THIS INDENTURE made the sixth day of February in the thirteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord 1740

BETWEEN John Franklin Esquire the now High Sheriff of the County of Bedford of the one part and Thomas Richardson of the Town of Bedford in the said County of Bedford innkeeper and Thomas Walker late of Beeston in the parish of Sandy in the said County of Bedford but now of the Town of Bedford aforesaid yeoman of the other part

WITNESSETH that the said John Franklin at the special instance and request of the said Thomas Richardson and Thomas Walker hath constituted and appointed them the said Thomas Richardson and Thomas Walker and the survivor of them to be jailers and jailer and keepers and keeper of his Majesty’s jail of and for the said County of Bedford unto and under him the said John Franklin during the will and pleasure of him the said John Franklin

IN CONSIDERATION whereof they the said Thomas Richardson and Thomas Walker for themselves severally and jointly and for their several and joint heirs executors and administrators do and each of them doth COVENANT promise grant and agree to and with the said John Franklin his heirs executors and administrators by these presents in manner and form following that is to say

THAT they the said Thomas Richardson and Thomas Walker for and during all the time they or either of them shall be jailers or jailer as aforesaid shall and will honestly faithfully and truly use occupy and exercise the same place or office of jailers or jailer of the said County of Bedford and well and honestly demean and behave himself and themselves therein without committing or doing any bribery extortion or other unlawful or undue act thing or practice therein