The following transcription is of a document found as a loose paper inside a digitized record book of the Liberty County Court of Ordinary. It appears to be a standard apprenticeship form altered to fit the circumstances of Daniel Bacon, who was being committed to labor on Susan A. Way’s plantation until he became 21 by his aunt, Cinder [alt: Cinda] Walthour. For an additional document relating to Daniel Bacon, considered a “colored orphan” and identified as the orphan of Quash Bacon, click here.
[Begin transcription]
Georgia, Liberty County }
This indenture made this 3d day of July County of Liberty, Georgia, 1866, between Cinder Walthour and Daniel Bacon her nephew being of the age of nine years, both of said County of the one part, and Susan A. Way of the same County of the other part, witnesseth that the said Daniel Bacon does by the consent of the said Cinder Walthour bind himself out to the said Susan A. Way of said County as laborer upon the plantation of the said Susan A. Way to be taught the said [words “craft or trade” crossed out] of [left blank] and to live with, continue and serve the said Susan A. Way as [word ‘apprentice’ crossed out and “laborer’ written in] from the date hereof, for and during the full space of twelve (12) years.
During all which time the said [“Daniel Bacon” crossed out and “Cinder Walthour” written in] doth covenant with the said Susan A. Way that the said Daniel Bacon shall will and faithfully demean himself as such an apprentice observing and obeying fully the commands of the said Susan A. Way and in all things deporting and behaving himself as a faithful apprentice to her the said Susan A. Way neither revealing his secrets nor at any time ?leaving? or neglecting the business of the said Susan A . Way.
And for and in consideration of the services well and faithfully rendered as aforesaid by the said Daniel Bacon of the first part and Susan A. Way of the second part doth covenant, promise and agree to instruct his [SIC] said apprentice, or otherwise cause him to be well and faithfully instructed in the said trade of [left blank] labor, and also to read and write the English language and in the common rules of arithmetic, and shall also allow furnish and provide his [SIC] said apprentice with the meat and drink and clothing during the said term, and all the other necessaries meet and proper in sickness and in health and shall also at the expiration of the said term allow to the said apprentice the sum of one hundred (100) dollars and two suits of clothing to be to him paid and given to said Daniel apprentice of said Susan A. Way of second part.
Witness our hands and seal the day and year above written in presence of
J.E. Way
M.B. Spencer
[signed] Susan A. Way
Cinder Walthour [signed by mark]
Daniel Bacon [signed by mark]
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Source: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893L-RV2P?cc=1999178&wc=9SYY-ZNB%3A267679901%2C268021301 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Probate records 1784-1912 > image 253 of 256