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State of Tenessee
Madison County.

This Indenture made at Jackson Tennessee this 11th day of December 1865, between Lt Samuel Evans for and in behalf of Catharine Shelton a freed colored orphan, now ten years of age, of the one part, and Henry W Shelton a planter of Madison county Tennessee of the other, witnesseth:

That the said Lt Samuel Evans Ass't Superintendent R. F. & A. L., does bind out and apprentice to the said Henry W Shelton the said orphan Catharine Shelton 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 Henry W Shelton as an apprentice from the date hereof till the said orphan shall arrive at the age of 18 years; During all of which time the said orphan through her lawful guardian the said Catharine Shelton doth covenant with the said Henry. W. Shelton to demean herself well and faithfully as an apprentice, obeying fully the commands of the said Henry W Shelton or his lawful agent, and in all respects to behave herself as a faithful apprentice; neither neglecting nor leaving his business without the permission of the said Henry W Shelton

And for and in Consideration of the service faithfuly performed as aforesaid by the said orphan the said Henry W Shelton of the second 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 Fifty (50.00) dollars in current money and one new suit of clothes; and the said Henry W Shelton agrees that the said orphan shall not be removed out of the State in which she 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 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 Catharine Shelton of the second part, he, the said Henry W Shelton and his surety __ acknowledge themselves, their heirs, executors, etc., held and bound unto the said Lt Samuel Evans for the use of said orphan in the sum of one thousand dollars.