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The Freedmen's Bureau Online

Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Tennessee
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865 - 1869
National Archives Microfilm Publication M999, Roll 20
"Indentures of Apprenticeship Dec. 1865 - Feb. 1868, Contracts: Jan. 1, 1865 - Jan. 1, 1868"


Freedmen's Bureau Indenture Bonds for Shelby County, Tennessee

Indentures of apprenticeship were preprinted or hand written forms giving pertinent data concerning the contractual parties, dates of apprenticeship, and including a statement of the obligations and responsibilities of each party.


State of Tennessee
Shelby County                                                                 Filed at Memphis

This Indenture of Apprenticeship, made and entered into this 16th day of November 1865 between Harriet Green, Mother of Virginia Ann Shirley whose benefit the same is executed, of the State of Tennessee and Shelby County, of the first part, and J. T. Shirley & Wife, a planter of the State of Tennessee in Shelby County, witnesseth that the said _________ Father and Harriet Green, Mother has agreed to bind the said Virginia Ann Shirley her child as an apprentice, until she shall arrive at the age of eighteen years.

The said parents and said apprentice covenant on their part that the said apprentice after the manner of an apprentice, will live with and serve the said J. T. Shirley & Wife and obey all their lawful commands, for the time aforesaid, will do them no damage in person, character or property, nor willfully suffer others to do them any, but will give them timely notice of any danger, or evil that may threaten them of which she may have knowledge, will play at no unlawful games, visit no tippling houses, places of gamery or ill fame nor absent herself, but in all things and at all times will act as a good and faithful apprentice ought to do, for the time aforesaid.

And the said J. T. Shirley & Wife on their part covenants that they will teach or cause to be taught the said Virginia Ann Shirley the trade of a seamstress and to read and write, and cypher to the "Rule of Three" as far as her capacity will admit. They will attend to and guard her morals as they would one of their own family. They will furnish her with such boarding, clothing and other necessaries, in sickness and health, as are suitable and proper for her situation, and treat her with humanity, and at the end of the time give her fifty dollars in current money and a good suit of clothes.

This Contract shall not be annulled except in case either party violate his or her contract, to be judged of by the officer commanding the Bureau of R. F. & A. L. for the district in which the parties may reside, or by such other tribunal as it may be proper, under the laws of the land, to submit such questions to, in case, at such times, the said Bureau is not in operation and both parties agree to abide by the decision of said Bureau or other tribunal as aforesaid.

                                                              [signed]

                                                              N.A.M. Dentz {seal}
                                                              Bat. Brig. Genl. Vols. {seal}
                                                              Superintendent R. F. A. L.
Witness                                                  Harriet (X) Green {seal}
Chas. W. Lyman
                                  J. W. T. Shirley & Wife {seal}


November 8, 1865. Mary Harding, age 12, apprenticed to Mrs. T. Harding, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 8, 1865. Julia Harding, age 8, apprenticed to Mrs. T. Harding, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 8, 1865. Lydia Harding, age 7, apprenticed to Mrs. T. Harding, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 8, 1865. Ben Harding, age 12, apprenticed to Mrs. T. Harding, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

November 8, 1865. Edward Mitchell, age 6, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 8, 1865. George Johnson, age 4, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 8, 1865. Francis Wall, age 7, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of (blank).

November 8, 1865. Foster Miller, age (blank), apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 8, 1865. Nisa Harding, age 9, apprenticed to Mrs. T. Harding, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 8, 1865. Rachael Gibbs Scanlan, age 11, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 18.

November 8, 1865. Angeline Gibbs Scanlan, age 9, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 18.

November 8, 1865. Peter Frank, age 12, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 8, 1865. George Miller, age 13, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 8, 1865. William Brown, age 12, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 8, 1865. Henrietta Scanlan, age 8, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 18

November 8, 1865. Maria Gibbs Scanlan, age 12, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 18.

.November 8, 1865. Horace Scanlan, age 8, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 8, 1865. Sara Gibbs Scanlan, age 8, apprenticed to W. E. Scanlan, a planter of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 18.

November 10, 1865. Lewis Johnson, age (blank), apprenticed to John Gray of Shelby County, Tennessee, until the age of 21.

November 10, 1865. Randall Johnson, age 7, apprenticed to John Gray of Shelby County, Tennessee, until the age of 21.

November 10, 1865. Edwin Lewis, age 8, apprenticed to J. H. McNeal of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 10, 1865. George Sims, age 3, apprenticed to J. H. McNeal of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 10, 1865. Margaret Harris, age 8, apprenticed to J. H. McNeal of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 18

November 10, 1865. Nancy Sims, age 8, apprenticed to J. H. McNeal of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 18.

November 10, 1865. Henry McNeal, age 8, apprenticed to J. H. McNeal of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 10, 1865. James Taylor, age 8, apprenticed to J. H. McNeal of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 10, 1865. Thomas Vaultz, age 7, apprenticed to J. H. McNeal of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 10, 1865. Charles Ayers, age 5, apprenticed to J. H. McNeal of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 10, 1865. John Ransom, age 8, apprenticed to J. H. McNeal of Crittendon, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 10, 1865. Augustus Winfield, age 9, apprenticed to Richard Davis, a planter of Tippah County, Mississippi, until the age of 21.

November 11, 1865. Laura Cummings, age 6, apprenticed to Gen. Fishback, a publisher of St. Louis, Missouri, until the age of 18.

November 11, 1865. Robert Ridley, age 13, apprenticed to Wm. H. Craighead, a planter of Mississippi County, Arkansas, until the age of 21.

November 11, 1865. Maggie Carraway, age 6, apprenticed to H. G. Buckingham of Shelby County, Tennessee, until the age of 18.

November 11, 1865. Robert Theasus, age 11, apprenticed to H. G. Buckingham of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 11 (21?).

November 11, 1865. Betsy Carraway, age 10, apprenticed to H. G. Buckingham of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 14, 1865. Joseph Jones, age 9, apprenticed to Mrs. Martha A. Jones, a planter of Fayette County, Tennessee, until the age of 21.

November 14, 1865. Birdwell Sharp, age 5, apprenticed to H. M. Stewart, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

November 14, 1865. Horace Sharp, age 7, apprenticed to H. M. Stewart, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee, until the age of 21.

November 14, 1865. Samuel Jones, age 11, apprenticed to Mrs. Martha A. Jones, a planter of Fayette County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

November 14, 1865. Joseph Jones, age 9, apprenticed to Mrs. Martha A. Jones, a planter of Fayette County, Tennessee, until the age of 21.

November 14, 1865. Richard Jones, age 11, apprenticed to Mrs. M. Martha A. Jones, a planter of Fayette County, Tennessee, until the age of 21.

November 15, 1865. Frank Eddins, age 8, apprenticed to Mrs. M. J. Eddins of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

November 15, 1865. Lucinda Rodgers, age 10, apprenticed to H. E. Rodgers of Shelby County, Tennessee, until the age of 18.

November 15, 1865. John Maxey, age 7, apprenticed to R. W. Davis, a planter of Mississippi, Arkansas until the age of 21.

November 16, 1865. Dora Selby, age 4, apprenticed to Mrs. M. A. Anderson of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 16, 1865. Parthenia Anderson, age 10, apprenticed to Mrs. M. A. Anderson of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 16, 1865. Peter McFarland , with consent of his mother, Harriet Green, apprenticed to J. W. T. Shirley until the age of 18.

November 17, 1865. Eliza Shelton, age 7, apprenticed to Mrs. R. M. Shelton of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 20, 1865. Laura Hamlin, age 10, apprenticed to Wm. B. Hamlin of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 22, 1865. Emma Powers, age 11, apprenticed to John Powers of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 22, 1865. Peter Jones, age 8, apprenticed to William T. Avery of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

November 23, 1865. Jacob Green, age 7, apprenticed to Mrs. Fannie Green of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21 (moved to Texas November 30).

November 23, 1865. Emma Lynch, age 6, apprenticed to Edward M. Holman of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 23, 1865. Benjamin Lynch, age 8, apprenticed to Edward M. Holman of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

November 23, 1865. Ann Lynch, age 10, apprenticed to Edward M. Holman of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 24, 1865. James Stewart, age 8, apprenticed to Andrew Stewart of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

November 25, 1865. Mimi Farrow, age 13, apprenticed to Lemuel Farrow, of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 25, 1865. Josephine Farrow, age 8, apprenticed to Lemuel Farrow of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 25, 1865. Alice Farrow, age 9, apprenticed to Lemuel Farrow of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 27, 1865. Fayette Dix, age 12, apprenticed to E. J. Mariner of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

November 27, 1865. Melvina Farrow, age 10, apprenticed to Mrs. E. D. Farrow of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 27, 1865. Rodgers Farrow, age 2, apprenticed to Mrs. E. D. Farrow of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

November 17, 1865. Rhoda Farrow, age 10, apprenticed to Mrs. E. D. Farrow of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 17, 1865. Amanda Farrow, age 11, apprenticed to Mrs. E. D. Farrow of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 24, 1865. Bettie, age 14, apprenticed to Mrs. Sarah A. Nicks of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 27, 1865. Alexander Williams, age 7, apprenticed to Enoch Taylor of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

November 27, 1865. Delia Farrow, age 9, apprenticed to Mrs. E. D. Farrow of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 27, 1865. Lucinda Williams, age 9, apprenticed to Enoch Taylor of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

November 30, 1865. Joanna Nelms, age 10, apprenticed to Mrs. Kate Nelms of DeSoto County, Mississippi until the age of 18.

November 30, 1865. Clinda Nelms, age 6, apprenticed to Mrs. Kate Nelms of DeSoto County, Mississippi until the age of 18.

November 30, 1865. Sandy Nelms, age 9, apprenticed to Mrs. Kate Nelms of DeSoto County, Mississippi until the age of 21.

November 30, 1865. Calvin Nelms, age 6, apprenticed to Mrs. Kate Nelms of DeSoto County, Mississippi until the age of 21.

November 29, 1865. Charles Johnson, age 12, apprenticed to Dudley G. Johnson, a planter of Fayette County, Tennessee, until the age of 21.

December 1, 1865. Phibe Gillam, age 7, apprenticed to Mrs. P. A. Gillam of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

December 2, 1865. Oscar Kennedy, with the consent of his father, Peter Kennedy, apprenticed to H. A. Partee of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

December 2, 1865. Trenton Kennedy, with the consent of his father, Peter Kennedy, apprenticed to H. A. Partee of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

December 2, 1865. Kate Dixon, age 12, apprenticed to George Dixon Mrs. Sarah E. Atkinson of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

December 4, 1865. Betsy Dixon, age 14, apprenticed to George Dixon of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

December 4, 1865. Millie Dixon, age 10, apprenticed to George Dixon of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

December 12, 1865. Mary Emma, age 7, apprenticed to Mrs. L. E. Monroe of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

December 13, 1865. Rose Rayner, with the consent of her mother, Eliza Jane Rayner, apprenticed to Mrs. Mary A. Rayner of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

December 20, 1865. Jesse Carrol, age 7, apprenticed to James Carrol of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

December 20, 1865. Benjamin Carrol, age 11, apprenticed to James Carrol of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

December 21, 1865. Kate Crenshaw, age 6, apprenticed to F. B. Crenshaw, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

December 21, 1865. Martin Crenshaw, age 12, apprenticed to F. B. Crenshaw, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

January 2, 1866. Ann Jefferson, age 12, apprenticed to Benjamin C. Brown, a lawyer of Crittendon, Arkansas until the age of 18.

January 4, 1866. Mittie Cole, age 7, apprenticed to Miss Sue Cole of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

January 8, 1866. Joseph Munson, age 9, apprenticed to Amos Munson, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

January 8, 1866. Georgia Mansfield, age 11, apprenticed to Samuel Mansfield, a planter of Shelby County, until the age of 18.

January 10, 1866. Earnest Maltravers, age 13, apprenticed to Dr. C. M. Martin, a physician of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21. Given permission on 5-10-1866 to moved to Fulton County, Illinois.

January 10, 1866. Lew Allin, age 13, apprenticed to J. E. Grant, a planter of DeSoto County, Mississippi until the age of 21.

January 12, 1866. Anderson Thompson, age 6, apprenticed to Mrs. Thompson, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

January 17, 1866. Buck Hanse, age 13, apprenticed to C. Williams, a planter of Fayette County, until the age of 21.

January 17, 1866. Mary, age 12, apprenticed to Mrs. P. B. Carraway, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

January 17, 1866. Emeline, age 10, apprenticed to Mrs. P. B. Carraway, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

January 24, 1866. Evaline Felts, age 9, apprenticed to J. E. Felts, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

January 27, 1866. Patsy Watson, age 10, apprenticed to James R. Chalmer, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

January 29, 1866. Florence Newell, age 10, apprenticed to Mrs. Jane Newell, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee, until the age of 18.

February 7, 1866. Elisa Smith, age 10, apprenticed to Philip Cunningham of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

February 16, 1866. Phillip Taylor, age 9, apprenticed to Sam L. Taylor, a planter of Washington, Mississippi until the age of 21.

February, 1866. Eliza, age 9, apprenticed to George W. S. Carroll, a physician of Memphis, until the age of 18.

March 10, 1866. William Hunt, age 6, apprenticed to Mrs. T. W. Hunt, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

March 10, 1866. Anna Hunt, age 8, apprenticed to Mrs. T. W. Hunt, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

April 3, 1866. Charles Walker, age 10, apprenticed to A. M. Henderson, a planter of Coahoma, Mississippi until the age of 21.

April 6, 1866. Jenny Lind, age 13, apprenticed to A. M. Henderson, a planter of Coahoma, Mississippi until the age of 18.

April 11, 1866. Henry Clay Tanner, with the consent of his mother, Mary Louisa Tanner, apprenticed to George R. Ruttin Esq., a banker of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

April 16, 1866. Mary Worthy, age 6, apprenticed to Clifford Sims, a planter of Desha County, Arkansas until the age of 18.

April 17, 1866. Jacob Rici, age 12, apprenticed to Pinckney C. Bethel, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.

April 18, 1866. Jinsey Rici, age 10, apprenticed to Pinckney C. Bethel, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

April 25, 1866. Adalen Dickson, age 7, apprenticed to W. R. Hunt, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

April 26, 1866. Ella Dickson, age 6, apprenticed to W. R. Hunt, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 18.

May 15, 1866. George Washington, age 8, apprenticed to Dr. J. E. Josey, a planter of Mississippi, Arkansas until the age of 21.

May 16, 1866. Dilsy Allen, age 10, apprenticed to J. R. Allen, a planter of Shelby County, Tennessee, until the age of 18.

June 1, 1866. John Cogswell, age 8, apprenticed to A. M. Cogswell of Shelby County, Tennessee until the age of 21.