A Voyage to Colonial Williamsburg

Indentured Servant Contract

This indenture Witnesseth That of the County of York by approbation of the Court of the County aforesaid and his own Consent hath put himself apprentice to James Getty Jr. of the City of Williamsburg to learn his Art, Trade and Mystery: and after the manner of an Apprentice to serve, the said John Draper from the Day of the Date hereof for and During an unto the full one and Term of Seven Years during all which Term, the said Apprentice his said Master faithfully shall serve his Secrets, keep his Lawfull Commands at all Times readily Obey: He shall do no Damage to his said Master, nor see it be done by others without giving Notice thereof to his said Master.
He shall not waste his said Masters Goods nor lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not Commit Fornication nor contract Matrimony within the said Term. At Cards Dice or any other unlawfull Game he shall not play whereby his said Master may have Damage With his own Goods nor the Goods of others without License from his said Master he shall not buy nor sell. He shall not absent himself Day or Night from his said Masters Service without Leave or haunt Alehouses Taverns or playhouses but in all Things, behave himself as a faithful apprentice ought to do during the said Term. And the said Master shall use the utmost of his Endeavours to teach or Cause to be taught or instructed the said Apprentice in the Trade or Mystery of a Silversmith and procure or provide for him sufficient Meat Drink Cloathes Washing and Lodging fitting for an apprentice during the said Term of Six Years also teach him to read and write with freedom Dues. And for the true performance of all and singular the Covenants and Agreements aforesaid the parties bind themselves each unto the other firmly by these presents.
In Witness where of the said Parties have interchangeably set their Hands and Seals hereunto Dated the Twentieth day of May in the Eleventh Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third King of Great Britain &c. Anno Domini One Thousand Seven hundred and seventy one. James Getty Jr.
Signature of Apprentice


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