This Indenture Witnesseth that Hester Johnson black woman hath of her own free Will and accord put her son John Henry Peterson, Black boy, aged six years and thirty days, an Apprentice to Anthony Christmas and Saba Christmas his wife of NewCastle County to learn the Art & trade of Farming, And after the manner of an Apprentice to serve them the said Anthony & Saba Christ-mas for and during the full end & term of Fourteen years & Eleven months or until the said Apprentice shall be twenty one years of age: during which term the said Apprentice, his master & mistress faithfully shall serve their secrets keep, their lawful commands every where readily obey, and in all things behave, himself as an apprentice ought to do. And the Said Master and Mistress shall use the utmost of their endeavors to teach or cause to be taught the said Apprentice in the trade or mastery of Farming and provide for him sufficient meat & drink wearing apparel, lodging & washing fitting for an Apprentice, during the said term or until this Said Apprentice, shall be twenty one years  of age and shall give the Said Apprentice one years schooling and when he shall become free or of the age of twenty one years to furnish him with a new or freedom suit of Clothes, exclusive of all his common clothes. For the performance of all & singular the covenants and Agreements aforesaid the Said Parties bind themselves each unto the other firmly by these presents. In Witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands and seals, Dated the nineteenth day of June A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty. Anthony Christmas his mark {seal}. Saba Christmas her mark {seal}. Hester Johnson her mark {seal}

Present Wm, Silver

NewCastle County ss. I hereby Certify that the within Indenture was duly executed and acknowledged before me. Witness my hand & Seal at Red Lion June 19th A.D. 1830. Wm. Silver {seal}

Exd. Recorded July 31 1830

New Castle County [DE] Apprentice Indenture Books 1826 – 1900

Transcribed 20 Aug 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky