Below is an apprentice indenture executed in Harrison County, Indiana in 1870. Apprenticeships were used to teach the "art and mystery" of a crafts or trade. Farming apprenticeships were much less common than those of other trades. Another relatively unusual aspect of this indenture is the young age of the pledged apprentice. Document courtesy of the Conner Prairie Rural History Project Archive.
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.
