This Indenture made this twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty four: Witnesseth: That Henry Carpenter father of Caleb Carpenter a minor, in consideration of the sum of Fifty dollars, lawful money of the State of Delaware, advanced and paid to the said Henry Carpenter by William Slay of Kent County, in the said State, hath, in the presence, and with the approbation of J. A. Stephenson a Justice of the Peace for said County of Kent, put and bound, and by these presence doth put and bind the said Caleb Carpenter, a negro boy, who is now of the age of five years, as nearly as can be ascertained, as a servant to the said William Slay his executors, administrators and assigns, for and during the term of sixteen years from the day of the date hereof: the said Caleb Carpenter to serve the said William Slay his executors, administrators and assigns, as a servant, for the term aforesaid, or until he shall arrive at the age of twenty one years, if that shall happen sooner than the Expiration of the term aforesaid, and no longer. And the said William Slay for himself his executors and administrators, doth hereby covenant and contract to teach, or cause the said Caleb Carpenter to be taught the Art, Trade and Business of Farming to the best of his skill, knowledge and ability; to well support and clothes the said Caleb Carpenter, and at the regular expiration of servitude, to furnish him with two suits of clothes suitable to his condition, and also to pay the said Caleb Carpenter the sum of one dollar, in lieu of schooling, it being inexpedient to stipulate for education in reading and writing. In witness whereof The said Henry Carpenter and William Slay have hereunto set their hands and seals respectively, the day and year aforesaid. Henry Carpenter his mark {seal}. William Slay {seal}

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of J. L. Smith J. A. Stevenson

Kent County S.S.  This Indenture was executed in the presence and with the approbation of the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for Kent County aforesaid, this 12th day of Febry A.D. 1864. J. A. Stevenson, Justice of the Peace.

I received this Indenture to record this 12th day of February AD 1864. Geo: B. Dickson Recr.

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSB7-8S8M-B?view=explore : Dec 7, 2025), image 310 of 519; Delaware Public Archives (Dover).

Image Group Number: 104967967

Transcribed 7 Dec 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky