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State of Tennessee
Madison COUNTY.

This Indenture, made at Jackson Tenn this 5th day of January 186 between Lt Samuel Evans for and behalf of Belle Howlett a freed colored orphan, now 6 years of age, of the one part, and H.R. Howlett a planter of Madison county Tenn of the other, witnesseth:

That the said Lt Samuel Evans Superintendent R. F. & A. L., does bind out and apprentice to the said Howlett the said orphan Belle Howlett 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 Howlett as an apprentice from the fate 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 Lt Evans doth covenant with the said Howlett to demean herself well and faithfully as an apprentice, obeying fully the commands of the said Howlett 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 Howlett.

And for and in Consideration of the service faithfully performed as aforesaid by the said orphan the said Howlett 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 dollars in current money and one new suit of clothes; and the said Howlett 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 another person as he shall deem fit.

And for the faithful Observance of the aforesaid obligations on the part of H.R. Howlett of the second part, he, the said H.R. Howlett and his surety [empty line] acknowledge themselves, their heirs, executors, etc., held and bound unto the said Lt Evans for the use of said orphan in the sum of one thousand dollars.