DEVON-L Archives

Archiver > DEVON > 2003-04 > 1049996361


From: "Alan Scadding" <>
Subject: [DEV] Scaddings and Cordwainer Journeymen
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 18:23:22 -0700


Dear Listers,

Yes, one John Scadding went over with General Simcoe and was the first settler in Toronto (then called York). They were not my direct ancestors, but several of their descendants still live in Toronto or thereabouts. John's son, Henry, later a prominent local historian and clergyman, was also the first pupil at Upper Canada College etc.etc. I think the cabin is not actually the first one, but one built shortly after the first settlement, after the first one had burnt down.

About Journeyman Cordwainers, or any othe guildmen: If you wanted to be a tradesman, in historic times, you had to serve a 7 year apprenticeship, after which you passed a test (for which you made your 'masterpiece'). At that point you joined the guild proper and could either become a 'journeyman' (from the French 'journee') meaning you were paid by the day by the 'master' or, if you could afford to set yourself up and pay others to work for you, you became a 'master'. All the records of these guilds exist. For the Devon ones you need to go to the PRO. When I looked up my ancestors there was very little information that I didn't have already, but I had the idea that trades passed down from father to son and I may be able to trace descendancy that way. It didn't really work for me, but it may for others. I think the problem was that fathers did not need to formally apprentice sons, so that apprentice indentures do not occur in that particular instance. Hope this may help someo!
ne.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Alan Scadding
Scadding/Scadden/Scaddan/Scadeng one-name study.
Website www.scadding.net

Interested in: Coleman, Guyett, Paterson, and all Scadding connections.


This thread: