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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 of Apprenticeship Bonds for Madison County, Tennessee 1865-1866
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
Madison, County
This indenture made at Jackson, Tennessee this 9th day of December 1865 between Lt. Samuel Evans for and in behalf of Martin Merriwether a freed colored orphan, now 9 years of age, of the one part and H. A. Merriwether, a planter of Madison County, Tennessee of the other, witnesseth:
That the said Lt. Samuel Evans Superintendent R.F. & A. L., does bind out and apprentice to the said H. A. Merriwether the said orphan Martin Merriwether to be taught to labor and perform such work as is customary on a farm or plantation, and to live with and serve the said H. A. Merriwether as an apprentice from the date hereof til the said orphan shall arrive at the age of 21 years; During all of which time the said orphan through his lawful guardian the said Lt. Samuel Evans doth covenant with the said H. A. Merriwether to demean himself well and faithfully as an apprentice, obeying fully the commands of the said H. A. Merriwether or his lawful agent, and in all respects to behave himself as a faithful apprentice; neither neglecting nor leaving his business without the permission of the said H. A. Merriwether.
And for and in Consideration of the service faithfully performed as aforesaid by the said orphan the said H. A. Merriwether of the second part, doth covenant and agree to instruct, or cause to be instructed the said orphan in the art or business of a laborer or farmer, and also to read and write the English language and to cipher as far as the rule of three; and also to provide and furnish the said orphan with comfortable clothing, wholesome food and drink and all other necessaries in sickness and health; and also, at the expiration of the term of service to allow and give said orphan the sum of One Hundred Dollars in current money and one new suit of clothes, and the said H. A. Merriwether agrees that the said orphan shall not be removed out of the state in which he is bound without the consent of his guardian.
It is further Agreed by the contracting parties that if on complaint to the guardian it shall appear that said orphan or apprentice is ill used or not taught as provided for above, said guardian shall remove and bind said orphan to such other person as he shall deem fit.
And for the Faithful Observance of the aforesaid obligations on the part of Martin Merriwether of the second part, he, the said H. A. Merriwether and his surety, F. W. Campbell acknowledge themselves, their heirs, executors, etc., held and bound unto the said Lt. Samuel Evans for the use of said orphan in the sum of One Thousand Dollars.
It is further Agreed by the parties to this contract that, in the event of the cessation of the functions of the Freedman's Bureau all the obligations and rights above recited and vested in the said Lt. Samuel Evans as the lawful guardian of said orphan, shall devolve upon the county court, or such other authority or guardian as the State may appoint.
Given under our hands and seals the day and year above written.
In the presence of Samuel Evans {seal}
W. Yancy 1st Lt. Asst. Superintendent
H. A. Merriwether {seal}
F. W. Campbell {seal}
December 9, 1865. Emma Campbell, freed colored orphan, aged 9 years, apprenticed to F. W. Campbell, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
December 11, 1865. Spencer Robinson, freed colored orphan, aged 10 years, apprenticed to J. C. Robinson, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
December 11, 1865. Catharine Shelton, freed colored orphan, aged 10 years, apprenticed to Henry W. Shelton, planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
Letter of Recommendation
To the Freedmen's Bureau at Jackson (Tenn.)
Dr. Sir
I consider Mr. Henry Shelton a gentleman and one who would treat a Negro properly with Humanity if one or more is entrusted to his care and trust (?).
Respectfully
N. M. Hammonds
Letter recommending Henry Shelton as a suitable person to become a master for a colored boy, by B. R. Person.
Jackson, Tenn
Dec 11th 1865
Lieut. S. Evans, Chief of Freedmen's Bureau, Jackson, Tenn
Dear Sir,
I consider Mr. Henry W. Shelton of this county a perfect gentleman, and one calculated to treat Servants well and with humanity. And should any be entrusted to his care they will be as well treated and cared for as with any other person; and comply with any contract he may enter into.
Respectfully,
B. R. Person
December 19, 1865. Cora Womack, freed colored orphan, aged 13 years, apprenticed to J. G. Womack, physician of Madison County, until the age of 18.
Letter of recommendation:
Jackson, Tennessee
December 22, 1865
We hereby certify that we have known Mr. Calvin C. Bomar for a number of years that he has never to our knowledge mistreated Slaves or Freedmen and that he will be a suitable person to become a master of apprentices and that he has the amount of property required.
Joel Rushing
L. M. Sharp
December 21, 1865. Betty Bomar, freed colored orphan, aged 8 years, apprenticed to Calvin C. Bomar, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
December 21, 1865. Phillip Bomar, freed colored orphan, aged 10 years, apprenticed to Calvin C. Bomar, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
Letter of recommendation
Jackson, Tennessee
Dec 21, 1865
We hereby certify that we have known Mr. James M. Pyles for a number of years that he has never to our knowledge mistreated Slave or Freedmen and that he would be a suitable person to become a master of apprentices, and that he has the amount of property required.
Julius Johnson
Thomas B. Skinner
L. M. Sharp
December 21, 1865. Carter Pyles, freed colored orphan, aged 10 years, apprenticed to James M. Pyles, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
December 21, 1865. Bedford Pyles, freed colored orphan, aged 12 years, apprenticed to James M. Pyles, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
December 21, 1865. Pius Bomar, freed colored orphan, aged 10 years, apprenticed to Calvin C. Bomar, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
December 23, 1865. Paralee, a freed, abandoned colored child, aged 6 years, apprenticed to Julius Johnson, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
January 1, 1866. Lean Birdsong, freed colored orphan, aged 8 years, apprenticed to J. J. C. Birdsong, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
January 1, 1866. Peter Birdsong, freed colored orphan, aged 6 years, apprenticed to William Birdsong, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 1, 1866. William Barnett, freed colored orphan, aged 9 years, apprenticed to William McFee, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 1, 1866. Malissa Sims, freed colored orphan, aged 11 years, apprenticed to R. W. Sims, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
January 5, 1866. Tish, freed colored orphan, aged 10 years, apprenticed to J. B. Long, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
January 5, 1866. Ann, freed colored orphan, aged 8 years, apprenticed to John H. Lanier, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
January 5, 1866. Wesley, freed colored orphan, aged 5 years, apprenticed to John H. Lanier, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 5, 1866. Hiram, freed colored orphan, aged 12 years, apprenticed to J. B. Long, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 5, 1866. Billie Howlett, freed colored orphan, aged 6 years, apprenticed to W. Howlett, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 5, 1866. Granville, freed colored orphan, aged 11 years, apprenticed to John H. Lanier, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 5, 1866. Dr., freed colored orphan, aged 12 years, apprenticed to J. B. Long, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 5, 1866. Hance, freed colored orphan, aged 12 years, apprenticed to J. B. Long, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 10, 1866. Patsy Cunningham, freed colored orphan, aged 7 years, apprenticed to Mrs. E. F. Cunningham, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
January 10, 1866. Billy Cunningham, freed colored orphan, aged 9 years, apprenticed to Mrs. E. F. Cunningham, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 11, 1866. Handwritten letter:
State of Tennessee
Madison County
This indenture of apprenticeship made and entered into this the 11th day of January 1866, between Jane Parish the mother of the following named colored children (to wit) Frank aged 13 Dick aged 11 Andy aged 9 Sarah aged 9 and Porter aged 5 years respectively for whose benefit the same is equited of the State of Tennessee Madison County of the first part and James M. Woolland planter in the State of Tennessee Madison County witnesseth, that the said Jane Parish the mother of the above named children has agreed to bind the said Frank Dick Andy Sarah and Porter her children as apprentices to the said Woolland until the said children named above shall the males arrive at the age of 21 years and the female at the age of 18 years respectively.
The said Jane Parish and her children covenant upon their part that the said apprentices after the manner of apprentices will live with and serve the said James M. Woolland and obey all of his lawful commands by him the said Woolland or his lawful agent for the time aforesaid--the said apprentices will do him the said Woolland no damage in person character or property nor willfully suffer others to do him any but will give him timely notice of any damage or evil that may threaten him that he may have knowledge of it. That the said apprentices will not play at any unlawful games, visit no Tippling houses, places of ill fame gaming or ill fame nor absent themselves without the said Woolland's consent but in all things and at all times will act as good and faithful apprentices ought to act for the time aforesaid.
And the said James M. Woolland on his part covenants that he will teach or cause to be taught the said Frank Dick Andy Sarah & Porter the trade of farming and to read and write the English Language and to cipher to the rule of three as far as their capacity will admit.
The said Woolland will attend to and guard the morals of the above named apprentices as apprentices he will furnish them with such boarding clothing and other necessaries in sickness and health as are suitable and proper for their situation and treat them with humanity and at the end of their time he will give to each of the males Frank Dick Andy & Porter seventy five dollars in current money and one new suit of clothes and to the female Sarah he will give the sum of fifty dollars in current money and one new suit of clothes.
This contract shall not be annulled except one of the parties violate the essential parts of it which is to be judged 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 cases at such time the said Bureau is not in operation and both parties agree to abide by the decision of said Bureau or other tribunal aforesaid.
Signed in presence of
W. H. Everidge Jane (X) Parish {seal}
K. A. Meipon (?) James M. Wooland {seal}
Affirmed February 5, 1866 at Jackson
William G. Cockrill, Supt.
Acting Supt. of District
January 13, 1866. William Lambert, freed colored orphan, aged 11 years, apprenticed to Mrs. Delila Lambert, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 25, 1866. Susan Campbell, freed colored orphan, aged 8 years, apprenticed to James G. Womack, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
January 26, 1866. Charles Chester, freed colored orphan, aged 5 years, apprenticed to John Chester, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 26, 1866. Charlotte Chester, freed colored orphan, aged 9 years, apprenticed to John Chester, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
January 26, 1866. Maria Chester, freed colored orphan, aged 7 years, apprenticed to John Chester, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
February 7, 1866. Anna Buchanan, freed colored orphan, aged 15 years, apprenticed to Thomas A. Buchanan, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
February 8, 1866. Handy Weaver, freed colored orphan, aged 12 or 15 years, apprenticed to Josiah H. Weaver, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
February 8, 1866. Franklin Weaver, freed colored orphan, aged 11 years, apprenticed to Josiah H. Weaver, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
February 12, 1866. James K. P. Lacy, freed colored orphan, aged 16 years, apprenticed to David Lacy, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
February 12, 1866. Margaret Lacy, freed colored orphan, aged 5 years, apprenticed to David Lacy, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
February 12, 1866. Essex Lacy, freed colored orphan, aged 12 years, apprenticed to David Lacy, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
February 13, 1866. Augustus Lyon, freed colored orphan, aged 6 years, apprenticed to Wade W. Lyon, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
February 13, 1866. George Kent, freed colored orphan, aged 8 years, apprenticed to Wade W. Lyon, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
February 19, 1866. Lewis Ricketts, freed colored orphan, aged 10 years, apprenticed to William F. Jones, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
February 19, 1866. Frances Ricketts, freed colored orphan, aged 14 years, apprenticed to William F. Jones, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 18.
May 1, 1866. Kate Hunt, freed colored orphan, aged 14 years, apprenticed to Robert Hunt, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
May 22, 1866. Wesley Winchester, freed colored orphan, aged 6 years, apprenticed to William D. Winchester, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
May 24, 1866. Sambo Winchester, freed colored orphan, aged 4 years, apprenticed to William D. Winchester, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
May 24, 1866. Henry Winchester, freed colored orphan, aged 8 years, apprenticed to William D. Winchester, a planter of Madison County, until the age of 21.
January 25, 1867. Wiley Kennedy apprenticed to H. A. Barnes of Cabarras County, North Carolina, to work Mr. Barnes farm in Tennessee until January 1, 1868, at which time he will be paid $200.
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