Case ID: mass_29/html/0114-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Shaw C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Hiram Nickerson versus John G. Easton.
    A written agreement not under seal, signed by a minor, his mother and step-father, of the one part, and by the defendant, of the other part, recites that the minor has been living with the defendant as an apprentice to learn the trade of a cooper, but that no indenture has been executed, and stipulates that the minor shall go on a whaling voyage, and shall do 11 the duty he ships to perform,” and that the defendant shall furnish him outfits, and shall receive all his earnings on the voyage, and that at the end of the voyage the minor shall be free from his apprenticeship. It was held, that so far as the relation of master and apprentice subsisted de facto by the actual residence of the minor with the defendant, it was waived and terminated by the written agreements that the written agreement itself did not constitute a contract of apprenticeship 3 that independently of the supposed relation of master and apprentice, the contract was not reasonable and beneficial to the minor, and not binding upon him 3 and that he was entitled to recover his earnings on the voyage to his own use.
    Assumpsit to recover the amount of the plaintiff’s earnings as cooper of the ship Alliance, on a whaling voyage from Newport to the Pacific Ocean.
    At the trial, before Morton J., the defendant produced a written agreement, not under seal, dated December 31, 1824, between Christopher Hammond, his wife Lovey Hammond, and the plaintiff, her minor son, of the one part, and the defendant, of the other part, in which it is recited, that the plain tiff had for some time past lived with the defendant as an ap prentice to learn the trade of a cooper, and that indentures have been made, but not signed,- by the parties, and it is stipulated that the plaintiff shall perform a voyage round Cape Horn in the ship Alliance, and shall “perform the duty he ships to perform,” according to the best of his skill and judgment, and that on the return of the'ship the defendant shall receive the plaintiff’s earnings on the voyage ; and the defendant agrees to relinquish to the plaintiff all demands which he now has against him, and to furnish him with suitable outfits, which are to belong to the plaintiff; and should the ship return before the plaintiff arrives at the age of twenty-one, he is to be free from his apprenticeship. The ship returned in June 1828, the plaintiff being then a little over twenty years of age. It was admitted that the defendant received the amount of the plaintiff’s earnings on the voyage, viz. $ 576.60, and that he furnished the plaintiff his outfit.
    
      Evidence of a custom, as stated in the preceding case of Randall v. Rotch, was offered and rejected.
    A default was entered by consent, subject to the opinion of the whole Court.
    
      Jl. Bassett and Coffin, for the defendant.
    
      Oct. 25th.
    
    
      L. Williams, for the plaintiff, cited Freto v. Brown, 4 Mass. R. 676.
    
      Oct. 29th,
    
   Shaw C. J.

delivered the opinion of the Court. The defendant received the amount due for the plaintiff’s services, under a claim of right to take and hold the same to his own use ; and if the defendant has not the right claimed, it has not been questioned that the plaintiff is entitled to recover, in this action, the sum agreed on as the net amount of these earnings

The ground upon which the defendant claims the lay or share of the plaintiff is, that the plaintiff was his apprentice to learn the trade of a cooper, that the defendant shipped the plaintiff, procured his outfits under the agreement stated in the case, and in this capacity was entitled to these earnings.

But the defendant fails in the first step of his case, and does not show that the relation of master and apprentice existed. The Court are of opinion, that so far as the relation of master and apprentice subsisted between the parties de facto, by the actual residence of the plaintiff with the defendant as an apprentice, it was waived and terminated by the written agreement, which stipulated that the plaintiff should go on the voyage, and that at the end of it, whether the plaintiff were twenty-one or not, that relation should cease. We are also of opinion, that the instrument itself did not constitute a contract of apprenticeship.' There is no stipulation for the instruction of the apprentice in his trade, nor even that he shall be employed as a cooper, no stipulation for the care and maintenance of him during the term of his service, and no provision for him at its termination. It was a contract for a separate and independent service and purpose, and as such contract, it was not binding upon the plaintiff, because he was a minor and not competent to bind himself by such contract.

This agreement cannot be relied upon, as a contract which a minor has authority to make as one beneficial to himself, independently of the supposed relation of master and apprentice ; it has not been put upon that ground by the counsel, nor is there any thing in the case to warrant us so to consider it. The Court do not mean to say, that it is not competent for a minor over fourteen years of age, with the consent of his parents, and under many circumstances by himself alone, to make a contract for his employment; and if such contract is reasonable and beneficial to the minor, it may be held to be valid and binding in law, on the ground that it is within a well known exception to the. general rule, under which minors are held incompetent to bind themselves by their contracts. But in all such cases the question will be, whether the particular contract, at the time and under the circumstances in which it was made, and in the stipulations and provisions of the contract itself, was reasonable and beneficial to the minor, and the contract will be supported or vacated accordingly.

Judgment on the default. 
      
       See Commonwealth v. Wilhank, 10 Serg. & R. 416; Commonwealth v. Leeds, 1 Rawle, 195; Burnham v Chapman, 5 Shepl. 385; Dodge v. Hills, 1 Shepl. 151; Squire v. Whipple, 1 Vermont R. 69; Butler v. Hubbard, 6 Pick. 250; Hopewell v. Amwell, 1 Halstead, 169.
     
      
       See Randall v. Rotck, ante, 110; Manchester v. Smith, post 113; Vent v Osgood, 19 Pick. 572; Stone v. Dennison, 13 Pick. 1.