Could someone tell me whether the date at the end of a record e.g. 1800 which appears without a capital F is the start date or finish date of the apprenticeship?
Sue, in order to get an F the man would have to complete his apprenticeship AND purchase his freedom by paying to the Cutlers Company for a Trade Mark. Some men did not do that, but simply carried on working for their master. They might even purchase their freedom very many years later, when their master died.
So yes, generally, the year without F would signify the beginning of the apprenticeship.
Dave