The Document Chest
1867 - Terms of employment
Between John Barber, fellmonger, and Robert Jago
This interesting document between an affluent fellmonger (see Note below), John Barber, and his employee Robert Jago, sets out the terms of employment - hours, pay, etc. - for the five year period of the contract, and beyond. John Barber's factory was later known as Newis' Mills.
Note - a fellmonger was a dealer in hides, skins and furs. He also recycled inedible animal parts for glue, fertiliser, offal, horn, bone, gut etc. Basically, he ran the "knacker's yard".
Memorandum of Agreement made this fourteenth day of September One thousand eight hundred and Sixty Seven between John Barber of Yeovil in the County of Somerset of the one part and Robert Jago of the same place of the other part
Whereby the said
John Barber
agrees to employ
and the said
Robert Jago to
serve the said
John Barber in
the Trade or
business of a
Fellmonger and
Tanner carried
on by the said
John Barber at
Yeovil aforesaid
for the Term of
Five Years from
the day of the
date hereof at
the weekly wages
of Sixteen
shillings per
week, the said
Robert Jago to
be under the
Superintendance
and direction of
the said John
Barber and is to
obey his orders
and directions
in all things
and to do such
work as may be
required by him
in and about the
said
Fellmongering
[inserted = and
Tanning] And
further such
other work or
employment as
the said John
barber may
require him to
do to the best
of his skill and
ability and not
to work for any
other Master
during the said
Term - the hours
of work to be
from Six O Clock
in the morning
to seven in the
evening during
the Summer
months and from
daylight until
seven O clock in
the winter - or
from 8 O clock
in the morning
breakfasting
before coming -
in winter half
an hour being
allowed for
breakfast and
one hour for
dinner subject
to the condition
of 8 in the
morning as
before stated.
The Summer
months to be
from the first
day of March
untill the first
day of October
and the Winter
from the first
day of October
untill the first
day of March.
Any part of the
said Term not
being served by
the said Rob[er]t
Jago from any
cause to be
added to the
said term of
Five Years and
Further this
agreement to
remain in full
effect for any
term after the
expiration of
the Five Years
should the said
Robert Jago be
in any way
indebited to the
aid John Barber.
Furthermore both
parties namely
John Barber and
Robert Jago
hereby agree to
give or take one
months Notice
after the said
Term of Five
Years shall be
expired before
the employment
and service
shall cease.
As witness the
hand of both
parties
John Barber
Robert Jago
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
From my collection
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