Introduction

Summary

John Holt, the eldest son of Thomas Godfrey Holt, was born in the village of Garthorpe, in Lincolnshire, on the 31st October, 1841. He was educated at the local village school which he left at the age of fourteen to enter the employ of his grandfather, Thomas Holt, and he went to sea on a schooner owned by his grandfather, which plied between Goole and London and the Northern French ports, carrying coals, cement, and tiles. The name of the schooner was the Thomas Holt. He apparently did not find this employment to his liking, and on the 1st July, 1857, his father signed an agreement with William Laird, of Messrs. W.H. Laird, Coal Dealers, Castle Street, Liverpool, to employ him as an apprentice for a period of five years.

In the words of the indenture, “John Holt, by his own freewill and with the consent of his father Thomas Holt, of Garthorpe, doth put, place, and bind himself a covenant servant or apprentice…and doth covenant promise and agree…that he shall and will faithfully serve his said master, his secrets keep, his lawful commands gladly obey and do; hurt to his said master he shall not do, or suffer to be done by others…His Master's goods he shall not waste or embezzle, the same give or lend without leave; day or night absent himself from his said master's service; nor do any other Act, Matter, or Thing whatsoever to the prejudice of his said master…. In consideration hereof the said William Laird shall and will pay the wages following, viz:~£20 for the first year, £25 for the second year, £30 for the third year, £35 for the fourth year, £50 for fifth and last year of the said term.”

William Laird was one of the well-known family of Lairds, who had shipping and shipbuilding interests in Liverpool, and was a brother of Macgregor Laird, the explorer. In Laird's office together with John Holt was Alfred Jones who later became Sir Alfred Jones, of West African fame.