Minor children without sufficient means of support were apprenticed (bound out) to learn a trade by order of the county court or by the child’s parents. Males were usually apprenticed until they were 21 years of age and females until the age of 18. Occasionally the child was apprenticed for a specific number of years. During the term of servitude, the apprentice was to faithfully keep his master’s secrets and obey his commands, not waste or embezzle or lend without his consent. The apprentice could not marry or commit fornication or be absent without consent. The master had responsibilities, too. He was obligated to provide meat, drink, washing, lodging and apparel for the children. He was to teach the apprentice to read and write and, in the case of males, the apprentice would often be taught “common arithmetic.”
Of the 16 children listed below, the majority were apprenticed through the Caldwell County Court and the transaction was signed by the county clerk, John H. Phelps. The apprenticeships of Mary Purtle and Rebecca Purtle did not state who was responsible for the transaction, but they were signed by John H. Phelps and the new master, as were the apprenticeships by order of the county court. Apprenticeships instigated by parents of the children were signed by the parents and the new master. These records are recorded in Indentures of Apprenticeship Book 1 (1811 – 1848). Further information on this subject and especially the apprenticeship of Caty and Peter Sparrow may be found HERE
The following facts can often be determined in reading apprenticeship
records:
~ Date of birth or age of the apprentice.
~ If the apprentice was an orphan and, if so, the name of his father was often given.
~ To whom the
apprentice was bound and the trade he would be taught.
~ When the child’s
parents instigated the apprenticeship of their child, the terms were sometimes
different from when the county court was involved. See the apprenticeships of
Caty Sparrow [p. 9], James McClanahan [p. 13] and Allexander Underwood. [p.
23].
~ Males and females
were not treated equally. During this time period (1811-1814), no females were
taught “common arithmetic,” but it was not unusual for the males to be taught arithmetic.
7 Jan 1811. Mary Purtle, age
7; orphan of Martin Purtle dec’d, bound to John Carrick to learn spinster’s
trade until age 18. Rec. 22 Jan 1811.
[p. 1]
7 Jan 1811. Rebecca Purtle, age 12 on 1st April 1811; orphan of Martin Purtle dec’d, bound to William Gilliland to learn spinster’s trade until age 18. Rec. 23 Jan 1811. [p. 2]
26 Aug 1811. By order of Caldwell County court, Betsy Dennis, orphan of Absalom Dennis, age 9 years the 14th Oct 1810, bound to Samuel Kinkade to be taught spinster’s trade. Rec. 26 Aug 1811. [p. 6]
26 Aug 1811. John H. Phelps, county clerk, hath bound out James Dennis, orphan of Absalom Dennis, age 7 years the 27th Dec 1810, to Samuel Kinkade to learn farmer’s trade. Rec. 26 Aug 1811. [p. 7]
9 Apr 1812. Asher Moore and his wife Catharine Moore hath bound out their daughter Caty Sparrow, orphan of Nicholas Sparrow and daughter of Catharine Moore by her first husband, Nicholas Sparrow, Caty being 9 years old sometime in Aug 1811, to Joseph McMahan to be taught the spinster’s trade. In addition to 2 new suits of clothing, she will receive one chaff bed and bedding, a cow and calf and 3 pounds and 10 shillings. Rec. 9 Apr 1812. [p. 9]
2 Nov 1812. John H. Phelps, clerk of county court, hath bound out Sally Harvey, orphan aged 8 years, to John Mitchell to be taught spinster’s trade. Rec. 2 Nov 1812. [p. 11]
17 Aug 1812. William McClanahan hath agreed for his son, James McClanahan to live with and work for ___ Wadlington five years and 4 months lacking 8 days. Wadlington to give James 9 months schooling, plus clothing, shoes and hats and lodging. At end of the term Wadlington was to provide James a suit of home spun clothes, a likely young horse beast, saddle and bridle, “those to be worth 10 common second rate cows and calves.” [signed] Mercer Wadlington, Wm. McClanahan. Rec. 5 Jan 1813. [p. 13]
19 Jan 1814. Lucy Boggs hath bound out her son, Jesse Boggs, of a yellow complexion, age 4 years the 10th June next, to live with and serve John Black until he is 21. Trade not named. Jesse to receive one years schooling. Rec. Eddyville 19 Jan 1814. [p. 15]
23 May 1814. By order of County Court, the clerk hath bound out Sarah Edwards (an orphan child of Delilah Edwards, said to be the daughter of James Edwards, age about 4 years old this month) to Elisha N. Rose, to learn the spinster trade. Rec. 18 Jul 1814. [p. 16]
25 Apr 1814. By order of County Court, Peter Sparrow (infant and orphan of Nicholas Sparrow) age about 15 years the first of Jan next, bound out to Stephen Rodgers to learn the tanner’s trade. To learn to read and write and common arithmetic to the rule of three. Rec. 13 Oct 1814. [p. 17]
24 May 1813. By order of County Court, Betsy Gladden, infant of Aaron Gladden (who is said to have abandoned said child), age about 4 years old the 22nd of the present month, hath been bound to John Killion to learn the spinster’s trade. Rec. 14 Aug 1813. [p. 19]
2 Aug 1814. Eleazor Gore bound out his son, William Gore, to John O’Hara for 2 years which will expire on 2nd day of Mar 1816 to learn the tanner’s trade. At end of his term, O’Hara to give William Gore a new suit of clothes not to be worth less than $30 and a good currying comb. Rec. 3 Aug 1814. [p. 21]
23 Sep 1811. Samuel Underwood hath bound out his son, Allexander Underwood, age 11 years the 4th of July 1811, to Daniel Rider to be taught the card and spinning business or either of them as Allexander may be inclined to learn. To be taught to read and write and common arithmetic including the rule of 3. At end of the term, he is to receive “$100 in good trade.” Rec. 23 Sep 1811. [p. 23]
1 Mar 1814. Lucy Boggs hath bound out her son, Jesse Boggs, to Jacob Purtle. Trade not named. Rec. 1 Mar 1814. [p. 25]
24 Jan 1814. By order of County Court, Lucy Ann Cook, an orphan age about 6 years the 1st of April last, bound to Samuel Withrow to learn the spinster’s trade. Rec. 14 Jul 1814. [p. 26]
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