After the Civil War, many children were left with no one to care for them, especially those who were formerly slaves. If the family could not assume the care of indigent children, they were often bound out to learn a trade. Former slave children were often apprenticed to their former owners, thus continuing their servitude to their former master. Male children, both white and black, were apprenticed until they were age 21 and females until they were age 18. The master was to provide proper medical attention, food and clothing and teach the apprentice to read and write or pay him $100 and a good suit of clothes at the termination of his apprenticeship. White children were provided educational opportunities more often than black children. In exchange, the apprentice was to serve his master faithfully, honestly and with propriety. The indenture was between the county clerk and the master. [1] The following information can be found in Livingston County, Kentucky Court Order Book M. The number following the Book is the page number and the date is the date of the court session.
Henry Trimble of color bound as an apprentice unto Isaac Trimble until 1 April 1882, when Henry will arrive at the age of 21 years, to learn the art & mystery of a farmer. [Bk M:127, 7 May 1866]
Willis Trimble of color bound as an apprentice to Isaac Trimble until 1 January 1873, when he will be 21 years old, to learn the art & mystery of a farmer. [Bk M:128, 7 May 1866]
Robert Trimble of color bound as an apprentice to Isaac Trimble until 1 February 1875, when he will be 21 years old, to learn the art & trade of a farmer. [Bk M:129, 7 May 1866]
Richard Pringle of color bound as an apprentice to W.H. Adcock until 8 October 1873, when Richard will be 21 years of age, to learn the art & mystery of a farmer. [Bk M:130, 7 May 1866]
Adeline, a free Mulatto, bound as an apprentice to Ann E. Coker until 6 March 1874, when Adeline will be 18 years old, to learn the art & mystery of a spinster. [Bk M:132, 4 June 1866]
William Wood of color bound as an apprentice to John C. Wood until 2 July 1879, when William will have arrived at the age of 21 years, being on the 2nd day of July 1866 eight years of age, to learn the art & mystery of farming. [Bk M:133, 2 July 1866]
John Cotiller bound as an apprentice to T.J. Faulkner until 5 November 1877, when John will be 21 years of age, to learn the art & mystery of a farmer. [Bk E:134, 5 November 1866]
Francis Marion Hall bound as an apprentice unto U.G. Berry until - day of April 1879, when he will be age 21 years, to learn the art & mystery of a farmer. [Bk E:135, 5 November 1866]
Cassander Carney bound as an apprentice to unto Wiley Spell until 5 November 1876, when she will be 18 years old, to learn the art & mystery of a spinster. [Bk M:136, 5 November 1866]
George Cotiller apprenticed to T.J. Faulkner until 5 November 1879, when George will be 21 years of age, to learn the art & mystery of a farmer. [Bk M:137, 5 November 1866]
Milly Canada, a Negro girl, bound as an apprentice to B.S. Canada until 5 November 1878, when Milly will be 18 years of age, to learn the art & mystery of a spinster. [Bk M:138, 5 November 1866]
[1] Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Chapter 621, An Act to Amend Article 1, chapter 64, Revised Statutes, title "Master and Apprentice," approved 16 February 1866.
Published 28 August 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
4 comments:
Thank you for that post. It gives us more insight into the post Civil War period. I wonder what other gems might be found in the Livingston Co. Court Order books.
The Court Order books contain a wealth of information - from the appointment of administrators & executors of estates to road orders to the granting of licenses for taverns, coffee houses, ferries, etc. The Livingston County Court Order Book even provided proof that the Union Army occupied the courthouse during the War. If you want to know what was going on in a county at the time, read the County Court Order Books.
Hi Brenda,
I have some further information about an indenture mentioned in this post. You are welcome to post this information if you wish. Also, I have a photo of Adeline given to me by her granddaughter.
Adeline was actually the step-daughter of Ann Coker. This apprenticeship, and other documentation I've gleaned, illustrate the complexity of enslaved-slaveowner relationships, and how these relationships evolved after Emancipation.
Adeline Coker (7 March 1854 – 2 October 1944) was the daughter of Daniel Coker (a Caucasian slave-owner and husband of Ann) and Manda Coker (an enslaved black woman) (Sources: Livingston Co., KY, death certificate; Addie Bell Crawford personal interview). The 1860 U.S. Population Census, Slave Schedule, for Livingston County shows Daniel Coker as the owner of a 22-year-old black female, a 6-year old mulatto female, and a 2-year-old male.
According to Adeline Coker’s granddaughter, Addie Bell Crawford, Daniel Coker made provisions for Adeline to receive a portion of his Salem estate when he died. Addie Bell also stated that Adeline’s white half-brother, Charlie Coker, occasionally visited his half-sister.
According to Addie Bell, Charlie Coker never married and, thus, probably has no descendants. I do not know what became of Manda Coker, Adeline's mother.
I hope this is useful.
Janet K. Hawkins
Janet, would you email me at bjjerome@wowway.com We can discuss the above information. Thanks!
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