by Colin Burbidge

To have one runaway Robert Northcott might consider himself unfortunate, but in 1846 it happened again at Murchington:  

(Western Times 6th April 1846)

 The Throwleigh Apprentices Register shows that James Bond, was assigned to Mr. Northcott on December 3rd, 1835. No parental names were registered.

On November 18th, 1846,  a report was published in the same newspaper: “Reports received by the Poor Law Board on Vagrancy”, in it a Dr. Boase classified vagrants by age group.

“The young English vagabond, probably runaway apprentices, these are from

17 to 23 years old, they defy authority, refuse work, and break windows.

To them gaol in winter is desirable retreat. These are the most disorderly and debauched of all.”

Runaway apprentices suffered a variety of punishments if caught. The Western Times reported some as follows:

May 31st, 1828: “Three apprentices ran off from their master and engaged themselves at Plymouth on board a vessel bound for Van Diemen’s Land. One of them having received severe chastisement from the ships master with a rope end, he contrived to escape on shore and returned to his master begging pardon for his offence and promised never more to offend”

May 24th, 1845: “Mr.W.H. Woodman was summoned by his apprentice Ellis, for ill usage

He had beaten him with a stick and left several contusions on his arm. There appeared to be fault on both sides, and as Mr. Woodman promised the Bench he would treat the lad better in future, no fine was inflicted.”

May 1847: “Francis Legg an apprentice of Mr. J. Smallridge was apprehended by Inspector Fulford for deserting his master. This being the second offence, he was committed for 14 days hard labour, and the master solicited their worships to cancel the indenture, which was done.”

Feb 21st, 1857 “At Exeter Guildhall John Thomas Spry aged 18 was charged by John Rich his master with absconding on January 2nd. Defendant said he was kept without a breakfast on the morning he left, and that generally his food was insufficient. This was contradicted by the complainant. Defendant was fined £1.1s with £1 6d costs which was forthwith paid by his friends. Complainant then offered to give up the defendant’s indenture if he were paid £9. The defendant’s friends paid the money, and the indenture was accordingly cancelled.”

 What of our two Murchington runaways?  Despite a search of the following two decades in the British Newspaper Archives, their names do not appear again in print after the runaway notices. Recaptured and punished, or free and on the run, we cannot know.