23

Indenture of Apprenticeship

The Commonwealth of Kentucky

This Indenture made this _10th_ day of _December    one thousand eight hundred and _Sixty-Six__ between __MELVINAH MOORE a free girl  of color who     years old the       day of  ____ by J.H. COLLINS, Clerk of the county court of Allen County, in the State of Kentucky, of one part, and _SIMPSON MOORE_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 and at the request of SIMPSON MOORE it is ordered that Joseph  aged     years the    day of           18   all negroes & children of color be bound as apprentices to said Simpson , who is a son of J.W. MOORE their former owner the said SIMPSON being a suitable person the boys JOSEPH and NEWTON until they arrive to the age fo 21 years to be taught the art and business of farming; And the girl MELVINAH until she arrive to the age of 18 years to be taught the art and business of House Keeping and that the clerk of the county court prepare and enter into suitable indenture with said MOORE on behalf of said children JOSEPH MELVINAH and NWTON 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 and  bound, and by these presents, doth put, place and bind the said __Melvina Moore as an___ apprentice to and under the said _Moore__ with _him_ to dwell, and __him _ to serve, in the condition, duty, and character of an apprentice, until the said    Melvinah Moore___ shall arrive at the age of __Eighteen ___ years, fully to be completed and ended--- that, during all the said period, the said _Melvinah__ shall faithfully serve the said __Moore as her, 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 __Simpson Moore__  doth for __himself___heirs, executors, and administrators, covenant and agree with the said __J.H. Collins__ that he, the said __Moore__ will teach the said _ Melvinah __ the trade, art, and business of __Housekeeping__ and will find, provide for, and allow to the said __Melvinah___  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 __Simpson Moore__will__ at the end of the apprenticeship give  said girl Melvinah  a new good suit of clothes and pay her Fifty dollars: Provided however that if the said Moore shall teach said girl  to read & write then he shall not be bound to pay said Fifty dollars

In witness whereof, the said _Melvinah Moore__ by the said J.H. COLLINS, Clerk as aforesaid, and the said __Simpson Moore____  hever hereunto set their hands and seals, on the day and year first above written

/s/ J.H. Collins Clerk Allen county cout

/s/ Simpson Moore