AN ACT for the regulation of the rights and duties of apprentices and
indentured servants.
WHEREAS great inconveniences do frequently result from losses sustained by masters and mistresses of
apprentices and indented servants, for want of some uniform mode of binding them and regulating their conduct and
behaviour during the term of time expressed in their respective indentures, and to prevent them from absenting
themselves from the service of their master or mistress, and punish them for their improper behavior, as well as to
make the covenants between them mutually obligatory; for remedy thereof,
Sec. 1. BE it enacted by the legislative council and house of representatives of the territory of Orleans,
in general assembly convened, That all and every person or persons who may be bound to serve either as an
apprentice in any art, mystery or occupation, or as a servant for the sole purpose of ordinary or hard labor, shall be
bound to serve the term of time expressed in their indentures respectively: Provided always, That if the party
bound as aforesaid be under the age of twenty-one years, he or she must be bound with the assent of his or her parent
or guardian or curator, or in case there be no such person in the county where the apprentice or servant resides, then
by and with the assent of the mayor of any city which now exists or may be erected hereafter in the territory of
Orleans, or the judge of the proper county, with the approbation of one or more justices of the peace within the same:
Provided nevertheless, if the party to be bound be a female, that the term of year of her apprenticeship shall
expire at or before she arrives at the age of eighteen years, and if a male at the period in which he shall arrive at the
age of twenty one years; and if the party either male or female be over the age of twenty-one years at the time of his
or her entering into indenture either of apprenticeship or servitude, they shall be perfectly at liberty to bind him or
herself (if they be of sound mind and memory) for a time not exceeding seven years, agreeable to the provisions of
this act; any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all indentures hereafter to be made and executed, shall be
signed and delivered by the party so bound, in presence of at least two witnesses, (one of whom, if the party be under
the age of twenty one years) shall be either the parent, guardian or curator, (if such exist) before the mayor of any
city, or the judge of any county in this territory who shall certify the same; and the said mayor or judge, as the case
may be, shall receive for either of their services in and about the same, the sum of five dollars; and the said judge or
mayor shall order the parties applying for indentures of apprenticeship, to draw the same according to the following
form, viz.
"This indenture, made the __________ day of __________ in the year of our Lord __________
Witnesseth, that for divers good causes and considerations, A. B. (if under the age of twenty one
years, say with the consent of his or her parent, guardian or curator, or if none such exist, then with
the consent and approbation of the mayor, judge or two justices of the peace in the proper county,)
hath bound and put him or herself apprentice unto C. D. to learn the art, trade, mystery, or
occupation of _________ which the said C. D. now useth, and to dwell and continue with the said
C. D. his executors or administrators from the day of the date hereof, until the full end and term of
_________ years; during all which period said apprentice shall faithfully serve his (or her) master or
mistress, and obey his (or her) lawful commands, and not depart said service without their consent.
And the said master or mistress, in consideration of the sum of _________ dollars, in hand paid by
the said apprentice, in the said art, trade, mystery or occupation aforesaid, with all things thereunto
belonging, shall and will teach or cause to be taught, and shall during the whole of said period find
said apprentice with good and sufficient food, meat, drink, washing and lodging, (apparel, if the
indentures express the same.) In witness whereof, the said A. B. hath hereunto set his hand and
seal, the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
E.F. A.B. [SEAL]
G.H.
And the following form shall hereafter be observed for
indentures of servitude, viz.
"This indenture, made the __________ day of __________ in the year of our Lord __________
Witnesseth, that for divers good causes and considerations, A. B. (if under the age of twenty one
years, say with the consent, &c. as in the preceding form) of the county of ___________ in the
territory of Orleans, for and in consideration of the sum of ____________ dollars to him (or her)
paid by C.D. of the same place, as also for divers other good causes, hath bound and put himself
servant to the said C. D. to serve him, his executors and assigns, from the day of the date hereof,
for and during the term of ___________ years then next ensuing, during which term the said
servant, his aid master, his executor and assigns, faithfully shall serve, and that honestly and
obediently in all things as a good servant ought to do; and the said master, his or her executors and
assigns, during the said term shall find and provide for the said A.B, sufficent meat, drink, apparel
and lodging, In witness whereof the said A.B. hath &c. as in the foregoing precedent."
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That if any master or mistress shall abuse or cruelly or evilly treat
or shall not discharge his or her duty toward his or her apprentice or servant, or if said apprentice or servant shall
abscond or absent him or herself, from the service of his or her master or mistress, without leave, or shall not do or
discharge his or her duty to his or her master or mistress, then said master of mistress, or apprentice, or servant, being
aggrieved, shall or may apply to the judge of any county where the parties reside for redress, who, after giving due
notice to the party against whom the complaint is lodged, and bring said parties, (by warrant or otherwise,) before
him, and take such order and direction between the said master and mistress, apprentice or servant as the equity and
justice of the case may require.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That when any master or mistress shall remove from this territory
or die, before the term of an apprentice who has been bound for the purpose of acquiring the knowledge of any art,
mystery, or occupation, hath expired, then the mayor of any city, or the judge of any county within this territory,
where such decedent had resided, shall have power to assign over the remainder of the term of apprenticeship, to such
other suitable person of the same trade, or calling, mentioned in the indenture; and the assigns shall have the same
rights to the service of such apprentice as the master or mistress had at the time of his or her death or removal:
Provided, That nothing in this section contained shall be so construed as to extend to servants whose
indentures are assignable, and who have been bound for the sole purpose of ordinary and hard labor.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That whenever any apprentice or bound servant shall abscond or
absent himself or herself from the service of his or her master without leave, that upon due proof being made to the
satisfaction of any mayor or judge of any county court in this territory, the said mayor or judge shall have full power
to compel the party thus absconding to serve his or her master or mistress, two days for every one that he or she has
absented him or herself, or pay such damages as said mayor or judge may think equitable and just, to his or her said
master or mistress.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That in every case where any person shall be bound in any place,
where there shall be a school established, either as an apprentice or servant, who shall be under the age of twenty one
years, there shall be as clause in their indentures binding the master or mistress, to teach or cause to be taught the said
apprentice or servant to read and write, as also to instruct him in the fundamental principles of arithmetic.
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That all laws, usages and customs on the subject of apprentices be
abrogated and repealed, and this act be in full force from and after the passage thereof.
JOHN WATKINS,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
JEAN NOEL DESTREHAN,
President of the Legislative Council.
WILLIAM C. C. CLAIBORNE,
Governor of the Territory of Orleans.
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