1814-03-21 Term Indenture: Thomas Leake

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01973
Source
Indenture agreement for Thomas Leake, son of Jack Leake, to serve Samuel Thompson and his wife Ruth for 10 years

Indenture agreement for Thomas Leake, son of Jack Leake, to serve Samuel Thompson and his wife Ruth for 10 years, March 21, 1814. Archival location: Cumberland County Historical Society. Archive File L5.1.
Event Description
On 21 March 1814, a formerly enslaved Black man named Jack Leake signed an indenture agreement with Samuel Thompson and Ruth Thompson (Samuel's wife) pertaining to Jack's son Thomas Leake, who was 11 years old at this time. Born circa 1803, when both of his parents were already free, Thomas was free from birth. This agreement bound Thomas to serve in the Thompson household for 10 years until he was 21 years old, a common arrangement for children from poor families. The term of service would expire on 21 March 1814. Per the agreement, Samuel and Ruth Thompson would provide a basic literacy education for Thomas, ensuring that he could read and write—something that his father, Jack, did not know how to do, as can be seen from Jack signing the document with an X, rather than writing out his name. Thomas would receive twenty dollars and a new suit of clothes at the end of his term of service.

The agreement was signed by Samuel and Ruth Thompson. Jack Leake signed with an X, and 11-year-old Thomas Leake also signed the document with an X. The agreement was witnessed by Edmond Sheppard and Levi Leake.

The Thompson family lived in Deerfield, Cumberland County, the place where Jack Leake's family had resided for many years and where Thomas had been born. However, on this document, Jack Leake's place of residence is listed as Greenwich Township, Cumberland County, indicating that, by 1814, Jack had gone to live in that township.

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Transcript of the source document:

"This Indentured Witnesseth that Thomas Leake of the age of eleven years Son on Jack Leake of the Township of Greenwich in the County of Cumberland & State of New Jersey hath of his own free will and accord and by with the consent of his father aforesaid signing by his said father signing & sealing this indenture put and bound himself unto Samuel Thompson esquire and Ruth his wife of Deerfield in the County aforesaid with them faithfully to serve for and during the term of yen years from and after the date hereof that is to say until he shall attain his age of Twentyone years during all which term his said master and mistress he shall faithfully serve, their secrets keep, their lawful command cheerfully obey — hurt to his said master he shall not do nor suffer it to be done by others, with his own good or the goods of others he shall not buy nor sell without leave from his master but in all things he shall behave himself as a good and faithful servant towards his said master & mistress and all that are thiers during said term, — And the said Samuel Thompson and Ruth his wife will cause him to be taught to read write and Cypher, and shall procure and provide for him sufficient meal drink, apparel, lodging and washing, suitable for him during said term and at the expiration thereof, the said master shall give to the said Thomas one good new suit of clothes besides his common clothes and Twenty Dollars in money. It witness whereof the said Parties have hereunto interchangeably set their hands & seals the Twenty-First day of March in the year of our Lord 1814

Samuel Thompson
Ruth Thompson
Thomas (his X mark) Leake
Jack (his X mark) Leake

Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
Edmd Sheppard
Levi Leake

[verso]

Thomas Leake’s Indenture"
Event Type
Term Indenture
Date
March 21, 1814 – March 21, 1824
Location of Event
Deerfield
Related Place
Greenwich (Cumberland County)
Preceding Event
1790-12-20 Will (of Nathan Leake): Jack Leake
1791-11-21 Sale / Promise to Manumit: Tubel Leake
1793-04-18 Sale / Manumission: George Leake
1799-06-14 Manumission: Hannah Leake
1810-06-27 Term Indenture / Promise to Manumit: John Leake
Primary Participants

Thomas Leake (b. ca. 1803)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04429
Role: Indentured Person
Age: 11
Status: Free
Verbatim description from source:
"Thomas Leake of the age of eleven years Son on Jack Leake"
Comment: signed document by his mark

Jack Leake
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04423
Role: Parent
Age category: Adult
Status: Free
Verbatim description from source:
"Jack Leake of the Township of Greenwich in the County of Cumberland"
Comment: father of Thomas Leake, signed document by his mark
Additional Participants

Samuel Thompson
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05483
Role: Employer

Ruth Thompson
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05484
Role: Employer
Record Contributor
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event