Indenture of Apprenticeship

The Commonwealth of Kentucky

This Indenture made this _8th_ day of _July_ one thousand eight hundred and _sixty-seven__ between __SAML ALEXANDER  a free boy  of color who was four years old the     day of  January 1867____ by J.H. COLLINS, Clerk of the county court of Allen County, in the State of Kentucky, of one part, and _F.G. MITCHELL___ 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  F.G. MITCHELL and by the request fo consent of POTAN ALEXANDER a woman of color It is ordered by the court that SAML ALEXANDER  free boy of color (an son of said Potan) be bound as an apprentice to said F.G. MITCHELL who is a suitable person until he arrives to the age of Twenty one years to be taught the art and business of Farming in all its various branches and that the Clerk of the County Court of this (Allen) County prepare and enter into suitable Indenture with said Mitchell in behalf of said boy SAML 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 _boy Saml___ apprentice to and under the said _Mitchell__ with _him_ to dwell, and __him _ to serve, in the condition, duty, and character of an apprentice, until the said    boy Saml ___ shall arrive at the age of __Twenty one ___ years, fully to be completed and ended--- that, during all the said period, the said _boy Saml_ shall faithfully serve the said __Mitchell as his__ master, in all lawful business, according to the best of __his_ wit and ability, and in all things honestly, orderly and obediently demean and behave ___himself__; and the said ___Mitchell__  doth for __himself__ heirs, executors, and administrators, covenant and agree with the said __J.H. Collins__ that he, the said __Mitchell__ will teach the said _boy__ the trade, art, and business of __Farming__ and will find, provide for, and allow to the said __boy Sam  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 __him__  with humanity --- that he the said __F.G.Mitchell__will__ At the end of said apprenticeship of sd boy  to give him a new good suit of clothes and pay him One Hundred Dollars: Provided however that of the said Mitchell  shall teach said boy Asa  to read & write then he shall not be bound to pay said $100

In witness whereof, the said __Saml__ by the said J.H. COLLINS, Clerk as aforesaid, and the said _F.G. Mitchell____  hever hereunto set their hands and seals, on the day and year first above written

/s/ J.H. Collins Clerk

/s/ Fountain G. Mitchell