apprentice

The apprenticeship of Patsy and Treasy Whitaker (1895).

On 15 July 1895, Clerk of Superior Court J.D. Bardin apprenticed Patsy Whitaker, 11, and Treasy Whitaker, 5 1/2, to Alford Jordan until they were 18 years old. 

Alford Jordan was a black man, and the four of his neighbors — Nathan, Hardy, Perry, and Shade Bass — were called upon to vouch for his character: “Alfred Jordan has been living in our neighborhood Several years. He has a family of children and we never have heard of his cruelly treating them. Some of his children are grown and we never have heard any charges brought against them. Since Alfred moved into our neighborhood he has conducted himself fairly well so far as we know.”

In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Alfred Jordan, 56; wife Cherry, 50; children  Sallie, 14, Jannie, 12, George and Mary, 9; and Albert, 8; stepchildren [sic] William, 26, Frances, 20, Patsy, 17, and Creasy Farmer, 10; and brother [actually, son] Benjamin Jordan, 35.

When Dr. T.L. Brooks reported vaccinations in the Black Creek area in 1902, he listed Patsy Whitaker and Cresy Whitaker.

On 2 December 1908, E.F. Hooker, 19, of Wayne County, and Patsy Whitaker, 21, of Black Creek township, applied for a Wilson County marriage license. 

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: widow Cherry Jordan, 60; children Rosetta, 22, Trecie, 20, Mary and George, 19, and Albert Jordan, 17; and grandchildren Lizina, 4, and Adlina Jordan, 3 months. 

Emerson F. and Patsy Hooker eventually migrated to Richmond, Virginia, where Patsy Whitaker Hooker died in 1945. Per her Social Security application, she was born in February 1888 in Wilson County, N.C., to Jacob Whitaker and Viney Jordan.

These records reminds us that we cannot take census entries at face value. Patsy and Creasy Farmer are certainly Patsy and Treasy Whitaker, but (1) their surnames are inconsistent; (2) Treasy’s name is altered; (3) Patsy’s age is slightly off; and (3) they are described as Jordan’s stepchildren (and Treasy as Cherry Jordan’s child.)

Alford Jorden and Cherry Ellis married in August 1884, when he was 40 and she was 35. Given norms of the time, it stands to reason that both had prior marriages. (Per his death certificate, Benjamin Jordan — described as “brother” in the 1900 census — was actually Alford’s son.) The four Jordan children listed in the 1900 census were born after the marriage and presumably were Alford and Cherry’s together. Patsy could have been, but Treasy was too young to have been brought into Cherry’s marriage.

It appears that the Whitaker girls were close kin on their mother’s side to Alford Jordan. Their apprenticeship served essentially as an informal adoption into Alford Jordan’s family. 

Apprentice 1895, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

The apprenticeship of Alonzo Finch, revisited.

On 3 June 1899, a Wilson County Superior Court clerk ordered brothers Alonzo Finch, 14, and Jack Finch, 5, bound as an apprentice to Zealous Howard. The arrangement proved disastrous for the elder boy.

On 2 October 1902, an attorney submitted a petition to the clerk of Superior Court In the Matter of Alonzo Finch, Apprentice. The document asserted that Finch had served Howard faithfully until forced to leave “by threats or other conduct.” Finch claimed Howard had failed to provide him with adequate clothing, that “outside parties” gave him clothes, and that he often had to work at night to earn money to buy clothes. Further, Howard had not educated him as required per the terms of his indenture, such that Finch “did not know the letters of the alphabet and therefore [was] unable to read and write.” Worse, Howard hired Finch out and took the money the boy earned. Because of Howard’s “cruel treatment,” Finch requested that the indenture be annulled and cancelled.

After hearing the evidence, clerk J.D. Bardin found Howard “morally unfit” and released Alonzo Finch from his indenture.

The apprenticeship of Jesse Ellis.

On 20 January 1870, a Wilson County Superior Court judge ordered 14 year-old Jesse Ellis bound as an apprentice to Guilford Ellis until he reached 21 years of age.

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In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Guilford Ellis, 40; wife Pleasance, 29; and Ned, 16, Cherry, 14, Jesse, 12, Arabella, 11, and Sarah, 4.

In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: common laborer Guilford Ellis, 55; wife Penny, 55; and children Sarah E., 16, Mary E., 10, and Layfaytte, 8.

United States Indenture and Manumission Records, 1780-1939, database at https://familysearch.org.

The apprenticeship of Alonzo Finch (1899).

On 3 June 1899, a Wilson County Superior Court judge ordered 14 year-old Alonzo Finch bound as an apprentice to Zealous Howard until he reached 21 years of age.

In the 1900 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farmer Zealous Howard, 69, wife Roda, 64, daughter Anna, 24, and two bound boys Lonza, 15, and Jack Howard, 5.

United States Indenture and Manumission Records, 1780-1939, database at https://familysearch.org.

Three children, whose mother is dead.

The Goldsboro field office of the Freedmen’s Bureau also received a recommendation that three newly freed African-American children be bound to Stephen Privette, who was probably their former enslaver.

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Wilson N.C. Dec 5th 1865

Commissioner of the Freedmen at Goldsboro

Sir. Mr. Stephen Privette of the County have three children whose mother are dead, they have no legal father, Mr. Privette is a good man & would treat them, kindly, and I would recommend him as being a sutable man to have them bound to.    W.J. Bullock Capt. G.P.Y.

North Carolina Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872, Goldsboro (Subassistant Commissioner), Roll 17 Applications for Relief, Mar 1865-Aug 1867.

The apprenticeship of George Vick.

On 7 January 1870, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered 28 month-old George Vick bound as an apprentice to John D. Wells until he reached 21 years of age.

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George Vick is not listed in John D. Wells’ household in the 1870 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County.

Possibly, in the 1880 federal mortality schedule of Toisnot township, Wilson County: George Vick, 11, black, died in November 1879 of typhoid fever.

United States Indenture and Manumission Records, 1780-1939, database at https://familysearch.org.

The apprenticeship of Isaac Bynum.

On 11 January 1870, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered 14 year-old Isaac Bynum bound as an apprentice to Jolly Bynum until he reached 21 years of age.

  • Jolly Bynum and Isaac Bynum

In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Jolly Bynum, 60, farm laborer; wife Amy, 54; and Isaac, 15. [Was Isaac the grandson of Jolly and Amy Bynum?]

Perhaps, in the 1880 census of Garders township, Wilson County: Isaac Bynum, 27, farm laborer, living alone.

United States Indenture and Manumission Records, 1780-1939, database at https://familysearch.org.

The apprenticeship of Sovid Applewhite.

On 20 October 1869, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered three year-old Sovid Applewhite bound as an apprentice to Lewis Ellis until he reached 21 years of age.

[The spelling of this unusual name is difficult to decipher. Though “Lovid,” as in Lovett, seems more logical, the capital letter does not match the consistently double-looped L in “Lewis.”]

Sovid Applewhite (or no one with any approximation of his name) is not listed in the household of Lewis and Milly Ellis in the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County.

United States Indenture and Manumission Records, 1780-1939, database at https://familysearch.org.

The apprenticeship of John Ellis (1871).

On 6 January 1871, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered 14 year-old John Ellis bound as an apprentice to Francis R. Ellis until he reached 21 years of age.

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In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County, 14 year-old John Ellis is listed as a “farmer’s apprentice” in the household of William and Rebecca F. Ellis.

United States Indenture and Manumission Records, 1780-1939, database at https://familysearch.org.

The apprenticeship of Cassanda Locust, alias Cassanda Wiggins (1870).

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.