Indenture
of Apprenticeship
The
Commonwealth of Kentucky
This Indenture made this _14th_ day of _March_ one
thousand eight hundred and _seventy__ between _GEORGIA BRUCE a girl
of color____ by J.H. COLLINS, Clerk of the county court of Allen County, in
the State of Kentucky, of one part, and __ROBT D. HARRIS___ of the other
part;
Whereas, by an act of the General Assembly, the Judge of said
Court is empowered to bind out orphans and poor children, which parents are
incapable of bringing them up in moral courses, therefore the Court made the
following order, to-wit:
On motion of Plff LOW (?) SHELBY and it appearing to the satisfaction
of the court the Deft W. ANDERSON had been duly summoned according to law
appeared in court and gave his consent for the girl ?? BRUCE of color who is
now living with him to be bound as an apprentice and the plff
LOUISA SHELBY who claims the right to have said girl bound to her also came
into court and abandoned that right; Wherefore it is ordered that GEO BRUCE a
girl of color who was 9 years old the 15 day of June 1869 who has no relations
living who are able to raise & support her be bound as an apprentice to ROBERT
D. HARRIS who is a suitable person until
she arrives to the age of 18 years to be taught the art and business of
Housekeeping in all its various branches. and that the
clerk of the Clerk prepare and enter into suitable Indenture with said Walker
in behalf of said girl CAROLINE BELL conditioned according to law.
Now, therefore, this
Indenture Witnesseth, that the said J.H.
COLLINS, clerk of said Court, as above recited, hath put, place dna bound, and
by these presents, doth put, place and bind the said __George Bruce___
apprentice to and under the said _Robt D. Harris__
with _him_ to dwell, and __& _ to serve, in the condition,
duty, and character of an apprectice, until the said
__minor___ shall arrive at the age of __Eighteen ___ years, fully
to be completed and ended--- that, during all the said period, the said _minor
Geo Bruce __ shall faithfully serve the said __Harris__ master, in
all lawful business, according to the best of __her_ wit and ability,
and in all things honestly, orderly and obediently demean and behave ___herself__;
and the said ___Harris__ doth for
__himself__ heirs, executors, and administrators, covenant and
agree with the said __. Collins__ that he, the said __. Harris__
will teach the said __minor__ the trade, art, and business of __Housekeeping__
and will find, provide for, and allow to the said __minor ___ sufficient diet, wearing apparel, washing,
lodging, proper medical attention, and all other things usually allowed to
apprentices by good and just masters, and will treat __her__ with humanity --- that he the said __Harris__will__ at the end of the apprenticeship
of the said minor to give her a new good suit of clothing suitable to the
season and pay her Fifty dollars: Provided however that is said Harris shall
teach said minor girl Geo. Bruce to read
& write then he shall not be bound to pay said Fifty dollard
In witness whereof, the said __George Bruce__ by the said J.H. COLLINS,
Clerk as aforesaid, and the said ___R.D. Harris__ have hereunto set their hands and seals, on
the day and year first above written
/s/ J.H. Collins Clerk
Allen Co court
/s/ Robert S. Harris
*This document is written
in longhand rather than on the standard form*