Overseers of the Poor: Indentures of Apprenticeship

Overseers of the Poor: Indentures of Apprenticeship

Series III is comprised of Rockingham County Indentures of Apprenticeship, which were formal contracts created by the overseers to bind poor or orphaned children to a "master" with who they would learn a trade. Their term generally lasted until the age of twenty-one for males and eighteen for females. Trades were typically determined by the apprentice's sex as well. Active labor and semi-skilled artisan positions were reserved for males, while females often served their term learning to sew, spin, knit, or domestic labor.

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The Overseers of the Poor of Rockingham County

JMU Libraries

1766-1871

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