Westmoreland County (Va.) Apprenticeship Indentures 1788-1881

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Creator:
Westmoreland County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Westmoreland County (Va.) Apprenticeship Indentures, 1788-1881, are bonds and contracts of apprenticeship given by the Overseers of the Poor, showing the names of master and apprentice, the trade to be taught, details of the contract, the amount of the bond and the names of sureties. Many of the apprentices bound out prior to 1866 were free persons of color.

Biographical / historical:

Westmoreland County was named for the English county. It was formed from Northumberland County in 1653. The county seat is Montross.

In 1780 the Virginia General Assembly replaced the Anglican vestries and churchwardens of the colonial period with elected bodies called Overseers of the Poor. The Overseers provided food, clothing, shelter, and medical treatment for the persons who were too poor to support themselves or too ill to provide for their basic needs. They also bound out children whose parents could not support them or who failed to educate or instruct them, as well as orphans to become apprentices. The boys learned a trade and the girls learned domestic skills.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court records from Westmoreland County.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.25 cu.ft.