Minor children were often apprenticed, or bound out, to members of the community to learn a trade. The county court had the power to bind out orphan children with insufficient means of support. Parents who wanted their children to learn a trade and perhaps had little means to support them, often requested the county clerk to place their children as apprentices.
Males were usually apprenticed until they reached the age of 21 and females were apprenticed until they were 16 or 18 years old. In exchange for the master providing food, clothing, lodging, instruction in reading, writing and “ciphering to the rule of three” and sometimes a sum of money at the expiration of service, “the apprentice shall well and faithfully serve his master, keep his secrets, readily obey his lawful commands; he shall do no damage to his master nor willfully suffer any to be done by others; he shall not waste the master’s goods, play cards, dice or other unlawful games. Also, he shall not commit fornication, contract matrimony or haunt or frequent taverns, ale houses or tippling shops, or gaming places and not absent himself from the service of the master.”
The following entries have been abstracted from Indentures of Apprenticeship 1845 – 1886, located in the Caldwell County Clerk’s Office, Princeton, Kentucky.
Israel Cannon and Fanny A. Cannon, infants and children of Israel Cannon dec’d, bound unto Thomas J. Hale. Israel, who will be age 12 the first day of March next, to learn the trade of a farmer until he is 21 years old. Fanny, who will be age 9 on the 26th of July next, to learn the trade of a spinster. 1 June 1846.
James Shelby, who will be 9 years old the 17th of May 1847, apprenticed to Bayliss Phelps to learn the trade of a farmer until the 17th of May 1859, when he will be 21 years old. 18 July 1846.
Thomas Bridges, who will be age 9 on the 1st of March next, bound to Isaac Gray Sr. to learn the trade of a farmer until 1 March 1859, when he will be age 21. 18 January 1847.
James Armstrong, a free boy of color who will be age 16 on the 1st of August next, apprenticed to William R. Mott to learn the trade of a farmer until 1 August 1852, when he will be 21 years old. 20 January 1847.
John Anderson, a free boy of color who will be age 12 on the 18th of July 1847, apprenticed to William R. Mott to learn the trade of a farmer until 18 July 1856, when he will be age 21. 20 January 1847.
Benjamin Dyer, who will be 13 years old the 1st day of March next, apprenticed to John H. Dyer to learn the trade of a farmer until 1 March 1855, when Benjamin will be age 21. 29 January 1847.
Elbert Dyer, who will be age 12 the 1st day of January next, apprenticed to John H. Dyer to learn the trade of a farmer until 1 January 1857, when he will be 21 years old 29 January 1847.
James Madison Burks, who will be 9 years old the 1st of September next apprenticed to Richard C. Groom to learn the trade of a farmer until the 1st of September, when he will be age 21. 20 April 1847.
William Voluntine Burks, who will be age 5 on the 1st day of May next, apprenticed to Richard C. Groom to learn the trade of a farmer until the 1st of May 1863, when he will be age 21. 20 April 1847.
Thomas Scales, who will be age 15 the 15th day of September next, apprenticed to Thomas J. Johnson to learn the trade of a farmer until 15 September 1853, when Thomas will be age 21. 1 June 1847.
Moses Josiah Swinney apprenticed to Samuel C. Palmer to learn the trade of a cooper until 1 March 1855, when Moses will be age 21, he being 14 years old on the 1st of March 1848. 4 August 1847.
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