Rockbridge County (Va.) Apprenticeship Indentures 1840-1895

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Rockbridge County (Va.) Apprenticeship Indentures, 1840-1895. Local government records collection, Rockbridge County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Rockbridge County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Rockbridge County (Va.) Apprenticeship Indentures, 1840-1895. Local government records collection, Rockbridge County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Rockbridge County (Va.) Apprenticeship Indentures, 1840-1895, are bonds and contracts of apprenticeship given by the Overseers of the Poor, showing the names of master and apprentice, the trade to be taught, details of the contract, the amount of the bond and the names of sureties. Many of the apprentices bound out prior to 1866 were free African Americans.

Biographical / historical:

Rockbridge County was named for Natural Bridge, an exceptional rock formation located in the county. The county was formed from Augusta and Botetourt Counties in 1778, and another part of Botetourt was added in 1888. The county seat is the city of Lexington.

In 1780 the Virginia General Assembly replaced the Anglican vestries and churchwardens of the colonial period with elected bodies called Overseers of the Poor. The Overseers provided food, clothing, shelter, and medical treatment for the persons who were too poor to support themselves or too ill to provide for their basic needs. They also bound out children whose parents could not support them or who failed to educate or instruct them, as well as orphans to become apprentices. The boys learned a trade and the girls learned domestic skills.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court records from Rockbridge County.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.20 cu.ft.