The apprenticeship system was brought to the colonies from England. The practice originated in medieval England and followed English common law. In North Carolina, some children were bound out voluntarily and continued to follow common law practices; however, in many cases, children were forced into the system for one of three reasons:
Although apprenticeships were often forced, there were several benefits children who were bound out. If the system worked properly, the child would not only have received an education and learned a skilled trade, but they would also not be dependent on the county when they became adults. Apprentice masters were to teach their apprentices, known as wards in the records, to read and write as well as provide food, shelter, and clothing as stipulated by the law. Both white and free children of color were bound out. Boys were bound out until age 21, white girls until age 18, and free girls of color until age 21.
Problems arose in the apprentice system as some apprentice masters abused their wards, especially free children of color, and treated them as if they were enslaved. There are many court cases of parents filing suits against apprentice masters for abuse. Luckily, the courts sided favorably on the side of the apprentice. The courts would remove them from the apprentice masters and reassign them to another. In some rarer cases, children went through a chain of abusive apprentice masters until they aged out of the system.
Image Caption: 18 July 1770 Apprentice bond of Dicey Bass Granville County showing who she is bound to, that she is base born of Lovey Bass, and that she is 4 years old. Original records is located at the State Archives of North Carolina. Citation: Granville County. Apprentice Bonds and Records. C.R.101.2
Children were bound as apprentices for one of four main reasons:
All but voluntary apprentices were forced by the law. Not all orphaned, illegitimate, or poor children were forced into the system. Learn more about who was forced into the system.
Many apprentices were orphaned children. Before the 20th century, children were considered orphans when their father died, even if the mother was still living. The reason for this is that women traditionally did not work outside of the home and therefore were often not seen as being able to financially care for the child(ren). Orphaned children were often forcibly bound out to learn a skilled trade such as a planter, cooper, wheel wright or others. In the case of orphaned children, the appreciate master was often a male family member such as an uncle. However, many orphaned children were raised by a guardian, often a family member, and never entered the apprentice system.
Although children born out of wedlock were bound out as apprentices, it depended on whether the father stepped in for the child or not. If the father, or another male relative, was willing to step in and support the child financially, there was a good chance they were not bound out. Often they were bound out to relatives, but not always. For illegitimate children, there are several records to check
Apprentice and bastardy bonds were created from court orders and were usually created the same week as the county court case.
Some apprentices were from poor families with parents admitted to county poor houses. In many ways, it was an early form of social welfare to ensure the children learned a skilled occupation and were educated so that they did not become dependent on the county like their parents when they reached adulthood. The apprentice bond rarely indicated a reason for them to be bound out, but sometimes the corresponding court record would.
Although less common, apprentices could be voluntary. Because apprentice laws required the apprentices be taught to read and write, some parents may have had their children bound out in order to receive an education. This was especially true for children who lived in rural areas without access to a school. However, the apprentice bonds with these children do not give clues to why they are bound out. Unfortunately, there are no other records in this situation to show they are voluntary apprentices.