After the Civil War, many former slave children were left
with no means of support and were often bound out to people in the community,
sometimes their former owners, to learn a trade. In exchange for food, lodging,
clothing and medical attention, the apprentice was to faithfully serve his or
her master. At the expiration of the term, the apprentice was to receive a new
suit of clothing and a sum of money. Males were to receive $100 and females
were to receive $50, but only if they were not taught to read and write. [1]
The Indentures of Apprenticeship for freedmen can be found in county court
order books (court minutes) as well as in a separate bond book, Indenture of
Apprenticeship for People of Color Book A 1866-1908. In the entries below, OB signifies County
Court Order Book. For best results, it is wise to research both the County
Court Order Books and the Indenture of Apprenticeship bond book.
24 Oct 1866: On motion of C.M. Shelby, summons issued against Old Emily and Old Will to appear on first day of next term to show cause, if any they can, why Sarah, Jesse and Jeff should not be taken from their custody and bound out as apprentices to some fit & proper person to learn some good trade and this motion continued. [OB B, p. 8] 28 Jan 1867: C.M. Shelby vs Old Emily &c: On plaintiff’s motion, this act is dismissed without prejudice. [OB B, p. 21]
24 Oct 1866: It appearing that Isadora Nettles a negro infant orphan formerly the slave of Moses Stone & Stone being willing to take Isadora as an apprentice to the trade of cooking, washing &c, ordered that Isadora be bound as an apprentice to Moses Stone from this date until she arrives at age 18. [OB B, pp. 8] [2]
25 Dec 1866: Thomas Cattlett, age 12 and formerly the slave of Thomas W. Catlett. The father of the boy, Lewis Cattlett, is unfit to bring him up properly. [OB B, p. 16]
14 Jan 1867: Frank Jackson, a free boy of color and formerly the slave of John W. Jackson, is bound to John W. Jackson as an apprentice. [OB B, p. 17]
14 Jan 1867: Ratio Young, a free boy of color and formerly the slave of William H. Young, is bound to William H. Young as an apprentice. [OB B, p. 17]
14 Jan 1867: Chapman Young, free boy of color and formerly the slave of William H. Young, is bound to William H. Young. Said apprentice is now 10 years old. [OB B, p. 17-18]
28 Jan 1867: Levi Lester, free boy of color and formerly the slave of James Lester, is bound to James Lester. Levi is now 14 years old. [OB B, p. 18]
25 Mar 1867: Barnett Rice, free boy of color, bound to N.N. Rice, Barnett is formerly the slave of N.N. Rice, until the boy is age 21, he now being age 10. [OB B, p. 35]
22 Apr 1867: Manerva Carney, free girl of color and formerly a slave of Washington Carney, is bound to sd. Washington as an apprentice until she is age 18, she now being 15 years old. [OB B, p. 41]
23 Dec 1867: Agness Wilson, infant orphan of color has no estate and John Leech having signified willingness to take Agness as an apprentice to the trade of cooking until she is 18 years old, she now being age 9 years. [OB B, p. 98]
[1] Acts
of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Passed at the
Session of the General Assembly which was Begun and Held in the City of
Frankfort, on Monday, the fourth day of December, 1865, Chapter 621, p. 49,
(Frankfort: State Printing Office), 1866.
[2]
1870 Lyon County, Kentucky census, Eddyville, Dist. 1, Roll M593_484, p. 14B,
Ancestry.com. Isado B. Settles, age 13 and born Arkansas is listed in
the household of Moses Stone, age 57 and born Kentucky; Cate Stone, age 46 and
born Tennessee and W.F. Stone, age 8 and born Kentucky.
Published 14 Oct 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
2 comments:
Brenda: What does the second B mean? As in "OB B."
And do you know any more about this apprenticeship system statewide? Did some of these children go through as many as eighteen years of apprenticeship? Perhaps into the late 1870s?
I realize that it is a woefully understudied, but important topic.
OB B refers to Order Book B. I do not know the earliest age a child could be apprenticed, but just recently I was researching a person who was apprenticed at the age of 6 until she reached the age of 18. That was in 1880. About 2 years later she was apprenticed to someone else. Because of missing records, I do not know if she remained with the second master until she was age 18.
A google search of the laws in Kentucky can turn up some information.
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