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Apprentice Indenture Documents
from the District of Columbia Archives

Furnished by : John Sharp ©

[APPRENTICSHIP No. 175 Vol. I, 147] 147 Charles Venable } District of Columbia Washington County Indent to } This Indenture Witnesseth that Charles Venable Benj King } son of Wm Venable by the advice and consent of his said father hath put himself apprentice to Benj King of the said County to learn the art and trade or mystery of a Blacksmith plumber & founder, and after the manner of an apprentice to serve from the day of the date hereof for an during the full term of five years from 20th Oct 1807 next ensuing during which time he the said apprentice his master faithfully shall secure his secrets keep, his lawful commands every where gladly 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 goods, nor lend them unlawfully to any others. He shall not commit fornication nor contract matrimony within the said term. At cards, dice or any other unlawful games he shall not play. he shall not absent himself day or night from his said masters business without his said master leave, nor visit ale houses ; nor haunt, 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 Blacksmith &'c &c and procure and provide for him the said apprentice sufficient meat, drink, and working apparel, lodging and washing, fitting for an apprentice during the said term of five years, to give said Charles Venable to send him each winter night to school during the aforesaid term. And for the true performance of all and every of the said covenants and agreements to either of the said parties bind themselves unto the other by these presents. In Witness thereof the have interchangeably put their hands and seals this 6 th day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and seven - . his Signed sealed & delivered in } Wm Venable X {SEAL} presence of } mark Saml Smallwood } Charles Venable {SEAL} Robt. Alexander } Benj King {SEAL} Recorded the 11th Day of August 1807

Note: Blacksmith Apprentice Charles Venable's ( birth circa 1794 death after 1827) name is listed in an enclosure to a letter of Washington Navy Yard Commandant Thomas Tingey to the Secretary of the Navy dated 12 May 1808 enumerating the employees in the Blacksmith Shop. Charles Venable is counted as an apprentice to Benjamin King, Master Blacksmith, Venable wage is given as 80cents per day. Charles Venable's name is again listed on July 1811 Pay Roll for Blacksmiths employed in the Navy -Yard, Washington where Venable is listed as working as apprentice Blacksmith to Benjamin King, Master Blacksmith, at the rate of $1.37 per day. Benjamin King in accord with the practice of the day signed for the apprentice wages. The 1820 census for the District of Columbia, (roll M133 -5 p. 126, image 132.) enumerated Charles Venable's household as consisting of : 2 males under 10 years of age, 1 male 10 to 16 years of age and one male 16 -26 years of age. The same census lists 2 females 16 -26 years of age and one female 26-45 years of age. Charles Venable is listed as having one female slave age 14 to 26 years of age. The Manumission and Emancipation Record of the District of Columbia (Registration No, 275 Vol. pages 30--302) reflects that Charles Venable manumit his slave Elizabeth Jackson age 21 for the nominal sum of five dollars on 24 December 1824. In 1827 Charles Venable, again, appears in the Manumission Record this time swearing that Henry Doughlass was born free and raised in Washington (Registration No. 459 Vol. 1 p. 473) Charles Venable apparently left the Navy Yard sometime after the War of 1812 and opened up his own shop as "Tinman". The British invasion of Maryland, the subsequent burning and destruction of the Navy Yard with almost all of its shops and buildings destroyed mean that large number of workers and apprentices were suddenly laid off in many cases for over a year. Even in 1815, 1816 employment was scarce and prospects bleak at Washington Navy Yard so many employees moved on to other jobs or changed occupations perhaps Charles Venable chose this moment to strike out on his own. Charles Vanable's name is also listed in the 1822 and 1827 Directories for the District of Columbia. Both directories refer to Charles Venable, as a "Tinman" living on the north side Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th and 8th Street. His son Charles Venable (1810-1902) also worked at the Washington Navy Yard and followed his fathers trade as a Tinner The death date of death of Charles Venable senior, is unknown For Benjamin King see http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/bio_king_b.html

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