Agreements Between John Ferrabee & Edwin Beard Budding
The first formal agreement between John Ferrabee and Edwin Beard Budding concerning the lawnmower is an indenture agreement dated 18 May 1830. This outlines that the two men would collaborate, with John Ferrabee providing the finance required to produce the new design.
The two men would almost certainly have known each other well at this point. They were neighbours and may also have been friends in addition to being in business together with interests at Thrupp Mill. We can assume that the lawnmower was conceived well before the patent was applied for and granted. This indenture agreement would have helped to formulate the relationship between the two men with regards to the investments and production of the new machine.
Budding subsequently applied for the patent which was granted on 31 August 1830 as No. 5990. As an addendum to the patent documents, Budding and Ferrabee agreed that:
"Mr. J. Ferrabee, of the Thrupp Mill and foundry, near Stroud, engineer, is, by agreement with the patentee, the only person that is, or will be, authorised by him to make, vend, or license, these new machines; and due exertion will be made to supply the public, from his establishment, on the most satisfactory terms."
The original copies of the indenture dated 18 May and the patent dated 31 August 1830 are both kept at the Museum in the Park, Stroud, a mere 2.5 miles from the site of Thrupp Mill.
Articles of Agreement
Indented had made and fully agreed upon this Eighteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand right hundred and thirty Between Edwin Budding of the Thrupp in the parish of Stroud in the county of Gloucester, machinist, of the first part and John Ferabee of the same places engineer of the other pard, as follows
Whereas the said Edwin Budding with invented and applied new combination of Machining for the purpose of cropping or shearing the vegetable surface of Janus Grass-plots and Pleasure-Grounds constituting Machine which may be used with advantage instead of as scythe for that purpose,
and being desirous of obtaining a Patent for his said invention, the said Edwin Budding hath applied and solicited the said John Ferrabee to advance the Money necessary for obtaining the said, Setters Patent for England,
and also to undertake the sole. management and to have entire control in procuring the said Letters Patent and also in making, vending, letting, licensing and otherwise using the said now Machine, And the said, John Ferrabee having it consented and yielded to the said solicitation.
The parties hereto have there upon agreed to bind themselves to obsess the roles and regulations and to perform the several stipulations and agreements herein after mentioned concerning the It is therefore hereby mutually and reciprocally agreed by and between the said parties hereto,
and they the said parties hereto have and each of them hath agreed to observe abide by and perform by these presents do and work of them doth by and perform, all, and singular the stipulations and agreements following First -
That the said Edwin Budding shall communicate everything he knows respecting his said Invention to the said John Ferarbee to enables him, the said John Ferrabee to make the said Machine and to get the invention specified in the best manner, possible.
Second, That the said John Ferrabee shall advance all the money shall or may be necessary for obtaining the said Letters Patent and for making and vending the said new machinery.
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