Given the recent discussions regarding Indentured Servants I thought the following examples of Indentures in Chester county might be of interest: RECORDS OF THE COURTS, CHESTER CNTY, PA 1697-1710, Vol. 2 by D B Lapp & F B Dunlap p. 1 8-9 of 4th month 1697 Anthony MORGAN brought a boy whose name is James BRIGGS with his indenture to have the approbation of the Court, who agreed that the boy should Sarve the Said Anthony MORGAN as the Indenture express which is thirteen years from the seventeenth day of November Anno Domini 1696, for the consideration therin mentioned. p.7 14 Dec 1697 Peter BRITTON brought a boy whose name is Kenneth HOUSEEK whoe was ajudged to sarve his Master or Assigns five years from this Court being he had been sick a while. p.8 William DAVIS brought a boy whose name is George BLOUSTOWNE whoe was adjudged to sarve his said Master or Assignes eight years from the fourteenth day of the seventh month last if he be taught to reade and right or else but seven years and a half from said time. William DAVIS brought another boy whose name is Robert SCOTT who was ajudged to sarve his said Master of Assigns five years from the fourtheenth day of September last part. p.9 John PENNELL brought a boy whose name is John DAVIDSON whoe was ajudged to be eleven years of age and to sarve ten years from this Court one the consideration that the said John PENNELL doe taech or cause to be taught the said boy to read and to write or else the said boy to sarve but nine years to the said PENNELL or his Assigns. p.11 Thomas SMITH brought his servant boy whose name is Alexander MICKENER who having run away from his Master and for other misdemiors as alsoe atempting to kill himselfe and for what charges he put his master to was ordered to sarve his said master or his Assigns eight months after the expiration of his time if he behave himselfe well or else to sarve 10 months after. p.13 Jeremiah COLLETT brought his sarvant Girle who name is Barbara THOMSON he having been at great charge for her cure; the Court ordered to sarve to years for it after expiration of her time as she was to sarve before. p.29 John BEVAN assigned over a lad whose name is Thomas EDWARDS to Jno. WOOD for the remaining part of his time being five years and a halfe from this court and the said John WOOD is to teach or cause to be taught the said lad to read and write. p.31 Sarah MACDANIELL having some children to place out She came into Court and deseirs the assistance of the Court for the placing out of the said children - she having a son whose name is Alixander McDANIELL dose by the approbation of the said Court place the said Allixander to John HOWELL till he is of the age of twenty two years he being now one and a halfe old and the said John HOWELL or his Assignes is to teach or cause to be taught the said Allixander to read and right or else to allow the boy one year of his said time. Alsoe the said Sarah MACDANIELL does by the approbation of the said Court place oute a girl whose name is Elinor unto David PHILLIPS till she come to the age of twenty one years of age she being now three yeares old and the said David PHILLIPS is to teach or Cause to be taught the said Girle to reade and write or else allowe her one Yeare of her time. Alsoe the said Sarah MACDANIELL did by the approbation of the Court place out another Girle to Henry LEWIS till she is of age of one and twenty she being now five years of age next may the said Henry LEWIS is to teach or cause to be taught the said girle to reade and write or else to allow her one year of her time. p.36 William RATTEW past a deed of mortgage to John BALDWIN for one hundred acres of land and appurtenances thereunto belonging for the payment of twenty five pounds to be paid on the Twenty second day of the tenth month in the year 1700 for a sarvant boy the deed bearing date the fourteenth day of the first month Anno Domini 1698/9. p.74 Henry NAYL brought a servant boy to this Court whose name is Alexander STEWART whose time the said NAYL bought of Francis CHADSEY and the said boy consents and agrees to serve the said Henry ANYL one year and a quarter above his time by record if the said Henry NAYL teach him the trade of a shoemaker if not the said Henry is to allow the said boy satisfaction for the over plus time as the court shall award. p.76 William HILL Servant to Thomas WITHERS made Complaint to this Court that his said Master had sould him to Charles READ. This Court upon examination of the matter finds that the sd Thomas WITHERS hath not power to sell the Sd boy's time and there upon orders the Sd boy to return to his said Master again. p.98 Robert SINKLER petitioned this court that his present master John CROSBY was to teach him to read and write which he hath not freely performed ordered that John CROSBY put the said servant to school one month and to instruct his said servant another month.