This Indenture made this thirty first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and sixty witnesseth: That Henry Carpenter father of John Wesley Carpenter a minor hath in the presence and with the approbation of William D. Voshell a Justice of the Peace for Kent County in the state of Delaware and in consideration of the sum of fourty dollars lawful money of the said state advanced and paid to the said Henry Carpenter by John Slay of said County – put and bound  and by these Presents doth put and bind the said John Wesley Carpenter a negro Boy who is now of the age of nine years three months and twenty three days as nearly as can be ascertained as an apprentice to the said John Slay his executors administrators or assigns for and during the term of Eleven years Eight months and seven days from the date hereof the said John Wesley Carpenter to serve the said John Slay his Executors administrators and assigns as an apprentice for the terms 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 John Slay for his Executors and administrators doth hereby covenant and contract to teach or cause to said John Wesley Carpenter to be taught The art Trade and Business of Farming To the best of his skill and Knowledge and ability to give the said John Wesley Carpenter to wit his apprenticeship to well support and clothe the said John w. Carpenter during the said term and at the regular expiration of his apprenticeship to furnish him with two suits of Cloths suitable to his condition, one dollar in lieu of Schooling In witness whereof the said Henry Carpenter and John Slay have hereunto set their hands and seals respectively the day and year aforesaid Henry Carpenter his mark {seal} John Slay {seal}

Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of} Johnath C. Jones William D. Voshell

Kent Co SS. This Indenture was executed in the Presence and with the approbation of the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for Kent County aforesaid this thirty first day of August A.D. 1860 W.D. Voshell J P

Rec for Record this 16th day of October A.D. 1860 G. B. Dickson Rec

A True Copy Attest G. B. Dickson Rec.

for Value Received. I, John Slay do hereby transfer, assign and set over the above Indenture and all the unexpired services of the above named John Wesley Carpenter to William H. Hoffecker his executors, administrators and assigns; and I, the said William H Hoffecker do hereby accept the said assignment, and do bind myself my executors and administrators to fulfil and perform, all and singular the covenants and stipulations in the above Indenture contained, on the part of the said John Slay to be done and performed.

   WITNESS our hands and seals this tenth day of December  A.D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one. John Slay {seal} Wm, H. Hoffecker {seal}

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of Geo. B. Dickson. J. H. Bateman      

The above assignment was executed in the presence and with the approbation of the Subscriber, Timothy C. Killen & John H Bateman

Given under our hands the Tenth day of December A.D.186 Timothy C Killen JP J H Bateman J.P.

A true Copy Attest Geo B Dickson

Received this Transfer for Record this tenth day of December A.D. 1861 Geo B Dickson Rec.

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSB7-8S74-8?view=explore : Dec 8, 2025), image 303 of 357; Delaware Public Archives (Dover).

Image Group Number: 104967966

Transcribed 7 Dec 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky