Indenture

9" x 2-1/4 diameter, 7/8" tape, top 4-7/8" bot ~2"
Good condition. Fold lines, some foxing, soiled where folded sections exposed. No obvious tears or other damage.

A legal documented dated January 22, 1824, indenturing Clementina Maria Jones to John Byng Banks for 6 years to learn "lace working". Indentures are fairly common documents, but one for a girl is exceptionally rare. John Byng Banks can be found on the internet, often as a party to legal actions, sometimes saying he is a resident of Coggeshall. Jean Dudding in her book "Coggeshall Lace" mentions him as a "lace manufacturer" in 1832. However this is eight years after the date of the indenture, so much work needs to be done in investigating this history.
Clementina must have been very young, she signed the indenture with an "x". I have yet to find any information on her.

purchased 01/31/2019
first posted 07/14/2021