.

Thanks for the information. :)