No cards, dice or fornication.

by Lisa Y. Henderson

State of North Carolina    This indenture Witnesseth that Edward Upton & Jane his wife of the County of Caswell hath put her son William Long a Mulato and by these presents doth Voluntary and of their own Accord and free will put him an apprentice to Samuel Brackin of the same County his Heirs and Assigns forever, to learn his Trade or Mistery and after the Manner of an Apprentice to Juse him from the day of the date Hereof untill he arives to the age of Twenty one years. During all which time the said apprentice his said Master faithfully shall Serve his Secrets keep his lawfull command & every whim obey, he Shall do no Damage to his said Master, nor See it be done by Others without letting or giving notice thereof to his said Master. He Shall not waste the said Masters goods, nor lend them Unlawfully to any, he shall not Commit Fornication nor contract Matrimony during the said time, at Cards, dice or any other unlawfull games he shall not play whereby his master may be Damaged with his own goods nor the goods of Others during the said time without licence from his said Master He shall not absent himself day nor night might from his said Masters Service without his leave nor haunt Ale houses, taverns or play houses but in all things behave himself as a faithfull apprentice ought to during the said time.  And the said Master shall use the Utmost  of his Endeavours to teach or cause to be taught or Instructed the said Apprentice in the Trade of Mistery he now Followeth, and Procure or Provide for him Suficient Meat Drink Appearl and Washing fitting for an apprentice during the said time – And for the due Performance of all and every the said Covenants and agreements Either of the said Parties bind themselves unto the Other by these Presents, In Witness whereof They have interchangably Put their hands & seals this Second day of August Ano Dom 1783 and in the Eighth year of American Independence.   Edwd X Upton  Jane X Upton

N.B. The above mentioned child was Born August 1st 1781.

Witness Thomas Brookes Thomas Rice

Memorandum that I the within named Saml. Brackin is to Give the within bound William Long one years Schooling and at the Expiration of his time Two Suits of Cloaths one ax one Mattock, Witness & date as within           Saml. Brackin

Test – Thomas Brookes  Thos. Rice

August Term, 1783, Minutes of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Caswell County, North Carolina State Archives.