I am especially pleased to share “Child Apprentices in America from Christ’s Hospital London 1617-1778” with readers. I hope that my little review will be sufficient to guide you into securing a copy for your own library or your local public library. The book’s author is Peter Wilson Coldham, who has been described as “the author who has contributed more than any other scholar to our knowledge of English emigrants to colonial America.”

Coldham transcribed from eight volumes of the original records which are stored at London Guildhall and cover the period of history from 1605-1775, with more than 30,000 entries of Christ’s Hospital scholars.

In the second half of the 16th century, there was a dramatic increase in the number of London poor, disabled and orphaned children. City fathers came up with the idea of providing for orphans who were legitimate children of freemen of the City of London. These children were to be provided with an education and a good start in life under a new foundation to be known as Christ’s Hospital which opened its doors in 1553. Those children impoverished by disease or accident would be cared for in St. Thomas’s Hospital and those reduced to want by their own idleness or vice would be put into the Bridewel, an institution where naughty children would be restrained, corrected and put to useful work.

Four hundred children were taken in that first year. Each child was required to have a baptism certificate and a signed declaration that he or she was not born out of wedlock. Children who entered had to be at least four years old and only one child from the same father could be housed at the same time. By 1674, no child under 7 was admitted.

The academic standard was high. Some were able to graduate to one of the Oxford or Cambridge colleges. Apprenticeships were offered to the others. Past students included Charles Lamb, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Thomas Sexton and Gabriel Jones. The latter came to America and became a close friend of George Washington.

Genealogists will see the immediate value of this book as a search tool because the records include the child’s name, date of birth, father’s name and occupation. Often, the signature of the parent is on the ledger. This signing of the register happened when the son or daughter took up an apprenticeship and required the written consent of the next of kin.

Coldham wrote all dates according to the modern calendar, but the spelling of personal names is the exact original. A typical entry is thus: “Humphrey Kent, aged 5, son of John K., merchant tailor; admitted from St. Sepulchre March 18, 1607. In October of 1617, he was sent to his mother in Virginia.”

There were very few females given these opportunities. The first to make it through the regime was Hannah Taylor b. Feb. 28, 1698 daughter of Thomas, cordwainer; in 1709, she was apprenticed out to widow Mrs. Whaley who was to go and serve her in Williamsburg, York River, Virginia.

Young adults were generally bound out to planters and merchants in the James River area or at Jamaica, but one lad was to “learn the art of book-keeping and merchandizing serving Mrs. Jannet Hynes a widow at Jamaica.”

Only a scattering were sent to New England. For instance,”William Complin, bapt. Jan. 6, 1730, son of Cornish, a vintner; left Sept. 7, 1744 to serve Silvester Gardiner of Boston, New England, surgeon and apothecary.”

Lastly, the book contains an excellent index of ships which plied the waters between England, the West Indies, and the colonies in America.

The book is published by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Clavert St., Baltimore, Md. 21202-3897 at $21.50, plus $2.50 handling and postage.

2338. ROBBINS-RICH-COMINGS. Seek correspondence with other descendants of characters in “Come Spring” by Ben Ames Williams in this the 50th anniversary of the publication of this historical novel set in Union, Maine. My line is to Phillip and Jemima Robbins by way of Rich and Bet (Robbins) Comings. Leigh Cummings, Jr., 10 Hillview Ave., Houlton, 04730-2306.

2339. MARTIN-DONAHUE. Was Revolutionary War soldier Philip Martin b. circa 1750 a son of Joseph and Phoebe Martyn? In 1802, he was granted land in Sullivan. His son Stephen md. Isabelle Donahue, both of Sullivan. To them were born five sons and a daughter. The sons served in the Civil War. Osgood md. Sarah Lucas of Guildford Jan. 10, 1870. He and James are buried in Dover or Foxcroft. George and Leonard Matin are bur. in Arlington National Cemetery. Joseph is bur. in Sangerville. Information concerning any of these people or their families would be welcome. Mrs. Leon F. Hammond, 77 Pine St., Dexter 04930.

2340. ALLEN-STEVENSON-HUTCHINS-LITTLEFIELD. What was maiden name of Elizabeth Allen, first wife of Walter; they md. 1671 Berwick or Kittery. Dates? Parents? When did Mary Stevenson Hutchins die? She md. Enoch Hutchins in 1667 Kittery. What was Patience Littlefield’s maiden name? Dates? She and husband Capt. John lived in Ogunquit where he died 1696. Janet Jordan Bitler, 449 Commercial St., Weymouth, Mass. 02188-3724.

Send quries to Family Ties, c/o Connee Jellison, P.O. Box 58, Salisbury Cove, Me. 04672.