This Indenture, made the twenty third day of January 1855, Witnesseth; That William Carpenter father of William Carpenter a minor, in consideration of the sum of twenty one & 26ct dollars lawful money of the state of Delaware, advanced and paid to the said William Carpenter ng, by William Smith of Kent County in said State hath in the presence, and with the approbation of T. L. Davis a Justice of the peace for the said County of Kent, put and bound and by these presents doth put and bind the said William Carpenter a negro boy who is now of the age of five years 4 months and 12 days as nearly as can be ascertained as a servant to the said William Smith his executors administrators and assigns for and during the term of fifteen years 7 months and 18 days, from the day of the date hereof, the said William Carpenter to serve the said William Smith 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 that the expiration of the term aforesaid and no longer. And the said William Smith for himself, his executors and administrators doth hereby covenant and contract to teach, or cause the said William Carpenter to be taught the art, trade and business of a servant to the best of his skill knowledge and ability to well support and clothe the said William Carpenter and at the regular expiration of his Servitude to furnish him with two suits of clothes suitable to his condition and also to pay the said William Carpenter the sum of Ten Dollars, in lieu of schooling, it being inexpedient to stipulate for education in reading and writing. In witness whereof the said William Carpenter father and William Smith have hereunto Set their hands and seals respectively the day and year aforesaid William Carpenter his mark {seal}. William Smith {seal}

Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of J A Steventson T L Davis

Kent County SS. This Indenture was executed in the presence and with the approbation of the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for Kent aforesaid this twenty third day of January A D 1855 T. L. Davis Jus Peace

I recd this indenture for record this 25th day of January A D 1855 G W Collin Rec

A true copy Attest G. W. Collin Rec

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSB7-891T-P?view=explore : Dec 8, 2025), image 116 of 362; Delaware Public Archives (Dover).

Image Group Number: 104967965

Transcribed 8 Dec 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky