Enslavement in Pennsylvania

A Comparison of Servant Agreements

The following two articles were taken from the book Two Hundred Years in Cumberland County, which was published in 1951 by The Hamilton Library and Historical Association of Cumberland County, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. They represent an interesting contrast between the servitude agreements for two young men, one white and one black:

BOUND-BOY APPRENTICE
1765
ART, TRADE AND MYSTERY OF A BLACKSMITH

THIS INDENTURE, Witnesseth That John Brown to and with the Consent of his Mother Jane Brown Hath put himself, and by these Presents, he the said John Brown doth voluntarily, and of his own free Will and Accord, put himself Apprentice to James Robinson of East Pennsbro, Blacksmith to learn his Art, Trade and Mystery, and after the Manner of an Apprentice to serve him in Pennsylvania from the Day of the Date hereof, for, and during, and to the full End and Term of four years next ensuing. During all which Term, the said Apprentice his said Master faithfully shall serve, his Secrets keep, his lawful Commands every where readily obey. He shall not waste his said Master's Goods, nor lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not commit Fornication, nor contract Matrimony, within the said Term: At Cards, Dice, and any other unlawful Games, 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 neither buy nor sell. He shall not absent himself Day or Night from his said Master's Service without his Leave: Nor 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 Endeavor to teach, or cause to be Taught and instructed the said Apprentice in the Trade or Mystery of a Blacksmith and procure and provide for him sufficient Meat, Drink, Apparrall, Lodging and Washing, fitting for an Apprentice, during the said Term of Four Years & at the Expiration of said Term Give to the said Apprentice One sute of Broad Cloath Cloths of the Value of five pounds.

AND for the true Performance of all and singular the Covenants and Agreements aforesaid, the said Parties bind themselves each unto the other firmly by these Presents. IN WITNESS whereof the said Parties have interchangeably set their Hands and Seals hereunto. Dated the Twentyeth Day of May in the fifth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Third King of Great Britain, &c. Annoque Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Five.
JAMES ROBENSON
JOHN BROWN
Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us
ANDR. COLHOUN
HENRY CUNNINGHAM

From original in the Hamilton Library.
Words in italics were filled in by hand.
(The Hamilton Library and Historical Association of Cumberland County, Two Hundred Years in Cumberland County; The Telegraph Press, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; 1951; pages 45-46.)

TWELVE YEARS TO FREEDOM
1811
INDENTURE OF THE NEGROE RICHARD

This indenture made the Sixth day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven Witnesseth that Negroe Richard aged about Sixteen years, in consideration that Isaac Brown Parker, by his Deed of Manumission bearing even date with these presents, did set free from Slavery the said Negroe Richard on condition that the said Negroe Richard shall serve the said Isaac his Heirs and assigns untill he the said Negroe Richard shall attain the age of twenty eight years, and for the farther consideration of One dollar lawful money of the United States to the said Negroe Richard paid, and also for other good causes, Hath bound and put himself and by these presents Doth bind and put himself Servant to the said Isaac Brown Parker to serve him his Heirs Executors and assigns from the day of the date of these presents untill he the said Negroe Richard shall have attained the age of twenty eight years which will be on the Sixth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three thence next ensuing the date hereof and fully to be compleated and ended, during all which time or term, the said Servant his said Master, his executors and assigns faithfull shall Serve, and that Honestly and obediently in all things as a good and dutiful Servant ought to do.

And the said Isaac Brown Parker his executors and assigns during the said term shall find and provide for the said Negroe Richard sufficient meat, drink, apparel, Lodging and washing and at the expiration thereof shall give to the said Negroe Richard one Suit of Apparel which shall be new.

In Witness whereof the said Negroe Richard and the said Isaac Brown Parker have hereunto set their hand and Seals the day and year first above written.
Richard his (Seal)
X
mark
I. B. Parker (Seal)
Signed Sealed and Delivered
In the presence of
Wm. B. Parker
Thos. B. Veazey

From the original deed poll in the Hamilton Library.
(The Hamilton Library and Historical Association of Cumberland County, Two Hundred Years in Cumberland County; The Telegraph Press, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; 1951; pages 109-110.)

For another comparison of servitude, see June 8, 1738: Two women are advertised for sale, one white, one Black

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Original material on these pages copyright 2023 Afrolumens Project.
The excerpts from the book on this page are copyright 1951 by the Hamilton Library Association.