Hi Joyce and List, Here is my contribution to the discussion. The Statutes at Large of Virginia from October Session 1792 to Dec Session 1806 inclusive in Three Volumes, (New Series), Samuel Shepherd, AMS Press, Inc, NY, page 105: Every Orphan who hath no estate, or not sufficient for a maintenance out of the profits, shall by order of the court of the county or corporation in which he or she resides, be bound apprentice by the overseers of the poor, until the age of twenty-one years, if a boy, or of eighteen years, if a girl, to some master or mistress, who shall covenant to teach the apprentice some art, trade or business, to be particularized in the indenture, as also reading and writing, and if a boy, common arithmetic, including the rule of three, and to pay him or her twelve dollars at the expiration of the time; and the indentures of such apprentices shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county, and not transferable to any person whatsoever, without the approbation of the court. My Greenbrier ancestor John Castile/Casteel: April 25, 1787 Court, Ordered that John Castile be Bound to Jacob Riffe according to Law. John Castile/Casteel was b 1778 Greenbrier, bound to Jacob Riffe 1787, and appears 1799 Greenbrier Tax List (age 21) 1 tithable, no horse. So he must have spent his $12 on something else :-). He next appears in Madison Co KY 1804 where he married Elenor Metcalf. I have a message somewhere from a Riffle searcher that says the surname Riffle and Riffe are two different names. Hope this helps, Leoneita