List of Apprentices 1710-1762
Stamp duty became payable on apprenticeships from a statute passed in 1710 and a central register was kept.  Before that, the contact was just a private transaction between the master and the parents. The original PRO records, from which this index has been created,  have been filmed by the Church of Latter Day Saints. However, they contain little more detail than the indexes. The second forename, where given, is the name of the father. (Shown here in brackets.) Numbers in left column are vol/page.

London

The following indexes of London Apprenticeship records have been searched without finding any Sterrys:
Brewers' 1531-1685, Cutlers, 1442-1448, 1565-1800, Plaisterers' 1599-1662, 1698-1800, Apothecaries' 1617-1669, Wax Chandlers' 1666-1800, Brown Bakers' 1615-1646, Carmens' 1668, 1678-1800, Farriers; 1619-1800, Masons' 1663-1805, Cooks' 1654-180, Ironmongers' 1655-1800, Dyers' 1706-1746, Armourers' and Brasiers' 1610-1800, Coachmakers; and Coach Harness Makers' 1677-1800, Founders' 1643-1800, Paviors' 1568-1800, Upholders' 1704-1772, Poulters' 1691-1729, 1754-1800, Innholders 1642-1643, 1654-1670, 1673-1800, Makers of Playing Cards 1675-1760, Musicians 1765-1800, Saddlers 1657-1666, 1800, Tobaccopipemakers 1800, Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers 1693-1837, Spectaclemakers 1666-1800, Loriners 1722-1731, 1759-1800, Patternmakers 1673-1805, Distillers 1659-1811, Basketmakers 1639-1824, Needlemakers 1664-1801 and Pinmakers 1691-1723, Gunmakers 1656-1800, Glaziers 1694-1800, Broderers' 1679-1713, 1763-1800, Combmakers 1744-1750, Fanmakers 1775-1805, Frameworkknitters 1724-1730, Fruiterers 1750-1815, Gardeners 1764-1850 and Horners 1731-1800, Glass-Sellers 1664-1812 and Woolmens 1665-1828, Glovers 1675-1679, 1735-1748, 1766-1804, Bowyers 1680-1806 and Fletchers 1739-1754, 1764-1808, Longbowstringmakers 1604-1668, 1709, 1714-1717, Tylers and Bricklayers 1612-1644, 1668-1800, Brewers 1685-1800, Painters 1655-1805, Pewterers 1611-1800, Turners 1596-1800

Thames Watermen & Lightermen Bindings 1692-1908

Notes: A waterman is a person who navigates a boat carrying paying passengers. These boats would have been some form of row boat, sometimes with sails. This service was very much in demand in early times as the river was a most important artery through London and the highways were in a very poor state and horse drawn transport slow. Prior to the nineteen century there were not many bridges over the Thames. The Waterman's Company dates from 1555 and in 1585 were granted their own coat of arms by Queen Elizabeth I.  Lightermen carried goods on the river in a lighter or barge.  In 1700 they were amalgamated with the watermen to form the Company of Watermen and Lightermen.

Originally boys were bound to a Master who was a Freeman of The Company for a period of between five and seven years. Records of these Apprenticeship Bindings were kept from 1688 to 1884 and have been deposited at the Guildhall Library in London. The Binding Books have been microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah (Mormons). If no date is shown in the fifth column above it means that the boy never gained his freedom of the Court and this was the case for over half of all boys bound. Failure could be for various reasons, perhaps the boy did not satisfy the Court of his worthiness or his Master was not satisfied with his competence, or the boy or his Master may have died or as happened on frequent occasions the Company was charged with the task of providing large numbers of men for pressed service into the Navy and men and boys were drafted. Having found names of interest in the Apprenticeship Bindings, one should consult the series of six Affidavit Books which cover the years 1759-1897 and add detail about date of birth of apprentice and place of baptism. The Watermen and Lightermen were close knit communities and fathers apprenticed sons or nephews; brother apprenticed brother; sons of Watermen often married daughters of Watermen. (From notes provided by Society of Australian Genealogists, Sydney, NSW, Australia)

Tinplateworkers' Company 1666, 1668, 1676, 1681, 1683-1800
 
STEREY Joseph s. Joseph, Streatham, Sry, cooper to John WEST (snr) 1 Jan 1688/89
SALTER Nicholas s. Nicholas, Taunton, Som. to Joseph STERRY 1 May 1702
STERREY Wasey s. Thomas, St Olave Southwark, Surrey, tallow chandler to Joseph STERREY 8 Jan 1716/17
STERREY Samuel s. Thomas, Southwark, Surrey, tallow chandler to Joseph STERREY 1 May 1721
MILES Turner s. William, Watton, Hrt, gentleman to Richard LEA 1 Aug 1721 to 1 ___(?) 1725 master (dead) turned over to Joseph STERREY (jnr)
MILLIS William s. Michael, Newbury, Berkshire, clothworker to Henry STERRY 22 Aug 1729
COOPER James s. Joseph, citizen and tallow chandler to Henry STERRY 17 Mar 1736/37 to 1 May 1739 turned over to John HAGGARD
VANDEWALL Daniel s. Joseph, citizen and draper to Henry STERRY 8 Jan 1739/40 to 1 May 1744 master (dead) turned over to William MILLIS

Plumbers' Company 1571-1800

STERREY William s. George, St Mary Overy, Southwark, Surrey, blacksmith to Stephen ____(?), 3 Apr 1684
STERRY Robert s. Robert, Christchurch, Southwark, Surrey, shipwright (dead) to William STERRY 25 Apr 1705

Curriers' Company 1628-1800

STERRY Henry s. Henry, Snow Hill (St Sepulchre). London, tinplate worker (dead) to George JARVIS 28 Aug 1746 (free)
BIRCH Richard s. William, Knockin, Sal., farmer (dead) to Henry STERRY 20 Feb 1761
GOODCHILD William s. Robert, Thames Ditton, Surrey, husbandman to Henry STERRY 2 May 1764
HORNE Benjamin s. Benjamin, Rotherhithe, Surrey, merchant to Henry STERRY 21 Feb 1756 (free)
KENNABY John s. John, Croydon, Surrey, labourer to Henry STERRY 24 Jan 1761 (free)

Tallow Chandlers Company 1632-1800

STERRY Thomas, son of Joseph, Tooting Bec Streatham, Surrey, cooper, to William Gurney, 20 Jul 1685, Tallow Chandlers' Company

Feltmakers Company 1669-1800

STEARY, George, son of Samuel, Kieper, Durham, leatherdresser to Henry Wetherell, 3 Mar 1745/6, turned over to William Hall, 7 Nov 1748, Feltmakers' Company

Drapers', Roll of

STERRY Pet 1689 (bound as apprentice) 1703 (living)
STERRY Nath 1762 (bound as apprentice) 1816 (living)
STERRY Ric 1799 (bound as apprentice) 1864 (living)
STERRY Alfred 1848 (year of freedom by patrimony as son of a Draper) 1876 (approx. date of death)

Surrey

COPE Hy s Sar of Wandsworth to Nuce STERRY of Wandsworth 14 Ap 1736 7 years from 2 Mar 1735 4 pounds-4s (24 Apr 1736:144)

CROCKFORD Jas Edw of Wandsworth to Nuce STERRY of Wandsworth carp.; 30 Mar 1748; C.I.C.; 7 years to Mar 1748; 10 pounds. (19 Apr 1749: 178)

Abbreviations Used:
C.I.C. = common indenture and counterpart
s = son of
Sar = Sarah
Hy = Henry
Jas = James
Edw = Edward

From: Index of Surrey Apprentices 1731 - 1749, West Surrey Family History Society

Norfolk

Great Yarmouth Apprenticeship Indentures 1563-1665 (NFHS)
No Sterrys