Apprenticeship during the 18^th and early 19^th century was a common way for young people to learn a trade. Usually, it worked out fine, sometimes not so well. The following legal document from the Society’s collection is an example of the latter:
 

Whereas complaint having been made to Frederic Vermeule one of the Justices of the Peace in and for [the County of Somerset] that Harriot Compton apprenticed to Jonathan Dunn of the Township of Warren in the said County that the said Jonathan Dunn hath misused the said Harriot Compton by Cruel Treatment and the said Frederic Vermeule not being able to compromise and agree the said matter in difference between the said Master and Apprentice called to his assistance Freeman Cole and Thomas Terril two Justices of the Peace of the said County to hear the matters in difference and we the said Freeman Cole Frederic Vermeule and Thomas Terril the said Justices having heard and examined into the Matters in difference between the said Jonathan Dunn and Harriot Compton and the said Jonathan Dunn proving nothing Whereby to clear himself of the said complaint but on the contrary the said Harriot Compton having given full proof of the Truth of the said Complaint to the satisfaction of us the said Justices We the said Justices do therefore hereby order pronounce and declare that the said apprentice shall be and is hereby Discharged and freed from her said apprenticeship any thing contained in her Indenture of Apprenticeship or otherwise to the contrary notwithstanding.
 

[Dated October 16, 1818. Signed by F. Vermeule, Freeman Cole & Thomas Terril.]