On 19 February 1870, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered five year-old Cassanda Locust bound as an apprentice to Redick Eatmon until she reached 21 years of age.
- Cassanda Locust
Cassanda Locust’s surname suggests that she was freeborn, as does the name under which she is found in the 1880 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Reddic Eatmon, 49; wife Charity, 48; and hireling Casana Wiggins, 14.
“bound as an apprentice”…”hireling”……the spelling of slavery in 1870.
Every rare once in a while, a family member was able to foster a relative via this arrangement, but generally speaking, you are absolutely right, this was another form of unfree labor.