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State of Tennessee
Madison County. 

This Indenture, made at Jackson this 1 day of January 1866 between Samuel Eavens Lt & Spt for and in behalf of Malissa Sims a freed colored orphan, now (11) Eleven years of age, of the one part, and R W Sims a planter of Madison county, Ten of the other, witnesseth:

That the said Samul Eavens Superintendent R.F. & A.L., does bind out and apprentice to the said R W Sims the said orphan Malisa 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 R W Sims 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 Samul Eavans doth covenant with the said Malisa Sims to demean herself well and faithfully as an apprentice, obeying fully the commands of the said R W Sims 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 R W Sims

And for and in Consideration of the service faithfully performed as aforesaid by the said orphan the said R W Sims of the second part, doth covenant and agree to instruct, or cause to be instructed, the said orphan in the art of business of a laborer of 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 dollars in current money and one new suit of clothes; and the said R W Sims agrees that the said orphan shall not be removed out of the State 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 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 R W Sims of the second part, he, the said R W Sims and his surety E.B Mason acknowledge themselves, their heirs, executors, etc., held and bound unto the said Samuel Eavens for the use of said orphan in the sum of one thousand dollars.