Middlesex
Quarter Sessions}

To the Right Worshipful his Majesty's Justices of the Peace
for the County of Middlesex in their General Session Assembled

The humble Petition of William Stephenson< no role >

Sheweth

That Your Petitioner Son of William Stephenson< no role > late of the Parish of Saint
Giles in the Fields Coachmaster deceased being of the Age of 14 Years on the 17th. day
of November 1789 put himself an Apprentice to Andrew Gilchrist< no role > of No. 92 Wardour
Street Saint James's Upholder and Cabinet maker he learn his Art and with him
after the manner of on Apprentice to serve from the said Day unto the full and
and Term of 7 Years from thence next ensuing And the said Andrew
Gilchrist< no role > in Consideration of 15 Guineas being the Money given with the said Apprentice
his said Apprentice in the Art of an Upholder and Cabinet maker which he then and
did Covenant to teach and instruct or cause to be laught and instructed in the best
way and manner that is could finding unto Your Petitioner Meat Drink and
Lodging during the said Term, And Your Petitioners Grand Father paid the
said Andrew Gilchrist< no role > the said Sum of 15 Guineas

That your Petitioner had not been long with the said Andrew Gilchrist< no role >
when Your Petitioner found the said Andrew Gilchrist< no role > lett Lodge [..] to kept
Women and some of them Boarded with him and he became very much reduced
in his Circumstances and about 2 Years ago was arrested and went to Newgate
and remained there for about a Fortnight and about a Year ago in November
last he obtained a Letter of License from his Creditors for One Year and since
that time hath been troubled for Debts contracted since And not Performing his
Engagements in the said Letter of Licence he was in November last Arrested and
Surrenderd to the Kings Bench and went from thence to the Flict Prison where he
now remains for several considerable Debts particularly a Debt of £200 or thereabouts
due to Matthew Bloxham< no role > Esquire and is in very insolvent Circumstances

That some short time before November last the said Andrew Gilchrist< no role > Causal
the greatest part of his Household Furniture to be secretly carried away And an
Execution came in and the Land lord finding Little on the promises made a Distress
for £121 of thereabouts Arrears of Rent due for the said Andrew Gilchrist< no role > House
where he lived

That all or most of the said Andrew Gilchrists< no role > Customers were Women of the
Town and a Great part of your Petitioners time was employed in going after them
for Money some of them paying by Instalments at a Guinea also half a Guinea