Today is my Mother’s natal day; she would be ninety-four. It is also two days before Valentine’s Day; I imagine many families will be gathering in celebration. Our family, down to the grandchildren, is gathering today.

My northwestern Kentucky cousin just finished her fourth book entitled, “Bits of News”. These are extractions from her hometown newspaper. In my “home” genealogy society, we have a lady who does the obituary look ups. She also must love reading old newspapers because she keeps finding very interesting articles and calling my attention to them. Reading old newspapers is one of the basics in researching family history and should never be neglected. These old articles certainly put the meat on the bones of our ancestors.

The topic that attracted my attention this week was “indentured servitude” mentioned in two different newspaper articles. One, an ancestor of my life’s partner put a notice in his local newspaper advertising a reward for the return of a runaway female indentured servant. Our “obituary” person called attention to an article about a local resident who was formally “indentured” that gave a great deal of information about that person. Less information is known about an ancestor of mine who it was said was “indentured” until he “turned of age” for “room and keep”, whereby at age twenty one he would be given the “clothes he was wearing, a rifle, a horse, and a saddle”. Family “tradition” tells that he didn’t serve out his full indenture, but took his “rights” early, in addition to a female indentured servant, and quickly traveled “west”. This latter incident stirs the imagination quite well, yet lacks the documentation to “back it up”.

Though known for centuries, there is no direct reference to indentures in our Constitution. Article I of the Constitution does make mention that the states are not allowed to pass any law impairing he obligations of contract, and an indenture is a contract. There is record of many indentures under the 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.”

From comes the following apprentice indenture executed in Harrison County, Indiana in 1870. As mentioned on this site, farming apprenticeships were much less common than those of other trades. Although children were often indentured, the young age of this contract is quite unusual.

“Indenture of Apprenticeship between Martha J. Lynn and Joseph R. Grable and William W. Lynn

“ That the said Martha J. Lynn mother of the said William W. Lynn who was two years old on the 28th day of February 1870 hath and doth hereby bind the said William W. Lynn as an apprentice unto the said Joseph Grable until the 28th day of February 1888 to learn the trade and occupation of farming.

“And the said Martha J. Lynn covenants that the said William W. Lynn shall faithfully serve the said Grable as apprentice for said time. And the said Joseph R. Grable covenants to teach William W. Lynn said trade and occupation and provide him during said apprenticeship with all necessities proper to his age and condition and cause him to be taught to read and write and the rules of arithmetic to the double rule of three inclusive if practicable.

“And it is hereby further agreed by and between said parties that the said Martha J. Lynn is to pay the said Joseph R. Grable in consideration of the tender age of the said William the sum of fifty cents per week for the period of two years from the date of this article.

“Witness our hands and seal this the 16th day of July 1870.

“ Martha J. Lynn (seal)
“Joseph R. Grable (seal)

“State of Indiana
“County of Harrison (ss)

“On this the 16th day of July 1870 before me the undersigned authority personally appeared the above named Joseph R. Grable and Martha J. Lynn and acknowledged the execution of the foregoing indenture of apprenticeship.

“Witness my hand and official seal this 16th day of July 1870.

“ L.M. Stockslagen”

An apprentice is a person bound to another to learn from that person an art, trade, or business. The apprentice is to serve the teacher or “master” during the time of the apprenticeship.

Originally the term of “apprentice en la ley” was universally given to students of law. In the days of Edward IV of England, they were often called “apprentice ad barras”, which made the term apprentice and barrister synonymous.

The contract quoted above is entered into by indenture or deed and is to continue [normally] no longer than the minority of the apprentice. This applies, in this case, to the word apprenticeship, for it defines the period of time of the apprenticeship, which in this case is quite rare, as noted above.

The “Master”, or owner, is to teach the apprentice the knowledge contracted. He is to watch over the conduct of the apprentice; thus, fulfilling the role of “local parentis”. He is not to abuse his authority and must fulfil all the covenants he has entered into by the indenture.

The “Apprentice is bound to obey the master, care for his property, and learn the trade or business, to remain for the entire term of the contract and to perform all the covenants in the indenture. The indentured is entitled to payment for extraordinary services.

The only way to “break” an indenture is by application to a competent tribunal.

In the article given to me just recently, a Thomas Grange was bound to a Master Bricklayer. In that article there was a wealth of additional genealogical information. Thomas Grange had a full and adventurous existence. In February 1870, Mr Grange signed the articles of indenture as an apprentice to one George Thackery, brick and stone mason. [What a find, if we knew where the original sheepskin is now.] The article gives Mr Grange’s birthdate and place; when he came to “America”; when he returned to his native land and again when he returned to America. It further gives the facts that he served in the Brittish Army in both Africa [during the Zula raids] and Egypt under a well known British Officer. The article mentions the rank he attained in the British Army, as well as some of his adventurous experiences and his pay for service.

The trade that he learned in America was utilized while he served in the British Army. Furthermore, at age 77, in America, he was yet working at that trade plastering two rooms just before the article was written in April 1932.

Yes, newspaper research can furnish many gems.

e-la-Di-e-das-Di ha-WI nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da.
(May you walk in peace and harmony)

Wado,

Bill

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