Apprenticeship bond of Lydia Spellman, Craven County, April 7, 1762

Although no last name is given in this apprenticeship paper, research in the county court records for Craven County show that this is Lydia Spellman, daughter of Sarah Spellman, as she was the only "Lydia" to be apprenticed to Anna Bryan during the months of March-April of 1762. Her siblings Aaron, Asa, and David Spellman

The ƒ character signifies the "f" used in colonial text, usually in cases of a double "s" where the first "s" looks like an "f" (ex: "witnefseth" instead of "witnesseth"), but it some cases, all "s" looks like an "f" (ex: "witneffeth"), in which case there will be double "ƒƒ"

This form was type-set with blanks for writing in names and dates. I have tried to duplicate that, but not all computers will show it as it depends on the fonts your computer has on it. If the script doesn't show up on your computer, the text size should be larger at least where it should appear, since I had to make the script text larger in order to be legible. Same goes for the signatures at the end.

This Indenture, made the Seventh Day of april in the Year of our Lord One Thousdand Seven Hundred Sixty Two Witneƒƒeth, That Jacob Blount Thomas Pollock and Christopher Dawson Eƒqrs. Juƒtices of Craven County Court have put and placed Lydia a free Negroe Girl an orphan of deceased, aged Thirteen Years an Apprentice to M^rs. Anna Bryan of the ƒaid County, with him to dwell, reƒide, and ƒerve until she the ƒsaid Apprentice ƒhall arrive at the Age of Eighteen Years, according to the Act of Aƒƒembly in that Caƒe made and provided ; during all which Time the ƒaid Apprentice his ƒaid Maƒter [replaced with "Mrs"] ƒhall faithfully ƒerve in all lawful Buƒineƒs, and orderly and obediently in all things behave herƒelf towards her ƒaid Maƒter [replaced with Mrs.], for and during the ƒaid Term, as an Apprentice ought to do. And the ƒaid Anna Bryan doth covenant, promiƒise and agree, to and with the ƒaid Juƒ;tices, and their Succeƒƒors, that he the ƒ Anna Bryan will provide and allow him [replaced with "her"] ƒaid Apprectice convenient and ƒufficent Meat, Drink, Lodging, and Appearrel, and uƒe his [replaced with "her"] beƒt Endeavours to inƒtruct her in the Art and Calling of a House and Plantation Buƒsineƒs and alƒo teach him to read and write before the Expiration of h Apprenticeƒhip. IN WITNESS whereof, the ƒaid Juƒtices by the Clerk of their County Court, and the ƒaid Anna Bryan hereunto Interchangeably ƒet their Heands and Seals, the Day and Year ƒirƒt above written.

    Signed, Sealed, and Delivered,
   in the Preƒence of

Jacob Blount
Lom Lane (? hard to read, very fancy script which means it illegible, surname could be "Land")
Thom^s. Pollock
Stephen York
Chris^t. Dawson
Anna Bryan

Source Citation: (use this information to request a photocopy from the State Archives of North Carolina)

• Call number at the State Archives of North Carolina: C.R. 028.101.1
• Series: Craven County
• Box: Apprentice Bonds
• Folder: Apprentice Bonds and Records 1748, 1754, 1757, 1759, 1761-65, 1768-69
• Document: Lydia, April 7, 1762

Apprenticeship bond of David Spellman Craven County, April 7, 1762

This is the Apprenticeship papers of David Spellman, brother to Asa and Aaron Spellman, which were already put up on the blog last week. I have one more to include, which is for their sister Lydia, and I will try to get that up within the next few days. I do have more records on this family, but unfortunately they are buried under stacks and stacks of document copies that I have here in my home office and I'm tied up with school to go searching for them. I have a short break in August and will try to hunt down the documents, as well as finding other jewels to add. I do believe one of the documents I have, which really ties this family together, is a court order for Anne/Anna Bryan to show just cause why she is keeping these 4 past age 21, and the document I believe names their mother, named Sarah. Also, according to my database (family tree maker), I have copies of 2 court cases listing listing 2 other sons of Sarah: Jacob and Toney. I will try hard to find these!

Although no last name is given and no month is given in this apprenticeship paper, research in the county court records for Craven County show that this is David Spellman, son of Sarah Spellman, as he was the only "David" to be apprenticed to Anna Bryan during the months of March-April of 1762. His siblings Aaron, Asa, and Lydia were bound out the same day.

Note: the ƒ character signifies the "f" used in colonial text, usually in cases of a double "s" where the first "s" looks like an "f" (ex: "witnefseth" instead of "witnesseth"), but it some cases, all "s" looks like an "f" (ex: "witneffeth"), in which case there will be double "ƒƒ"

Note: This form was type-set with blanks for writing in names and dates. I have tried to duplicate that by putting the hand written text in larger font italics since the ƒ is already in a type of italic.

This Indenture, made the Seventh Day of april in the Year of our Lord One Thousdand Seven Hundred Sixty Two Witneƒƒeth, That Jacob Blount Thomas Pollock and Christopher Dawson Eƒqrs. Juƒtices of Craven County Court have put and placed David a free Negroe Boy an orphan of deceased, aged seven Years an Apprentice to M^rs. Anna Bryan of the ƒaid County, with him to dwell, reƒide, and ƒerve until he the ƒsaid Apprentice ƒhall arrive at the Age of Twentyone Years, according to the Act of Aƒƒembly in that Caƒe made and provided ; during all which Time the ƒaid Apprentice his ƒaid Maƒter [replaced with "Mrs"] ƒhall faithfully ƒerve in all lawful Buƒineƒs, and orderly and obediently in all things behave himƒelf towards his ƒaid Maƒter [replaced with Mrs.], for and during the ƒaid Term, as an Apprentice ought to do. And the ƒaid Anna Bryan doth covenant, promiƒise and agree, to and with the ƒaid Juƒ;tices, and their Succeƒƒors, that (s)he the ƒaid Anna Bryan will provide and allow him [replaced with "her"] ƒaid Apprectice convenient and ƒufficent Meat, Drink, Lodging, and Appearrel, and uƒe his beƒt Endeavours to inƒtruct him in the Art and Calling of Plantation Buƒsineƒs and alƒo teach him to read and write before the Expiration of h Apprenticeƒhip. IN WITNESS whereof, the ƒaid Juƒtices by the Clerk of their County Court, and the ƒaid Anna Bryan hereunto Interchangeably ƒet their Heands and Seals, the Day and Year ƒirƒt above written.

    Signed, Sealed, and Delivered,
  in the Preƒence of

Jacob Blount
Lom Lane (? hard to read, very fancy script which means it illegible, surname could be "Land")
Thom^s. Pollock
Stephen York
Chris^t. Dawson
Anna Bryan

Source Citation: (use this information to request a photocopy from the State Archives of North Carolina)

• Call number at the State Archives of North Carolina: C.R. 028.101.1
• Series: Craven County
• Box: Apprentice Bonds
• Folder: Apprentice Bonds and Records 1748, 1754, 1757, 1759, 1761-65, 1768-69
• Document: David, April 7, 1762