Apprenticeship contract from 1845

I bought this apprenticeship contract dated 1845 a few years ago. This contract is a very interesting document. First, The fact that this contract has a printed template suggests that apprenticeship is very widespread in that area. It was printed by W. Orange in North Shield, 10-ish miles from Newcastle upon tyne (but not part of it) in the county of Northumberland. The printer's shop is in 4 Bedford street, which is in the town center, just a few steps away from the modern-day North Shield Metro Station of the Tyne and Wear Metro. According to Wikipedia, North Shield is a major shipyard and fishing port, businesses related to marine is also blooming. As traders and businessmen come and go in these trading and fishing ports, it makes sense to have a high level of apprenticeship activities.

Year 1845, was the eighth year of Queen Victoria. This contract listed her formal title, " Queen Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith." Of course, now it is only Northern Ireland.

Both the Master (William Davison) and the Apprentice (John Armstrong) lives in North Shield. John was 13 years old when he signed this apprentice contract with his "free will."

John will serve William for six years, with the following terms:

1. Well and faithfully serve his Master, keep his secrets, and execute his lawful commands.

2. Shall not do / consent/ see to be done by others to hurt or damage his Master, and shall warn his Master instead.

3. "Tavern or Ale Houses he shall not frequent."

4. "Dice, Cards, Tables, Bowls, or any other unlawful Games he shall not play." This, of course, implies that unlawful games are frequent among the sailors.

5. Shall not waste, embezzle, lend or give to any Person without his Master's license.

6. Shall not absent without his Master's consent and behave himself faithfully.

7. 45 Pounds will be paid to John for his apprenticeship to learn Art, Trade, or Business of a Mariner or Seaman.

8. William shall provide sufficient Meat, Drink, Washing, Lodging, Medicine, and Medical and Surgical Aid and Advice.

9. 5 Pounds pay in the first year; the payment is raised by a pound every year.

How much are 45 pounds in 1845? The gold content is 10 troy ounce of Gold, which is over 100 thousand HKD at current market value.

In comparison, the average annual income of a Labourer around that time is 20-ish Pounds and 8 pounds for a boy. So the apprentice gets paid around a quarter of an adult Labourer. I can't say whether it is fair, but at that time, the Commoners spend around two-third of the budget on food and the rest on rent, clothes, and wash/laundry. The said Master (William) has to pay John for food, washing, lodging, etc. which made up the majority of a household's budgets, So I think it is not a bad deal for John.

In modern-day, we spend most of our income on mortgage payment or rent, but in the 1850s, the rent is only around 20% of what people spend on food. This shows how efficient the humanity has become in food production, and how scarce are land now.