apprenticeship

The apprenticeship of Lutory Fields (1896).

On 4 July 1896, Clerk of Superior Court J.D. Bardin apprenticed Loutoria Fields, age 6 years, 3 months, to George W. Fields until she was 18 years old.

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Lutory Fields was George Washington Fields‘ granddaughter. Her mother Jane Fields likely died shortly before this indenture. Here we see an example of apprenticeship as a form of intrafamily adoption.

In the 1880 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 30; wife Julia, 35; and children Renda, 12, Penninah, 11, Jane, 9, Christany, 8, London, 6, William, 5, and twins Isaac and Jacob, 3.

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 60; wife Julia, 53; daughters Chrischanie, 25, Amanda, 15, and Lutory, 10; grandson Peter, 10; and granddaughters Julia, 5, and Lillie, 7 months.

On 9 November 1905, John H. Battle, 20, of Cross Roads township, married Lutora Fields, 18, of Cross Roads, in Lucama, Wilson County.

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer  John H. Battle, 28; wife Loutorie, 24; and son Johnie L., 2.

In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 39; wife Lutoria, 30; and children John L., 16, Lenetta, 7, Bessie L., 5, Mary L., 3, Rosa, 2, Thurman, 1, and Armetta, 1 month.

In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 49; wife Leutoria, 40; and children Johnie L., 21, Nettie, 19, Bessie L., 16, Mary L., 15, Roosevelt, 14, Armettie, 11, Alphnza, 8, Estelle, 7, Augustus, 4, and Harvey L., 2.

Imettie Battle died 18 September 1933 in Goldsboro, Wayne County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was 12 years 0ld; was born in Wilson County to John Battle and Lutora Fields; was a school girl; and lived in Wilson County. She had suffered a skull fracture after being struck by a car.

In the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John Battle, 59; wife Lutory, 50; children Estelle, 17, Augustus, 15, Harvey, 13, Luberta, 8, and Alberta, 7; son-in-law Leondus Speight, 26, and granddaughter Katherine Speight, 4.

In the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 70; wife Lulorie, 60; and children Agustus, 25, Harvey L., 22, Lubortha, 18, and Aberta, 16.

John Hardy Battle died 9 March 1962 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 July 1878 in Wilson County to Haywood Battle and Eliza Battle; lived near Lucama; worked in farming; was married to Lutory Battle; and was buried in Mary Grove cemetery.

Lutory Battle died 22 April 1964 in Lucama, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 February 1890 in Wilson County to Wilbert [last name unknown] and Janie Field; was married to John Hardy Battle; and was buried in Mary Grove Cemetery.

Apprentice 1896, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

The apprenticeship of James William, Mary Ellen, Minerva S., and Laura Anderson (1895).

On 3 December 1895, Clerk of Superior Court J.D. Bardin apprenticed James William Anderson, age 4 years, 2 months, and 4 days; Mary Ellen Anderson, age 2 years and 7 days; Minerva S. Anderson, age 7 years, 7 months, and 11 days; and Laura Anderson, age 6 years, 6 months, and 4 days, to Redmon Barnes until they were 18 years old.

I have not found the Anderson children in other records. Redmond Barnes perhaps was this man.

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

The apprenticeship of Edward and William H. Fields (1910).

On 26 December 1910, a Wilson County Superior Court judge ordered Edward Fields, 14, and John Henry Fields, 13, bound as apprentices to their maternal grandfather Washington Fields until they reached 18 years of age.

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  • Edward Fields
  • William Henry Fields

In 1918, William Henry Fields registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born in August 1896 in Wilson County; lived in Lucama; his nearest relative was his grandfather Washington Fields, Lucama; and he worked as a tenant farmer for Ira Barnes. 

On 16 November 1918, Wm. H. Fields, 21, of Cross Roads, son of Henry Barnes and Lurindy Fields, married Eliza Woodard, 21, of Cross Roads, daughter of William Woodard, in Wilson County.

In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer William H. Fields, 22, and wife Eliza W., 23.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 200 East, William H. Fields, 52, “feeding the belt” at local canal mill; wife Liza, 51; niece Dorothy M. Woodard, 13, and nephew John Woodard Jr., 11.

Eliza O. Fields died 2 June 1950 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 4 July 1900 in Wilson County to William Woodard; was married; lived at 200 North East Street; and worked as a tobacco laborer. William Henry Fields was informant.

William Henry Fields died 13 November 1958 in Bailey, Nash County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 January 1897 to William Henry Barnes and Marinda Fields; was a widower; and lived at 200 North East Street. Informant was Mattie Newsome, 200 North East Street.

Apprentice 1910, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

The apprenticeship of Wright Mitchell.

Fourteen year-old Wright Mitchell, a free boy of color, was apprenticed to serve John A. Lane until age 21. Lane had married Sarah Applewhite in 1852 and likely lived in the Stantonsburg area.

Minute Docket, Wilson County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, October Term 1858, Wilson Court Dockets 1855-1868, http://www.ancestry.com

The apprenticeship of Dewitt, Charles, George, and Ike (1866).

On 11 January 1866, Malvina E. Rountree entered into an agreement with the Goldsboro District Office of the Freedmen’s Bureau to indenture four orphaned children — Dewitt, 13, Charles, 10, George, 8, and Ike, 6.

Malvina Gill Rountree was the widow of Jonathan D. Rountree, who died in 1865. By time the 1870 census was counted, none of these children were in her household.

The apprenticeship of the Beaman siblings, Patrick, 8, Lydia, 9, Jennie, 10, and Chloe, 15.

On 16 March 1871, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered eight year-old Patrick Beaman, 8, Lydia Beaman, 9, Jennie Beaman, 10, and Chloe Beaman, 15, bound as apprentices to Lawrence Ward until the girls reached 18 and the boys reached 21  years of age. He was to be trained for farmwork.

The Beamon children, then using the surname Pope, were living in Lawrence Ward’s household before they were formally apprenticed.

In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Larrence Ward, 25; wife Mary, 20; and daughter Mary A., 3; plus Chloie, 14, Jenny, 11, Lydia, 10, and Patrick Pope, 7; and Sophia Ward, 48.

Wilson County Apprentice Bonds 1869-1914, database at https://familysearch.org.

The apprenticeship of Adline Benton.

On 9 August 1872, a Wilson County Superior Court judge ordered three year-old Adline Benton bound as an apprentice to Harrett Battle until she reached 21 years of age. She was to be trained as a house servant.

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  • Adline Benton
  • Harriett Battle

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

The apprenticeship of Doctor Taylor.

On 20 November 1871, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered 13 year-old Doctor Taylor bound as an apprentice to Jolly Taylor until he reached 21 years of age.

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In the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County: farm laborer Jolly Taylor, 35; wife Patsey, 48; Dock Taylor, 15; and Nellie, 12, Haywood and Richard, 12, and George Farmer, 16.

In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Dock Taylor, 23 farm laborer, living alone.

On 14 March 1889, Dock Taylor, 36, married Ellen Taylor, 36, at Dock Taylor’s home in Toisnot township, Wilson County. A.M.E. Zion minister James M. Copeland performed the ceremony in the presence of William R. Taylor, Curtis Taylor, and Flonny Taylor.

[More about Jolly Taylor later.]

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

The apprenticeship of Mary Simms (1893).

On 7 February 1893, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered 8 year-old Mary Simms bound as an apprentice to Crocket Best until she reached 18 years of age.

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  • Mary Simms
  • Crocket Best

In the 1870 census of Saulston township, Wayne County: farm laborer Crocket Best, 35; wife Caroline, 30; children Hilry, 12, Dennis, 10, Frank, 8, Anjaline, 6, John, 4, and Richard, 6 months; plus Milley, 20, and Bedy Best, 17.

In the 1880 census of New Hope township, Wayne County: farmer Crocket Best, 44; wife Caroline, 42; children Dennis, 20, Franklin, 18, Angeline, 15, John, 12, Richard, 9, Rachel, 6, Mary, 4, and Jamimie, 1; and aunt Rachel Best, 80.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: carpenter Crocket Best, 64; wife Caroline, 62; daughter Mary, 23; and granddaughters Elizabeth, 2, and Loretta, 8.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widower Crocket Best, 87; daughter Mamie, 30, cook; grandson Buster B., 5; and Bennett Stanton, 47.