This Indenture made the third day of July A.D. 1849 Witnesseth that Catharine Whitaker Mother of James Whitaker a minor in consideration of the sum of Ten dollars lawful money of the State of Delaware, advanced and paid to the said Catharine Whitaker by John Bell colored man of Kent County in the said State, hath, in the presence and with the approbation of Thos. Stevenson a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Kent, put and bound and by these presents doth put and bind the said James Whitaker a negro boy who is now of the age of five years as nearly as can be ascertained as a servant to the said John Bell colored Man his Executors an administrators and assigns for and during the Term of sixteen years from the day of the date hereof the said James Whitaker to serve the said John Bell his Executors, administrators and assigns as a servant for the Term aforesaid or untill 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 Bell for himself, his Executors and administrators doth hereby covenant and Contract to teach, or cause the said James Whitaker to be taught the art, trade and business of a Servant to the best of his skill knowledge and ability; to well supply and clothe the said James Whitaker 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 James Whitaker the sum of Twenty Dollars in lieu of schooling it being inexpedient to stipulate for education in reading and writing. In Witness Thereof the said Catharine Whitaker and John Bell Colored man have hereunto set their hands and Seals respectively the day and Year aforesaid.  Catharine Whitaker her mark {seal}. John Bell his mark {seal}

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of John A. Stevenson

Kent County 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 third day of July A.D. 1849 Thos Stevenson Jus. Peace

I received this Indenture to record this third day of July A.D. one Thousand eight hundred and forty nine. W.M. Cowgill Recr.

A True Copy Attest W M Cowgill Recr

For value received I William Fox do hereby assign and set over the above indenture and all the unexpired services of the above named James Whitacre to Henry Slaughter his executors administrators and assigns and I the said Henry Slaughter 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 William Fox to be done and performed. Witness our hands and seals this fifth day of Much. A.D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty three. William Fox {seal}. H Slaughter {seal}

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Geo B Dickson

The above assignment was executed in the presence and with the approbation of the subscribed Samuel M. Harrington Chancellor of the State Given under my hand the fifth day of March A.D. 1863. S. M. Harrington Chancellor

I received this Transfer to record this fifth day of March A.D. 1863. Geo. B. Dickson R.

A true Copy. Attest. Geo. B. Dickson Rec.

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSB7-89BG-X?view=explore : Feb 13, 2026), image 209 of 283; Delaware Public Archives (Dover).

Image Group Number: 104967963

Transcribed 13 Feb 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky