This Indenture made this eleventh day of July A.D. 1849 between John B. Smith and Thos Stevenson two of the Justices of the Peace for Kent County in the State of Delaware of the one part and Robert O. Pennewill of the said County and State of the other part. Whereas the said John B. Smith and Thos. Stevenson Justices as aforesaid having received information of a certain female negro child named Hetty Turner within the said County who has not parents able to maintain her and bring her up to industry and in suitable employment and the said Hetty Turner voluntarily appears and Happening to be a proper case for binding the said Hetty Turner according to the second section of the act concerning apprentices and servants: Now Therefore this Indenture Witnesseth: That the said John B. Smith and Thos Stevenson justices as aforesaid in pursuance of the power to them given in the said Act, have put and bound and by these presents do put and bind the said Hetty Turner Negro girl who is now of the age of Twelve years & five months as nearly as can be ascertained as a servant to the said Robert O. Pennewill his Executor administrators and Assigns, for and during the term of five years and seven months from the day of the date hereof: the said Hetty Turner to serve the said Robert O. Pennewill his Executors administrators and assigns, as a servant for the term aforesaid or untill she shall arrive at the age of Eighteen years if that shall happen sooner than the expiration of the Term aforesaid and no longer. And the said Robert O. Pennewill for himself his Executors and administrators doth hereby covenant and contract to teach her or cause the said Hetty Turner to be taught the art, trace and business of a servant to the best of his sills knowledge and ability to well support and clothe the said Hetty Turner and at the regular expiration of her servitude to furnish her with two suits of clothes suitable to her condition, and also to pay the said Hetty Turner the sum of Five dollars in lieu of schooling, it being inexpedient to stipulate for education in reading and writing, In Witness Whereof the said John B. Smith and Thos Stevenson Justices as aforesaid (being together and executing this Indenture in the presence of each other) and the said Robert O. Pennewill have hereunto set their hands and Seals respectively the day and year first herein written. John B Smith J.P. {seal}. Thos Stevenson {seal}. Robert O. Pennewill {seal}

Signed, sealed and deli’ed, in the presence of James M Kerlin

I received this Indenture to record this 13th day of July A.D. 1849 W. M. Cowgill Recr.

A True Copy Attest, W.M.Cowgill Recr.

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSB7-89B2-Z?view=explore : Feb 17, 2026), image 212 of 283; Delaware Public Archives (Dover).

Image Group Number: 104967963

Transcribed 17 Feb 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky