To his Majesty's Justices of the
Peace for the County of Middlesex
Assembled in Sessions

The Humble Petition of Richard Gurney< no role >

Sheweth

That Your Petitioner was on the 20th of
January 1783 Bound Apprentice for Seven Years to
Joseph Baldwin< no role > of Rose Street , but since of Brick Lane
Old Street , to learn the Art of a Tin plate worker
On the Usual Terms of being found in sufficient Meal
Drink and Lodging and a Premium of Ten Pounds
Given, But your Petitioner has been only employed in
One Precurious branch of the said Business during the
time Elapsed, and he verity believes if Continued in that
branch only he shall not be property Qualified to get a
livelihood, besides which he has been unreasonably
Beaten and Obliged to work on Sundays, he has been
very ill sed and with two more Apprentices lodged in One
Bed, with only one Sheet and that unwashed for Eighteen
or Twenty weeks together, The Family consisted of the
Master and Mistress, his two Brothers, five Apprentice Boys
and a Girl, their living has been extremly irregular, a great
Deal of Drinking and ill example, Your Petitioner
further Represents that his said Master and Mistress
and an Apprentice Girl Absented themselves on the first
day of May last past, as your Petitioner is informed
and believes on Account of Debt, the Business is since
Carried On by and in the Name of Edward Baldwin< no role > a
Butcher whereby your Petitioner is less likely to learn his
Trade than before

Therefore Your Petitioner most Humbly Prays
to be Discharged from his said Master in Order
to get himself a better place, And Your Petitioner
will Ever Prayer

James Payn< no role > Attorney for the Petitioner