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 Aaron Spellman, son of Sarah Spellman, as he was the only "Aaron" to be apprenticed to Anna Bryan during the months of March-April of 1762. His siblings Asa, David, 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, 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 [*] 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 Aaron a free negroe Boy an orphan of deceased, aged Nine Years an Apprentice to Mrs. Anna Bryan of the ƒaid County, with him [replaced with "her"] to dwell, reƒide, and ƒerve until he the ƒaid 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 "rs."], 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 ƒ Anna Bryan will provide and allow him 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 Business and alƒo teach h to read and write before the Expiration of his 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")
Thoms. Pollock
Stephen York
Christ. Dawson
Anna Bryan
*=This was left blank, but from court records, the month was April
Source Citation: (use this information to request a photocopy from the State Archives of North Carolina)
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