This Indenture made this sixteenth day of November A.D. 1846.

Between Thomas Stevenson J.P. and John McDowell, Trustee of

the Poor for Kent County, in the state of Delaware, of the one part, and

Cloudsbury Cooper of the said county and state of the other part,

Whereas Thomas Stevenson J.P. and John McDowell, Trustee, as aforesaid, having received information of a certain male negro child, named Samuel Blackiston within the said county, who has not parents able to maintain him and bring him up to industry, and in Suitable employment and whereas the said James Blackiston was peaceably brought before the said Justice and Trustee and the said Justice and Trustee having inquired into his condition and circumstances, and it appearing to be a proper case for binding the said Samuel Blackiston according to the third section of the act concerning apprentices and servants, Now there= fore, this indenture witnessed, That the said Thomas Stev= enson Justice and John McDowell trustee as aforesaid, in pursuance of the power to them given in the said act, and in consideration of the sum of two dollars lawful money of the state of Delaware, advanced and paid to Hannah Blackiston mother of the said Samuel Blackiston by the said Cloudsbury Cooper have put and bound, and by these presents do put and bind the said Samuel Blackiston a negro boy, who is now of the age of four years one month and seven days, as nearly as can be ascertained, as a servant to the said Cloudsbury Cooper his executors, administrators and assigns, for and during the term of sixteen years, ten months and twenty three days, from the day of the date hereof, the said Samuel Blackiston to serve the said Cloudsbury Cooper 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 Cloudsbury Cooper for himself, his executors and administrators, doth hereby covenant and contract to teach, or cause the said Samuel Blackiston 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 Samuel Blackiston 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 Samuel Blackiston the sum of fifty dollars in lieu schooling, it being inexpedient to stipulate for education in reading and writing. In witness whereof, the said Thomas  Stevenson Justice and John McDowell Trustee as aforesaid, (being together, and executing this indenture in the presence of each other,) and the said Cloudsbury Cooper have hereunto set their hands and seals respectively, the day and year first herein written. Thomas Stevenson {seal} John McDowell {seal}. Cloudsbury Cooper his mark {seal}

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Geo. P. Fisher

I received this Indenture to record this eighth day of December A.D. eighteen hundred and forty six. James B. Ralston R.

A true copy recorded and compared with the original – Attest. James B Ralston Recr.

And now to wit, this ninth day of January A.D.- 1847.- a petition having been filed, on the part of the within named Samuel Blackiston, before Samuel M. Harrington an associate Judge of the state of Delaware praying to be discharged from this Indenture and the case being duly heard and considered, it is ordered and adjudged that the said Samuel Blackiston be discharged from his said Indentures of servitude to the said Cloudsbury Coo= per on the ground of the invalidity of the binding and that the petitioner pay costs to constable Linty 1.76 and witnesses attix & Jones each 72 cents making $ 3.20 and that the respondent pay $6.55 costs viz to const Linty 2.05 and witnesses Enos 68; Johnson, Rus and Sevil each .76; Duff .72 and Cook 84 cents. S. M. Harrington J.

I received the within discharge made by Judge Harrington, to record this ninth day of January A.D. eighteen hundred and forty seven. James B. Ralston Recr

A true copy recorded and compared with the original.- Attest James B. Ralston Recr.

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSB7-8S7B-L?view=explore : Apr 5, 2026), image 361 of 439; Delaware Public Archives (Dover).

Image Group Number: 104967962

Transcribed 5 Apr 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky