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Apprentice Indenture Documents
from the District of Columbia Archives

Furnished by : John Sharp ©

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			[Apprenticeship  No. 206 (Vol. I, 172 -173]


					         172
 This Indenture Witnesseth, that George Liedman Morgan Dement an orphan boy by & 
with the consent of his mother Elizabeth Dement hath put himself and by these presents 
doth voluntarily and of his own free will  put himself apprentice to John Hebron  - Ship -
calker, to learn his art trade and mystery and after the manner of an apprentice to serve 
the Said John Hebron from the day of the date hereof, for and during and to the full end and  
term of five years, five months & eighteen  days , next ensuing - During all which 
time he the said Apprentice his said master faithfully shall serve, his secrets keep his 
lawful commands every where readily obey, he shall do no damage to his master, nor see 
it done by others, without letting or giving notice thereof to his said master, he shall not 
waste his said masters nor lend them unlawfully to any, he shall not commit fornication 
nor contract matrimony within the said term.  He shall not play at cards, dice, or any 
others unlawful game whereby his said master may have damage. With his own goods 
nor the goods of others, without license from his said master service without his leave; 
nor haunt ale houses, taverns, or play - houses; but in all things behave himself as a 
faithful apprentice ought to do, during said term. And the said master shall use the utmost 
of his endeavors to teach or cause to be taught or instructed the said apprentice in the 
trade or mystery of caulker in and procure and provide for him sufficient meat, drink, and 
working apparel, lodging and washing, fitting for an apprentice during the said term. And 
to send him to a night school, three months in each year so that he may be taught to cast 
up accounts, also a freedom suit of clothes, and a set of tools. And for the true 
performance of all and singular the covenants and agreements, either of the said parties 
bind themselves unto the other by these presents in witness whereof they have 
interchangeably put their hands and seals hereunto.  Dated the twentieth day of June 
Anno Domini this one thousand eight hundred and eight in the presence of 
Saml N. Smallwood 	 				  John Hebron       (SEAL)
							        her 
						      Elizabeth  X   Dement ( SEAL)
							        mark

						       George L.M. Dement  (SEAL)

District of Columbia    } 
Washington County to wit}
				
We the subscribers two Justices of the peace
 in & for the Said County have examined the within
 Indenture & do approve of the same according to law 
				Saml N. Smallwood 
                                Dan Alpine 

Recorded the 20th day of June 1808

 

Notes:
John Hebron, WNY Master Caulker, employed a number of indentured apprentices; including "George Diamond" AKA George Liedman Morgan Dement who was Indentured to Hebron 20 June 1808.

Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith in a letter to WNY Commandant, Commodore Thomas Tingey, agreed to raise Master Caulker John Hebron wages from $ 2.50 per day to $ 2.81

Caulking is the process by which wooden ships are made watertight. To seal the cracks between the ship's wooden planks, caulkers use a caulking iron and mallet to stuff them with oakum (pieces of old rope) soaked in pitch (a dark, sticky substance like tar). When the wood gets wet, it swells, narrowing the cracks between the planks. The oakum also swells, ensuring that absolutely no water can leak through the cracks. Caulking requires a great degree of skill and experience to be done properly.

The 25 April 1808 list written by Josiah Fox for Thomas Tingey listed John Hebron as Foreman Caulker with his Assitant Foreman John Coleson. WNY caulkers were composed of both free and enslaved African Americans. At WNY men such as George Bell, Moses Liverpool and Nicholas Franklin were able to purchase their freedom, support their families and become leaders in the African American Community. WNY and other naval and commercial shipyards in the first half of the 1800s employed large numbers of black caulkers. Although blacks also worked in other maritime trades (although they were banned from the prestigious position of ship carpenter), their roles as caulkers is especially significant because they dominated this industry.

 

 

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