Washington DC - Genealogy Trails - Apprentice Indenture Documents List

Washington District of Columbia

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Apprentice Indenture Documents
Introduction and List
from the District of Columbia Archives

Furnished by : John Sharp ©

APPRENTICE INDENTURES

In the early United States the formal apprenticing of children was the method used for nearly two hundred years to train the young for useful occupations. The apprenticeship system of the District of Columbia, provided for formal indentures or contracts, in which young people were legally bound to labor for a set number of years in given trade or occupation, and in return for their service they would receive trade or occupation instruction and tutelage from their master. While most apprentices entered into their apprenticeship voluntarily with the consent of their parents some other young people (orphans and poor children) were placed unwillingly while other from dislike of their chosen trade or more often disagreements with their master ran away. For more on fugitive apprentices see Runaway Apprentices at this site
http://genealogytrails.com/washdc/wny_app_reward.html

Perhaps the most famous of these runaway was Benjamin Franklin who broke his indentures by running away from his brother James in 1723 for New York City. Since the apprenticeship was legal contract the law between the master and the apprentice the law gave the master the right to take action to recover errant apprentices and if necessary take the apprentice by force.

The Washington Navy Yard was for nearly two centuries the District of Columbia's largest employer and had has many as 50 apprentices working at the Navy Yard prior to 1814. Early naval regulations allowed Master Mechanics wide discretion as to the hiring and training of their apprentices. Naval regulations did specify the minimum age of apprentices, the specific number of apprentices each Master Mechanic might hire and the wage rates for apprentice labor. While indentured apprentices were paid by Department of the Navy they were in every sense the apprentice of a specific Master Mechanic. The District of Columbia like most major eastern cities required a signed indenture or contract specifying the duties and responsibilities of both parties in some detail. Originally both parties to such indentures received a signed copy of the document while another was made for the records of the District of Columbia. Today these apprentice indentures are part of the collection of the District of Columbia Archives. These indentures have great value to historians and genealogists since they also allow us to see reflected the social concerns of the era provisions made for schooling and admonitions against visiting playhouses and gambling.

These indentures are a fine picture in miniature of a world of trade and crafts which for the most part no longer exist. Maritime trades, like block maker, spar maker, ship caulker, sail maker and ship carpenter all of which prevailed in the early Washington Navy Yard, went into steep decline with the coming of steam propulsion. Two of the WNY Master Mechanics named in these indentures, John Davis of Abel and George McCauley are both listed on a WNY pay document dated May 1819 at
http://genealogytrails.com/washdc/wny1819.html

The rapid building of iron ships during the American Civil War mean that many of maritime trades of the older wooden navy would never recover. This change is most dramatically reflected after the 1880's when the Washington Navy Yard became exclusively a builder of naval ordinance and was renamed the Naval Gun Factory and the principal trade is machinist.

APPRENTICE INDENTURES
In the early United States the formal apprenticing of children was the method used for nearly two hundred years to train the young for useful occupations. The apprenticeship system of the District of Columbia, provided for formal indentures or contracts, in which young people were legally bound to labor for a set number of years in given trade or occupation, and in return for their service they would receive trade or occupation instruction and tutelage from their master. While most apprentices entered into their apprenticeship voluntarily with the consent of their parents some other young people (orphans and poor children) were placed unwillingly while other from dislike of their chosen trade or more often disagreements with their master ran away. For more on fugitive apprentices see Runaway Apprentices at this site http://genealogytrails.com/washdc/wny_app_reward.html Perhaps the most famous of these runaway was Benjamin Franklin who broke his indentures by running away from his brother James in 1723 for New York City. Since the apprenticeship was legal contract the law between the master and the apprentice the law gave the master the right to take action to recover errant apprentices and if necessary take the apprentice by force. The Washington Navy Yard was for nearly two centuries the District of Columbia's largest employer and had has many as 50 apprentices working at the Navy Yard prior to 1814. Early naval regulations allowed Master Mechanics wide discretion as to the hiring and training of their apprentices. Naval regulations did specify the minimum age of apprentices, the specific number of apprentices each Master Mechanic might hire and the wage rates for apprentice labor. While indentured apprentices were paid by Department of the Navy they were in every sense the apprentice of a specific Master Mechanic. The District of Columbia like most major eastern cities required a signed indenture or contract specifying the duties and responsibilities of both parties in some detail. Originally both parties to such indentures received a signed copy of the document while another was made for the records of the District of Columbia. Today these apprentice indentures are part of the collection of the District of Columbia Archives. These indentures have great value to historians and genealogists since they also allow us to see reflected the social concerns of the era provisions made for schooling and admonitions against visiting playhouses and gambling. These indentures are a fine picture in miniature of a world of trade and crafts which for the most part no longer exist. Maritime trades, like block maker, spar maker, ship caulker, sail maker and ship carpenter all of which prevailed in the early Washington Navy Yard, went into steep decline with the coming of steam propulsion. Two of the WNY Master Mechanics named in these indentures, John Davis of Abel and George McCauley are both listed on a WNY pay document dated May 1819 at http://genealogytrails.com/washdc/wny1819.html The rapid building of iron ships during the American Civil War mean that many of maritime trades of the older wooden navy would never recover. This change is most dramatically reflected after the 1880's when the Washington Navy Yard became exclusively a builder of naval ordinance and was renamed the Naval Gun Factory and the principal trade is machinist.

APPRENTICE INDENTURE List

Reference Principals Locale Names mentioned Link
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#146
Vol. I, 146
1807
Hamilton PERRY
to
Benjamin KING Navy
Yard ALEXANDER, Robert
CASSIN, Joseph
KING, Benjamin
PERRY, Elisha
PERRY, Hamilton
PERRY, Zadock View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#147
I, 147
1807
Charles VENABLE
to
Benjamin KING Navy
Yard KING, Benjamin
TINGEY, Thomas
VENABLE, Charles
VENABLE, William View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#148
Vol. I, 147-148
1807
George HURLEY
to
John POTHERBRIDGE Navy
Yard HEWITT, John
HURLEY, George
MIDDLETON, Isaac S.
POTHERBRIDGE, John
TOWNSEND, Lemuel View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#206
Vol. I, 172-173
1808
George L. M. DEMENT
to
John HEBRON Navy
Yard ALPINE, Daniel
BELL, George
DEMENT, Elizabeth
DEMENT, George Liedman Morgan
FOX, Josiah
FRANKLIN, Nicholas
HEBRON, John
LIVERPOOL, Moses
SMALLWOOD, Samuel N.
SMITH, Robert
TINGEY, Thomas
View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#269
Vol. I,
insert bet. 221-222
1809
Henry William FRANKLAND
to
William SANDFORD Navy
Yard Frankland & Franklin
are used interchanably
FRANKLAND, Eleanor
FRANKLAND, Henry William
FRANKLAND, Thomas
PASCOE, Charles
SANDFORD, William
View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#305
Vol. I, 248-249
1810
John W. NEWMAN
to
John HEBRON Navy
Yard ALPINE, Daniel
BEALL, Jonathon
BELL, George
DEMENT, George Liedman Morgan
FOX, Josiah
FRANKLIN, Nicholas
HEBRON, John
LIVERPOOL, Moses
LOYD, Elizabeth L.
NEWMAN, John W.
SMALLWOOD, Samuel N.
SMITH, Robert
TINGEY, Thomas View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#380
Vol. I, 319-320
1811
Dennis VERMILLION
to
James OWNER Navy
Yard CASSIN, Joseph
CLARK, Thomas
COLE, Richard
HARRISON, Mr.
MACE, John
McCAULEY, George
OWNER, James
ROBY, Mathias
RODGERS, John
SHINER, Michael
SMALLWOOD, Samuel N.
TINGEY, Thomas
VERMILLION, Dennis
VERMILLION, Hennrietta
VERMILLION, John
WOODWARD, Amon View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#381
Vol. I, 320-321
1811
John BEAN
to
James OWNER Navy
Yard CASSIN, Joseph
HARRISON, Mr.
McCAULEY, George
OWNER, James
ROBY, Mathias
RODGERS, John
SHINER, Michael
SMALLWOOD, Samuel N.
TINGEY, Thomas View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#400
VII, 4
1812
Samuel THOMPSON
to
George McCAULEY Navy
Yard CASSIN, Joseph
McCAULEY, George
THOMPSON, Samuel View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#401
VII, 4-5
1812
John VERMILLION
to
George McCAULEY Navy
Yard CASSIN, Joseph
HARRISON
McCAULEY, George
RODGERS, John
TINGEY, Thomas
VERMILLION, John View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#402
VII, 5
1811 - 1812
Thomas ASHING
to
William PARSONS D C ASHING, Thomas,
OTT, W.
PARROTT, Richard View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#403
VII, 5-6
1812
Walter OLPHIN
to
George BALTZAR D C BALTZAR, George
CORCORAN, Thomas
HEWITT, J. W.
OLPHIN, Walter
OTT, Jonathon View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#501
VII, 67
1813
&
Release
of 1814
&
Letter from
Navy Board
Israel STEWART
to
Thomas MURRAY Navy
Yard BOOTH, Mordeccai
HEWITT, M.
MURRAY, Thomas
RODGERS, John
SMITH, W.
STEWART, Isaac
STEWART, Israel
STEWART, Mary Ann
TINGEY, Thomas View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

1814 Nathaniel HUGHES
to
Henry BURDICK D C BURDICK, Henry
HUGHES, Ann
HUGHES, Nathaniel
OTT, J. W.
REINTZELL, Daniel View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

1817 U S Naval Board
Letters to Commanders
of Navy Yards Navy
Yard CASSIN, John
EVANS, Samuel
HULL, Isaac
MacDONOUGH, Thomas
MURRAY
RODGERS, J.
TINGEY
YORK, N. View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#1232
VIII, 245-246
1825
John BURDINE
to
Charles CASSELL Navy
Yard BURDINE, John
BURDINE, William
CASSELL, Charles
HIGDON, Gustav View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#1321
VIII, 364-365
1826
John HOLROYD
to
John DAVIS Navy
Yard CLARK, Edward W.
DAVIS, John
DAVIS, Sarah Walker
HOLROYD, John
HOLROYD, Joseph
LITTLE, Israel View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#1443
Vol. V, I
1835
Thomas DUNLOP
to
Moses LIVERPOOL Navy
Yard BRADEY, Nathaniel
CLARK, Edward W.
DUNLOP, thomas
LIVERPOOL, Moses
LIVERPOOL, Patsey Dunlop
Bell School
View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#1619
Vol. V
169
William AMERICA
to
James TUCKER Navy
Yard AMERICA, Jane
AMERICA, Susanna E.
AMERICA, William
BRADY, Nathaniel
BROWN, William
FARRAR, John
MATTINGLY, EDHB
TUCKER, James
UPTON, Susan
WALL, Elizabeth View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#1620
Vol. V
170
1838
John MOSS
to
James TUCKER Navy
Yard BRADY, Nathaniel
BROWN, William
FARRAR, John
MATTINGLY, EDHB
MOSS, Elizabeth
MOSS, Jane
MOSS, John
MOSS, Phillip D.
TUCKER, Emma
TUCKER, Genifer
TUCKER, James
View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#1695
Vol. V, 224
1839
William M. PADGETT
to
William EASBY Navy
Yard BOYD
BRIGHT
CLEMENTS
EASBY, William Henry
FOOS, John A.
GIBSON
HENRY
HUTTON
McKENNY
MILBURN
PADGETT, John Mason
PADGETT, William Maudy
SMITH
TURNER, Thomas
WEAVER View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#1784
Vol. V
296
1841
Thomas MITCHELL
to
James TUCKER Navy
Yard ADAMS, George
BROWN, William
FARRAR, John
MARSHALL, James
MITCHELL, Eleanor (nee HALL)
MITCHELL, Thomas
TUCKER, Emma
TUCKER, Genifer
TUCKER, James
View

----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----

#1929
Vol. V, 432-433
1845
George BELL
to
Alfred JONES Navy
Yard BELL, Emily
BELL, George
DRURY, Samuel
JONES, Alfred
WATERS, William View

APPRENTICE INDENTURE List
Reference	Principals	Locale	Names mentioned	Link
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#146 Vol. I, 146 1807	Hamilton PERRY to Benjamin KING	Navy Yard	ALEXANDER, Robert CASSIN, Joseph KING, Benjamin PERRY, Elisha PERRY, Hamilton PERRY, Zadock	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#147 I, 147 1807	Charles VENABLE to Benjamin KING	Navy Yard	KING, Benjamin TINGEY, Thomas VENABLE, Charles VENABLE, William	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#148 Vol. I, 147-148 1807	George HURLEY to John POTHERBRIDGE	Navy Yard	HEWITT, John HURLEY, George MIDDLETON, Isaac S. POTHERBRIDGE, John TOWNSEND, Lemuel	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#206 Vol. I, 172-173 1808	George L. M. DEMENT to John HEBRON	Navy Yard	ALPINE, Daniel BELL, George DEMENT, Elizabeth DEMENT, George Liedman Morgan FOX, Josiah FRANKLIN, Nicholas HEBRON, John LIVERPOOL, Moses SMALLWOOD, Samuel N. SMITH, Robert TINGEY, Thomas	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#269 Vol. I, insert bet. 221-222 1809	Henry William FRANKLAND to William SANDFORD	Navy Yard	Frankland & Franklin are used interchanably FRANKLAND, Eleanor FRANKLAND, Henry William FRANKLAND, Thomas PASCOE, Charles SANDFORD, William	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#305 Vol. I, 248-249 1810	John W. NEWMAN to John HEBRON	Navy Yard	ALPINE, Daniel BEALL, Jonathon BELL, George DEMENT, George Liedman Morgan FOX, Josiah FRANKLIN, Nicholas HEBRON, John LIVERPOOL, Moses LOYD, Elizabeth L. NEWMAN, John W. SMALLWOOD, Samuel N. SMITH, Robert TINGEY, Thomas	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#380 Vol. I, 319-320 1811	Dennis VERMILLION to James OWNER	Navy Yard	CASSIN, Joseph CLARK, Thomas COLE, Richard HARRISON, Mr. MACE, John McCAULEY, George OWNER, James ROBY, Mathias RODGERS, John SHINER, Michael SMALLWOOD, Samuel N. TINGEY, Thomas VERMILLION, Dennis VERMILLION, Hennrietta VERMILLION, John WOODWARD, Amon	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#381 Vol. I, 320-321 1811	John BEAN to James OWNER	Navy Yard	CASSIN, Joseph HARRISON, Mr. McCAULEY, George OWNER, James ROBY, Mathias RODGERS, John SHINER, Michael SMALLWOOD, Samuel N. TINGEY, Thomas	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#400 VII, 4 1812	Samuel THOMPSON to George McCAULEY	Navy Yard	CASSIN, Joseph McCAULEY, George THOMPSON, Samuel	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#401 VII, 4-5 1812	John VERMILLION to George McCAULEY	Navy Yard	CASSIN, Joseph HARRISON McCAULEY, George RODGERS, John TINGEY, Thomas VERMILLION, John	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#402 VII, 5 1811 - 1812	Thomas ASHING to William PARSONS	D C	ASHING, Thomas, OTT, W. PARROTT, Richard	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#403 VII, 5-6 1812	Walter OLPHIN to George BALTZAR	D C	BALTZAR, George CORCORAN, Thomas HEWITT, J. W. OLPHIN, Walter OTT, Jonathon	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#501 VII, 67 1813 & Release of 1814 & Letter from Navy Board	Israel STEWART to Thomas MURRAY	Navy Yard	BOOTH, Mordeccai HEWITT, M. MURRAY, Thomas RODGERS, John SMITH, W. STEWART, Isaac STEWART, Israel STEWART, Mary Ann TINGEY, Thomas	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
1814	Nathaniel HUGHES to Henry BURDICK	D C	BURDICK, Henry HUGHES, Ann HUGHES, Nathaniel OTT, J. W. REINTZELL, Daniel	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
1817	U S Naval Board Letters to Commanders of Navy Yards	Navy Yard	CASSIN, John EVANS, Samuel HULL, Isaac MacDONOUGH, Thomas MURRAY RODGERS, J. TINGEY YORK, N.	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#1232 VIII, 245-246 1825	John BURDINE to Charles CASSELL	Navy Yard	BURDINE, John BURDINE, William CASSELL, Charles HIGDON, Gustav	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#1321 VIII, 364-365 1826	John HOLROYD to John DAVIS	Navy Yard	CLARK, Edward W. DAVIS, John DAVIS, Sarah Walker HOLROYD, John HOLROYD, Joseph LITTLE, Israel	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#1443 Vol. V, I 1835	Thomas DUNLOP to Moses LIVERPOOL	Navy Yard	BRADEY, Nathaniel CLARK, Edward W. DUNLOP, thomas LIVERPOOL, Moses LIVERPOOL, Patsey Dunlop Bell School	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#1619 Vol. V 169	William AMERICA to James TUCKER	Navy Yard	AMERICA, Jane AMERICA, Susanna E. AMERICA, William BRADY, Nathaniel BROWN, William FARRAR, John MATTINGLY, EDHB TUCKER, James UPTON, Susan WALL, Elizabeth	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#1620 Vol. V 170 1838	John MOSS to James TUCKER	Navy Yard	BRADY, Nathaniel BROWN, William FARRAR, John MATTINGLY, EDHB MOSS, Elizabeth MOSS, Jane MOSS, John MOSS, Phillip D. TUCKER, Emma TUCKER, Genifer TUCKER, James	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#1695 Vol. V, 224 1839	William M. PADGETT to William EASBY	Navy Yard	BOYD BRIGHT CLEMENTS EASBY, William Henry FOOS, John A. GIBSON HENRY HUTTON McKENNY MILBURN PADGETT, John Mason PADGETT, William Maudy SMITH TURNER, Thomas WEAVER	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#1784 Vol. V 296 1841	Thomas MITCHELL to James TUCKER	Navy Yard	ADAMS, George BROWN, William FARRAR, John MARSHALL, James MITCHELL, Eleanor (nee HALL) MITCHELL, Thomas TUCKER, Emma TUCKER, Genifer TUCKER, James	View
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
#1929 Vol. V, 432-433 1845	George BELL to Alfred JONES	Navy Yard	BELL, Emily BELL, George DRURY, Samuel JONES, Alfred WATERS, William	View

TRANSCRIPTION METHOD

In transcribing all passages from the these indentures I have striven to adhere as closely as possible to the original in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and abbreviation, including the retention of dashes and underlining found in the original. Words and passages that were crossed out in the diary are transcribed either as overstrikes or in notes. When a spelling is so unusual as to be misleading or confusing, the correct spelling immediately follows the misspelled word in square brackets and italicized type or is discussed in a foot note. For the convenience of our Genealogy Trails.com readers the Apprenticeship Numbers in Brackets that follow are those assigned by Dorothy S. Provine in her extremely thorough and helpful District of Columbia Indentures of Apprenticeship 1801 -1893.

TRANSCRIPTION METHOD
In transcribing all passages from the these indentures I have striven to adhere as closely as possible to the original in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and abbreviation, including the retention of dashes and underlining found in the original. Words and passages that were crossed out in the diary are transcribed either as overstrikes or in notes. When a spelling is so unusual as to be misleading or confusing, the correct spelling immediately follows the misspelled word in square brackets and italicized type or is discussed in a foot note. For the convenience of our Genealogy Trails.com readers the Apprenticeship Numbers in Brackets that follow are those assigned by Dorothy S. Provine in her extremely thorough and helpful District of Columbia Indentures of Apprenticeship 1801 -1893.

Sources & Acknowledgements:

The apprentice indentures transcribed above are all from the District of Columbia Archives These indentures were created and maintained by the District of Columbia Court that handled probate matters and are located in Volumes 2-3 and 5-6. Volume is missing while Volume 1 is in the custody of the National Archives and Record Adminstration Washington DC.
My thanks to Dr. Stephanie Scott and Archivists Mr Ali Rahmaan and Mr. Robert Nelson of the District of Columbia Archives, who so generously made these DC Apprentice Indentures available and provided us their kind help and assistance.
The Board of Naval Commissioners 1 May 1817 letters of 2 July 1817 quoted above are both from the National Archives and Records Administration RG 45
Benjamin Franklin Essays, Articles, Bagnatelles, and Letters Poor Richard's Almanac Autobiography Library of America edited by J.A. Leo Lemay 1987
Provine Dorothy S. District of Columbia Indentures of Apprenticeship 1801 -1893, Willow Bend Books Inc Louisville VA 1998 This excellent book si simply the best one to consult when researching the history of early apprentices and their indentures in the District of Columbia.
Sharp, John G. History of the Washington Navy Yard Civilian Workforce 1799-1962.
Stockton, CA: Vindolanda Press, 2005.
[This volume has full bibliography for most of the works cited in the preface.
[Available online at http://www.history.navy.mil/books/sharp/Washington Navy Yard_History.pdf.