Washington DC - Genealogy Trails - I. Stewart, Apprentice Indenture

Washington District of Columbia

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Apprentice Indenture Documents
from the District of Columbia Archives

Furnished by : John Sharp ©

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Apprentice indenture dated 1813 of
Israel Stewart to Thomas Murray

[APPRENTICSHIP No. 501 Vol. II, 67] Israel Stewart } This Indenture made this eight day of September in the year one to } thousand eight hundred and thirteen Witnesseth that Mary Thomas Murray } Ann Stewart, of the City of Washington, Hath placed and bound out and by these presents Doth place and bind out her son Israel Stewart, who on the second day of March last, was fifteen years of age, as an apprentice to Thomas Murray of the same place, Cooper - to serve him at the said trade until he attain the age of twenty one years. The said Mary Ann Stewart hereby covenants promises and engages with and to the said Thomas Murray that her said son Israel Stewart shall and will, well and punctually dwell with and serve the said Thomas Murray as his apprentice during the whole time or period aforesaid and will not depart therefore without leave - that he will obey all the lawful commands of the said master, will do no act to injure or defraud him but will, in all aspects, conduct and demean himself as a good and faithful apprentice ought to during the time of his service aforesaid. And the said Thomas Murray on his part hereby covenants and agrees with the said Mary Ann Stewart that he will well and sufficiently teach and instruct or cause to be taught and instituted the said apprentice Isreal Stewart his said trade or business of a Cooper will find and provide him sufficient clothing, board, washing, lodging and all other necessities during his time of service - will give him three months night - schooling ever winter during his time of service and when free will give him a good new suit of clothes extra and tools to the amount of ten dollars. In Witness whereof the said parties and also the said Israel Stewart (to testify to his consent hereto) have hereunto set their hands and seals on the day and year first above mention - Signed, sealed and delivered } [signed] Mary A Stewart [Seal] in the presence of } [signed] Thos. Murray [ Seal] W. Smith } his Recorded September the 8th 1813 Isaac X Stewart [Seal] mark

Apprentice indenture dated 1813 of Israel Stewart to Thomas Murray
[APPRENTICSHIP No. 501 Vol. II, 67] Israel Stewart } This Indenture made this eight day of September in the year one to } thousand eight hundred and thirteen Witnesseth that Mary Thomas Murray } Ann Stewart, of the City of Washington, Hath placed and bound out and by these presents Doth place and bind out her son Israel Stewart, who on the second day of March last, was fifteen years of age, as an apprentice to Thomas Murray of the same place, Cooper - to serve him at the said trade until he attain the age of twenty one years. The said Mary Ann Stewart hereby covenants promises and engages with and to the said Thomas Murray that her said son Israel Stewart shall and will, well and punctually dwell with and serve the said Thomas Murray as his apprentice during the whole time or period aforesaid and will not depart therefore without leave - that he will obey all the lawful commands of the said master, will do no act to injure or defraud him but will, in all aspects, conduct and demean himself as a good and faithful apprentice ought to during the time of his service aforesaid. And the said Thomas Murray on his part hereby covenants and agrees with the said Mary Ann Stewart that he will well and sufficiently teach and instruct or cause to be taught and instituted the said apprentice Isreal Stewart his said trade or business of a Cooper will find and provide him sufficient clothing, board, washing, lodging and all other necessities during his time of service - will give him three months night - schooling ever winter during his time of service and when free will give him a good new suit of clothes extra and tools to the amount of ten dollars. In Witness whereof the said parties and also the said Israel Stewart (to testify to his consent hereto) have hereunto set their hands and seals on the day and year first above mention - Signed, sealed and delivered } [signed] Mary A Stewart [Seal] in the presence of } [signed] Thos. Murray [ Seal] W. Smith } his Recorded September the 8th 1813 Isaac X Stewart [Seal] mark

Note: Thomas Murray was for many years the Master Cooper (barrel maker) of the Washington Navy Yard, he is also listed on some records as carpenter The Washington Directory [for 1822] edited by Judah Delano, William Duncan publisher, Washington DC 1822 page 60 states that Thomas Murray, in 1822, was master cooper, at navy yard and that his residence was down the north side of Pennsylvania Ave near the Eastern branch upper bridge Thomas Murray's name also appears on the May 1819 pay listing for salaried employees see http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/wny1819.html
Israel Stewart AKA Isaac Stewart was indentured to Thomas Murray by his mother Mary Ann Stewart. Israel Stewart seems to have been known as Isaac Stewart since he makes "his mark" as Isaac yet this indenture listed him as Israel Stewart a year later when his apprenticeship is rescinded [APPRENTICESHIP NO. 558 Vol. II, 101] he is Isaac Stewart.


Note: Thomas Murray was for many years the Master Cooper (barrel maker) of the Washington Navy Yard, he is also listed on some records as carpenter The Washington Directory [for 1822] edited by Judah Delano, William Duncan publisher, Washington DC 1822 page 60 states that Thomas Murray, in 1822, was master cooper, at navy yard and that his residence was down the north side of Pennsylvania Ave near the Eastern branch upper bridge Thomas Murray's name also appears on the May 1819 pay listing for salaried employees see http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/wny1819.html Israel Stewart AKA Isaac Stewart was indentured to Thomas Murray by his mother Mary Ann Stewart. Israel Stewart seems to have been known as Isaac Stewart since he makes "his mark" as Isaac yet this indenture listed him as Israel Stewart a year later when his apprenticeship is rescinded [APPRENTICESHIP NO. 558 Vol. II, 101] he is Isaac Stewart.

Release of Apprentice indenture dated 1814 of
Israel Stewart to Thomas Murray

[APPRENTICESHIP NO. 558 Vol. II, 101] Isaac Stewart } This Indenture Witnesseth that, Whereas on the eight day of release App. from } September in the year 1813, by an indenture of that date, Mary } Ann Stewart [illegible] has send Isaac Stewart, with his consent as Thomas Murray } apprentice unto Thomas Murray, Cooper, to serve him as an apprentice unto the age of twenty one years - And the said parties having agreed to rescind the Said indenture for good and sufficient causes now the said Mary Ann Stewart in consideration of the promises and of one dollar to her paid by the said Mary Ann Stewart, doth hereby release, acquit and extricate the said Thomas Murray from all the Covenants and agreements in said indenture and from all liability on account of the same and she also promises and covenants with the said Murray to indemnify fo him for any loss or future responsibility which may arise from the said indenture- The said Thomas Murray, on his part, hereby releases and acquits the said Isaac Stewart from all and any future services and from said indenture and declares him absolutely free and discharged from his apprenticeship. In Witness whereof the said parties here- unto have set their hands & seals this 25th day of November A.D. 1814. Signed sealed & deliv. & in the presence of} her {SEAL} } Mary Ann Stewart MAS [Signed] M Hewitt } mark } Recorded November 25th 1814 } [signed] Thos Murray --- (SEAL)

Release of Apprentice indenture dated 1814 of Israel Stewart to Thomas Murray
[APPRENTICESHIP NO. 558 Vol. II, 101] Isaac Stewart } This Indenture Witnesseth that, Whereas on the eight day of release App. from } September in the year 1813, by an indenture of that date, Mary } Ann Stewart [illegible] has send Isaac Stewart, with his consent as Thomas Murray } apprentice unto Thomas Murray, Cooper, to serve him as an apprentice unto the age of twenty one years - And the said parties having agreed to rescind the Said indenture for good and sufficient causes now the said Mary Ann Stewart in consideration of the promises and of one dollar to her paid by the said Mary Ann Stewart, doth hereby release, acquit and extricate the said Thomas Murray from all the Covenants and agreements in said indenture and from all liability on account of the same and she also promises and covenants with the said Murray to indemnify fo him for any loss or future responsibility which may arise from the said indenture- The said Thomas Murray, on his part, hereby releases and acquits the said Isaac Stewart from all and any future services and from said indenture and declares him absolutely free and discharged from his apprenticeship. In Witness whereof the said parties here- unto have set their hands & seals this 25th day of November A.D. 1814. Signed sealed & deliv. & in the presence of} her {SEAL} } Mary Ann Stewart MAS [Signed] M Hewitt } mark } Recorded November 25th 1814 } [signed] Thos Murray --- (SEAL)

Note: This is an example of the rescinding of an apprentice indenture "for good and sufficient causes" such actions were rare and most were due to the physical inability of one of the parties to perform the agreement. Here there are no specific reasons are provided but we may safely conjecture that the burning of the Washington Navy Yard (by Commodore Thomas Tingey and Clerk Mordecai Booth, less the yard fall to British) was the proximate cause of this revocation of this year old indenture. The War of 1812 resulted in the almost total destruction of the Washington Navy Yard on August 24, 1814 when the navy yard was set ablaze and the resulting conflagration forced the federal government to lay off almost its entire yard workforce of approximately 250 men. The fire destroyed not only the yard but the livelihood of all yard employees and for many their hardship was compounded as they lost their wages and for many their personal tools and possessions which fell victim to the fire too. Prior to the fire there had been as many as fifty apprentices working at Washington Navy Yard ( Letter of Thomas Tingey to the Board of Naval Commissioners dated August 5, 1815) but after the great fire money for wages and salaries was in short supply. Something of the Department of the Navy's tightened circumstances and attitude to the Washington Navy Yard is reflected in this remarkably candid letter from the President of the Board of Navy Commissioners, Commodore John Rodgers to WNY Commandant Thomas Tingey , dated 11 May 1815
It's the intention of the Board of the Navy Commissioners, to reestablish the Navy Yard at this place, to reestablish the Navy Yard at this place, as a building Yard only, & while stating to you this intention, it may not be improper for them to make you acquainted with their views generally with respect to the establishment.
They have witnessed in many of our Navy Yards & this particularly pressure in the employment of characters unsuited for the public service - maimed & unmanageable slaves for the accommodation of distressed widows & orphans & indigent families - apprentices for the accommodation of their masters - & old men & children for the benefit of their families & parents . These practices must cease - none must be employed but for the advantage of the public, & this Yard instead of rendering the navy odious to the nation from the scenes of want & extravagance which it has too long exhibited must serve as a model on which to prefect a general system of economy.
In making to you,- Sir, these remarks the Navy Commissioners are aware that you have with themselves long witnessed the evils of which they complain, & which every countenance will be given to assist you in remedying them, they calculate with confidence on a disposition on your part to forward the public interests.