Apprenticed: John to David B.M. Sheppard (1871)

Bond

“State of Georgia, Liberty County } Know all men by these presents, that we David B.M. Sheppard as principal and W. Alexander Sheppard as security are held and firmly bound unto the Honorable William P. Girardeau ordinary for said County and his successors in office in the sum of six hundred dollars ($600.00) for which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals and dated at Hinesville, this second day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one (1871).” 

“The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the Ordinary aforesaid has this day bound unto the said David B.M. Sheppard John, a poor colored illegitimate child of Peggy Miller deceased, for the term of eleven years to learn the art or mistery of husbandry. Now should the said David B.M. Sheppard  treat, use and deal with the said apprentice in accordance to the Indenture of Apprenticeship made and entered into the said Ordinary and the said David B.M. Sheppard on the day of the date of this Instrument of Writing, and in accordance to the act of the Legislature in such case made and provided, then this obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. “ 

Apprenticeship Record

“State of Georgia, Liberty County } This indenture made and entered into by and between William P. Girardeau, Ordinary for the County aforesaid of the one part and David B.M. Sheppard of the said county of the other part, witnesseth that the said Ordinary hath this day bound and put as apprentice to the said David B.M. Sheppard, John, an illegitimate child of Peggy Miller, colored deceased, to learn the art or mistery of Husbandry, and after the manner of an apprentice to serve him the said David B.M. Sheppard from the day of the date hereof, during the full term of eleven (11) years or until he shall arrive at the age of twenty one, all of which time, his said master, he shall faithfully obey, he shall do no damage to his said Master, nor see it done by others, without giving him notice thereof; he shall not contract matrimony within the said term, he shall not absent himself, by day or by night, from his said master’s service without his leave but in all things behave himself as a faithful apprentice sought to do during the said term; and the said master shall use the utmost of his Endeavours to teach and instruct the said apprentice, in the art or mistery of  husbandry, and provide for him the said apprentice sufficient meat, drink, apparel and lodging, and all other things fitting for an apprentice, during the said time, and the said master is to give the said apprentice, the schooling and education required by the act of the legislature in such case made and provided. 

And for the true performance of all and singular the covenants aforesaid, the parties bind themselves each unto the other firmly by these presents. [date obscured by paper on top].

[witnesses obscured by paper]

[Signed] W.A. Sheppard
W.P. Girardeau O.L.C.

Recorded this [obscured] November 1871
J.A. Girardeau D.C.C.O.L.C.