A second opinion please

[Sue from Southend]

On this record from London, Freedom of the City Admission Papers it says that James Matthews, son of Thomas Matthews, weaver of Curtain Rd, Shoreditch doth apprentice himself to Thomas Matthews Jnr .....weaver.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/2052/32512_a063920-01166/793841?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk% 2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3f_phsrc%3deJc1302%26_phstart%3dsucc essSource%26usePUBJs%3dtrue%26db%3dLondonFreedomof City%26gss%3dangs-d%26new%3d1%26gsln%3dmatthews%26gsln_x%3d0%26msfng %3dthomas%26msfns%3dmatthews%26MSAV%3d1%26MSV%3d0% 26uidh%3dzs8%26fh%3d0%26fsk%3d%26bsk%3d%26rank%3d1 %26pgoff%3d&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

Do you agree that James was probably apprenticed to his father and that it does actually say "Junr" after Thomas' name?

[kiterunner]

It definitely says Junr after the Thomas Matthews' name. Could be James's brother? I have some in my tree who were apprenticed to their brothers.

[Sue from Southend]

James' brother Thomas was only six years older than him so unlikely.

I'm hoping that Thomas Jnr is his father then I might get a little close to finding a baptism for Thomas.

Thanks for looking, Kite :)

[kiterunner]

John Bristow in my tree, born 1776, was apprenticed in 1791 to his brother Thomas, born 1770. So certainly possible with a six year age gap.

[Sue from Southend]

Well that's interesting! So the older brother must have started his apprenticeship younger than his brother to have completed and become a master to his sibling.

I've yet to find an indenture for Thomas, the brother (or the father come to that!), though. I've one for each of his three brothers so I'm sure there must be one somewhere.