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Contributing Institution
Prince Memorial Library
Document Type
Text
Exact Creation Date
2-7-1851
Language
English
Keywords
Indentures; Paupers; Overseers; Cumberland; Deeds; Trust Indentures
Recommended Citation
Cumberland (Me.), "Indenture of Infant Child of the Widow of Cyrus Blanchard of Cumberland to John H. Emery of Biddeford, February 7, 1851" (1851). Cumberland Overseers of the Poor. 3.
https://digitalmaine.com/cumberland_overseers_of_the_poor/3
Rights Statement
No Copyright - United States. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information.
Description
Indenture of Infant Child of the Widow of Cyrus Blanchard of Cumberland to John H. Emery of Biddeford, February 7, 1851 is a contract of indenture, witnessed and entered into by the Town of Cumberland Overseers of the Poor, binding as apprentice a minor child whose parents became chargeable to the town and were deemed unable to care for their children. Under Maine law, male children could be bound out until they turned 21, while girls could be apprenticed until they turned 18 or were married. The contracts arranged for the instruction of both boys and girls in reading and writing, and for boys in math. Adults who were “able of body, but have no visible means of support, who live idly and exercise no ordinary or daily lawful trade or business..." could be bound out for up to a year, or sent to a work house for the same period.