Gleaves v Finley, Lawsuit over Apprenticeship

Augusta County to wit

Matthew Gleave complains of John Finley in custody(?) ____ of a plea of Convenant broken for whereas by a certain Indenture made at the parish & County of Augusta on the 24th day of January in the year 1775 between the plaintiff by the name of Matthew Gleaves &. by the consent of his Guardian who was William Gleave (the plaintiff being then an infant]) of the Colony of Virginia & County aforesaid of the one part & deft by the name Jolul Finley Wheelright of the County & Colony aforesaid which written covenant signed and sealed by the said deft the plaintiff brings here into court the dates whereof in the same day & year ___ said _____ thereby witnessed that the plaintiff by his consent & that of his Guardian aforesaid had put and bound himself apprentice to John Finley the deft to learn his art trade & Mystery of a Wheelright & Cooper and after the manner of an apprentice to serve from ye date of sd indenture for & during the Term of four years ensuing the date during which time he was faithfully to obey the lawfull commands of the said deft & in all respects to demean himself as a faithfull apprentice ought to do during the said term & by the Indenture aforesaid the defendant on his part covenanted with ye _____ to use the utmost of his endeavours to Teach or cause to be

taught or Instructed the said apprentice in the trade of Mystery he then professed (that is to say meaning the arts of a Wheelright & Cooper) and procure or provide for the deft sufficient meat drink washing lodging and apparel sufficient for an apprentice during said term & like wise at the Expiration of said Term the said Deft was to provide for the plaintiff a sett of Tools fit to carry on the business & employment aforesaid by Virtue of which covenant the plaintiff became an apprentice unto ye Deft for & during ye term aforesaid as he ought to do & the said plaintiff in fact saith that the Deft did not teach or cause ~m to be taught in the period aforesaid the arts of a Wheelright or Cooper nor did he at the expiration of the four years above mentioned furnish him with a set of tools suitable for each trade according to the form and effect of his agreement in his behalf made therefore the plaintiff says that the defendant altho often requested his agreement aforesaid in form aforesaid made to the Deft did not perform but broke & the same to him hitherto to perform the Deft hath refused & still doth refuse wherefore he saith he is prejudiced & hath damage to the value of two hundred pounds & therefore he brings suit

. _____ Buckhoe
pledges of Prosecution

Matthew was the son of Matthew Gleaves Sr. He was living in Kentucky at the time of the suit. He and his descendants all spell the surname with only one E,

Glaves 

Matthew won his suit in March of 1794 but was awarded not the two hundred pounds he sought, but just 5 pounds with an additional 3 pounds 6 pence for expenses. His lawyer cost him 2 pounds, 5 shillings

Members of John Finley's family moved to Wythe County, Virginia about the same time as the William Gleaves family. Several Finleys intermarried with William's children.