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

The Humble Petition and John Brown< no role > Apprentice
to James Sheppard< no role > of Milbank Street , Westminster in
the said County Taylor

Sheweth

That by Indentures of Apprenticeship bearing date the 1st.
day of August 1785. Your Petitioner was bound Apprentice to the
said James Sheppard< no role > for the Term of 7 Years And the said
James Sheppard< no role > in Consideration of Ten Pounds Paid him
by Your Petitioners Father Convenanted to Teach and Instant him
in the Art and Mystery of a Taylor and to Provide for him in
manner as in the said Indenture is mentioned

That Your Petitioner hath duly served the said James
Sheppard< no role > under such Indentures for the Spare of 3 Years and
an half and Upwards and that from about 6 Weeks after
Your Petitioner was bound to the Present time Your Petitioner's
said Master hath at divers times Misused and evil treated
Your Petitioner Particularly by Refusing Your Petitioner
Necessary Provisions And without any just Cause or Reason
frequently very Violently Beat and Bruised him Sometimes
with a large Stick and sometimes with his fists untill the
Blood has Gushed out from his Nose and Mouth and frequently
Dragged him about by the Hair of his Head and after such
Treatment hath locked him up in a Garret without Food and
at one time Your Petitioners said Master took up an Iron
Poker and Threatened to knock his Brains out with it and
Murder him and at another time threw a large Pair of Shea [..]
at him with great Violence which very fortunately Missed
Your Petitioner and Your Petitioner having Informed his
said Master That If he Continued such Ill treatment he
should apply to his Father for Redress he said If Your
Petitioner's Father Came there he would serve him in the
same manner

That at one of the times when Your Petitioner's said
Master had been beating Your Petitioner and Your Petitioner