Gentlemen, I was Bound out Apprentice from this House in the
Year 1780, to John Hill< no role > , Shoe Maker Grey Eagle Street Spital
fields the begining of September the Same Year being 15 Years
and a Quarter Old i served the whole of my Time with him
to June 5th, 1786 being 21, Years of Age my Master took a Man
of the Name of John Cookson< no role > a Shoe Maker ) had Kept a Shoe
Warehouse at Wapping Wall ) to work in the shop with him and us Apprentices
the said John Cookson< no role > was in the habit of having a Sailors will from a Man
of the Name of Davis several Times, about the End of March 1736 John
Cookson< no role > urged my Master to go to Chatham with him Concerning a
Will has he had at that Time) finding that Davis was Dead) and got
my Master to pay the Exspenses to Chatham and back again my Master
Thingking to get what money he Owed beside they returning again got
nothing and had Recource to the Lord Mayor of London he Told
them he Thought it was a Forgery it Alarmd my Master, and
Cookson went from my masters House My mas Master was in Far Worse
might Come on it Took a Room in seven Step Ally back of the
Old ship Public House Petticoat Lane had a bed and Bedding for
Two of us to sleep and work there One of the Name of James
Edward< no role > and me both Apprentices at that time my Master Coming
Soon in the Morning and going home Late at Night our Victuals was
sent by the Apprentice Girl i was there from a Day or two of the
Last day of March 1786 -to June the 5th- Following soon after
I was out of my Time my Master Left Spitalfields Leaving
Rent and Taxes to Pay went to Joiner Street , Tooley Street borough
I have had Recource to Spitalfields Parish and Can safely say
i never paid Rent Exceeding 2 Shillings and 6 Pence they
say i do not belong to them and Baffled me so that i do not Know
what to do I always Thought I Belong'd to them i am 72 Years Old
Next June and never refused to work but am so Slow that i Cannot
get a Living at it now if i Could i would do it and be Glad to do it

Richard Wood< no role >