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State of Tennessee
Lauderdale COUNTY.

This Indenture, made at Memphis Tenn this 28th day of December 1865 between Maj A. T. Reeve for and in behalf of Robert a freed colored orphan, now 13 years of age, of the one part, and Hiram Partee a planter of Lauderdale county Tennessee of the other, witnesseth:

That the said Maj A. T. Reeve Superintendent R. F. & A. L., does bind out and apprentice to the said Hiram Partee the said orphan Robert to be taught to labor and perform such work as is customary on a farm or plantation, and to live with and serve the said Hiram Partee as an apprentice from the date hereof till the said orphan shall arrive at the age of 21 years; during all of which time the said orphan through his lawful guardian the said Maj A. T. Reeve doth covenant with the said Hiram Partee to demean himself well and faithfully as an apprentice, obeying fully the commands of the said Hiram Partee or his lawful agent, and in all respects to behave himself as a faithful apprentice; neither neglecting nor leaving his business without the permission of the said Hiram Partee.

And for and in consideration of the service faithfully performed as aforesaid by the said orphan the said Hiram Porter of the seconds part, doth covenant and agree to instruct, or cause to be instructed, the said orphan in the art or business of a laborer or farmer, and also to read and write the English language and to cipher as far as the rule of three; and also to provide and furnish the said orphan with comfortable clothing, wholesome food and drink and all other necessaries in sickness and health; and also, at the expiration of the term of service to allow and give said orphan the sum of one hundred fifty dollars in current money and one new suit of clothes; and the said Hiram Partee agrees that the said orphan shall not be removed out of the County in which he is bound without the consent of his guardian.

It is further Agreed by the contracting parties that if, on complaint to the guardian, it shall appear that said orphan or apprentice is ill used or not taught as provided for the above, said guardian shall remove and bind said orphan to such other person as he shall deem fit.

And for the faithful Observance of the aforesaid obligations on the part of Hiram Partee of the second part, he, the said Hiram Partee and his surety Prisly T. Glass acknowledge themselves, their heirs, executors, etc., held and bound unto the said Maj A. T. Reeve for the said orphan in the sum of one thousand dollars.