Indentured by his father James Fisherman of Redcar to Messrs Walkers and Simpson of Whitby, Master Mariners for 5 years
In the presence of Ms
James Appleton & Thomas Fleck (seal)
for Walkers & Simpson - W..... Simpson (seal)
COPY OF LETTER extracted (Mitchell Library) FM4/1752 (A80-4 Part 2)
Boston November 12th 1816ÿ
To the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Banks, Bart.
May it please your Honor.
I have taken the liberty of addressing you Right Honourable Sir; though not unknown to you, yet perhaps your Honour may have forgotten me - my name is Thomas Fleck, nephew to the late celebrated Capt. Cook - I am a seafarring man with a wife and a large family, am at present out of a situation and have taken the liberty of thus applying to you Honour to use your interest in procuring for me a Coal Masters' place now vacant at this Port (Boston) or if it should be pre engaged a situation in the Custom House Boat in which there will shortly be two vacancies:
If your Honour would be so kind as to take the trouble of serving me in any one of the above instances, so that I may obtain a situation thereby, your Honour will always find me every grateful.
I remain Right Honourable Sir
your most obediant humble servant
Thomas Fleck
Mariner
High Street, Boston
Lincolnshire
THIS INDENTURE made the thirteenth Day of February in the thirtieth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith, &c. And in the Year of our LORD One thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety
BETWEEN Thomas Fleck Son of James Fleck of Redcar in the County of York, Fisherman on the One Part, and Messrs Walkers and Simpson of Whitby in the said County Master mariners of the Other Part: Witnesseth. That the said Thomas Fleck hath of his own Free Will, and with the Consent of his friends hath Put and Bound him self Apprentice, to and with the said Messrs Walkers and Simpson and with them after the Manner of an Apprentice to Dwell, Remain and Serve, from the day of the Date hereof for during, and until the term of five Years thence next following to be fully Compleated and Ended. During all which Term, the said Apprentice his Masters well and faithfully shall serve, their Secrets keep, their lawful Commands shall do, Fornication or Adultery shall not commit, Hurt or Damage to his said Masters shall not do, or Consent to be done, but to his Power shall let it, and forthwith his said Masters thereof warn: Taverns, or Ale-houses he shall not Haunt or Frequent, unless it be about his Master's Business there to be done: at Dice, Cards, Tables, Bowls, of any other unlawful Games he shall not Play: The Goods of his said Master shall not waste, nor them Lend, or give to any Person without his Master's Licence Matrimony with any person within the Term shall not contract, nor from his Master's Service at any Time absent himself; but as a True and Faithful Apprentice; shall Order and behave himself towards his Masters and all as well in Words as in Deeds, during the said Term: And a true and just Account of all his said Masters Goods, Chattels, and Money committed to his charge, or which shall come to his Hands, faithfully he shall give at all Times when thereunto required by his Masters their Executors, Administrators, or Assigns. And the said Messrs Walkers and Simpson for themself their Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, Covenant Promise and Grant by these Presents, to and with the said Thomas Fleck their Apprentice. That the said Messrs Walkers and Simpson their Executors, Administrators, and Assigns ... and will Teach, and Learn and Inform him the said Apprentice, or cause him to be taught, Learned and Instructed in the art ... or occupation of Mariner which the faid Master now useth after the best Manner of Knowledge that he or they .. or can; with all Circumstances thereunto belonging: And also shall find, provide, to and for him the said Apprentice, sufficient and enough Meat, Drink, washing and Lodging during the said Term Except during such times as the said Masters Ship shall be laid up and unrigged in the Winter Seasons during which said times the said Masters shall pay or allow unto the said Apprentice three shillings a week in order to find himself with Meat Drink Washing and Lodging and with all other Necessaries and Also pay or cause to be paid unto the said Apprentice as Wages for his Service aforesaid as follows, to wit, four pounds for the first year four pounds for the second year Five pounds a Year of each of the third and fourth years and Seven Pounds for the fifth year in all the sum of Twenty five pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain.
In witness whereof, the Parties above-named to these present Indentures, interchangeably have set their Hands and Seals, the day and Year above-written.
The Indenture covenant, article, or contract must bear date, the day it is executed, and what moneys or other thing is given or contracted for with the Clerk or Apprentice, must be inserted in Words at length; and the Duty paid to the Stamp Office, if in London, or within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, within One Month after the Execution; and if in the Country and out of the Bills of Mortality within Two Months, to a Distributor of the Stamps or his substitute; otherwise the Indenture will be void, the Master or Mistress forfeit Fifty Pounds, and another Penalty, and the Apprentice be disabled to follow his Trade or be made Free.
Signed Sealed and Delivered
In the presence of Ms
James Appleton
Thomas Fleck (seal) for Walkers & Simpson W..... Simpson (seal)
Extract from Pallot's Marrige Index 1780-1837
Married under Licence Marske in Cleveland
Served as an Apprentice under an Indenture of Apprenticeship for the Term of five years to Messrs. Walker & Simpson, Ship Owners in Ships sailing to the Baltic.
On completion of his Apprenticeship he sailed as Master on board the Brig 'Witham' 120T (Single Decker with Beams) of Boston, County of Lincoln, Owners Messrs. Gee & Clark.
Serving in that capacity for four years in the Coastal Trade, prior to his death.
Extract of a Letter from Cook's Papers held by the Mitchell Library, Sydney
Newspaper cutting File - ML. FM 4/1752, A80-4 Part 2, Pp68 - End
Shows that prior to his death he was in contact with Sir Joseph Banks:-
"Boston Nov'r 12th, 1816
To the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Banks, Bart.
May it please your Honor.
I have taken the liberty of addressing you Right Honorable Sir; though not unknown to you, yet perhaps your Honour may have forgotten me - My name is Thomas Fleck, Nephew to the Late Celebrated Capt. Cook
I am a seafaring man with a wife and a large family, am at present out of a situation and have taken the liberty of thus applying to your Honour to use your interest in procuring for me a Coal Master's place now vacant at this Port (Boston) or if it should be pre engaged a situation in the Custom House Boat in which there will shortly be two vacancies:
If your Honour would be so kind as to take the trouble of serving me in any one of the above instances, so that I may obtain a situation thereby, your Honour will always find me every grateful.
I remain Right Honourable Sir
your most Obed't Humble Servant.
Thomas Fleck
Mariner."
High Street, Boston.
Lincolnshire
Sheweth,
That your Petitioner's Husband was bred to the Sea, and served there as an Apprentice under an Indenture of Apprenticeship for the term of five Years to Messrs. Walker & Simpson, Ship Owners in Ships sailing to the Baltic, and particularly in the Station of Master on board the ship Witham of Boston, in the Coasting Trade, of which Ship Messrs. Gee & Clarke were owner, and served in that Capacity for four Years.
