It is certainly the case that parish apprentices were commonly imposed on
farmers and apprenticed to be trained in 'husbandry', just as the female
ones were apprenticed to be trained in housewifery. I would guess the
reason was that agricultural employment was the least well paid, so that
the navy was more attractive to recruits looking for a better situation in
life whereas those in other employments perhaps only joined the navy if they
failed to settle in it or lost their place. This is no more than a guess.
Peter King
----- Original Message -----
From: David Alan Gatley <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 07 August 2000 15:38
Subject: Re: Naval Recruits
> Several possibilities come to the mind of a non expert like me.
>
> (1) They were responding to market forces and simply wanted a life of
> adventure given low farm incomes
>
> (2) Other workers only joined after serving apprenticeships. Indeed did
> none ag. labs. do specific tasks in the navy that required
> apprenticeships.
>
> (3) Were they recorded as ag. labs. but were not really ag. labs?
> Certainly I get the impression that in workhouse records all young
> females were referred to as domestic servants whenever they didn't have
> a recognised trade or occupation. Maybe something similar was taking
> place in navy recruitment in Lancashire.
>
> (4) Is Lancashire typical or untypical of other counties.
>
> David
>
>
> On Mon, 7 Aug 2000 15:08:09 +0100 Peter Park
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> # I am carrying out research into naval recruitment in Lancashire in 1795
and
> # 1796. I have found that agricultural labourers who enrolled were
significantly
> # younger than men in other occupations. has anyone any suggestions as to
why this
> # should be so?
> #
> # Thanks in anticipation.
> #
> # Regards,
> #
> # Peter Park. Walton on Thames, Surrey, UK.
> #
> #
>
> ---------------------------------
> David Alan Gatley (Dr),
> School of Humanities and Social Sciences,
> Staffordshire University,
> Stoke-on-Trent,
> ST4 2XW
>
> Telephone 01782-294780 (Office)
> 01782-415340 (Home)
> Fax 01782-294760
>
>
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