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Apprentice Indenture Documents
from the District of Columbia Archives

Furnished by : John Sharp ©

[Apprenticeship No. 1929 Vol. V.432 -433] 432 George Bell to Alfred Jones This Indenture made the 21st day of May 1845 by and between Samuel Drury and William Waters two Justices of the Peace of the County of Washington in the District of Columbia of the first part and Alfred Jones of the said County Barber of the other part Witnesseth that the Said Samuel Drury and William Waters as Justices of the Peace aforesaid by virtue of the power and authority to them given in an act of the general assembly passed in November session in the one thousand and ninety of our entitled an act for the better regulation of apprentices have placed and bound out by them presents do so place and bind out as a apprentice George Bell who on the 1st day of October next will of the age of eight years old and son of Emily Bell testified by her sealing and delivering these presents unto the said Alfred Jones to learn the art trade and mystery of the Barbers Business after the manner of an apprentice the said George Bell to dwell with and serve the Said Alfred Jones from the date of these presents unto the 1st day of Oct 1855 when the said George Bell shall attain to the age eighteen years during all which time and then the said George Bell shall the said Alfred Jones well and truly artfully serve in all such lawful business as the said George Bell shall be put unto by his said master according to the power and ability of him the said George Bell and honestly and obediently in things shall behave himself and obediently in all things shall behave himself toward his said master and honestly and orderly towards rest of the family of the said Alfred Jones. And the said Alfred Jones on his part having provided consent and agree to Teach and instruct the said apprentice or cause him to be taught and instructed in the art or trade or calling of a Barber by the best instruction he can and also to teach and instruct the said apprentices or cause him to be taught and instructed to unto the as far as the rule of three if the said apprentice be capable to learn and shall faithfully and shall and faithfully bind and provide for the said apprentice good and sufficient meat drink clothing and other necessities fit for and convenient for such apprentice during the term aforesaid and at the end thereof shall give unto the said apprentice two suits of wearing apparel and one suit for Sundays and the other for working days. In testimony thereof the said Samuel Drury and Alfred Jones have set their hand & seals the day and years first above written Signed Sealed and Delivered } [Signed] Samuel Drury {SEAL} In the Presence of William Waters } [Signed} William Waters {SEAL} Samuel Drury } her Emily X Bell Mark Approved by the Govt and Recorded Jun 4, 1845

Note: Alfred Jones 1816 -1877 born in Virginia he came to Washington from Fredericksburg and about 1836 or 1837 opened a barbershop he later went into grain business the 1850 census for the District of Columbia Roll M432 56 page 21 image 45 describes him as a grain huckster and states his estate is valued at $ 1,000. The 1870 Census for the District of Columbia (Roll M 593 page 184 image 374) which list Alfred Jones as feed dealer and states his personal property is worth $ 20, 000 and his property worth $ 20, 000 making Alfred Jones one of the District of Columbia''s wealthiest African American's. Although not stated George Bell is an African American prior to the Civil War and for long afterward there are no records of whites being apprenticed to black tradesmen (See Dorothy S. Provine Introduction and page 239).

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