VERY cool Tex!
Here is the transcription of my gr-gr-great-grandfather's petition to have a boy who was bound into indentured servitude to him returned after he was removed from the possession of my ancestor. This transcription is easier than reading the scanned images. Amazing to imagine being sold by one's parents! I guess the idea was that the boy would have learned to farm and would be fed, housed and clothed by my ancestors for the next 14 years in exchange for his work and the lump sum paid to his parents. But it doesn't sound like he was too happy there. I'd be interested to see the contents of your indenture Texasbadger!! I would also like to know if anyone else out there knows more about indentured servitude.
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Isaac Arterburn Petition
It is a Circuit Court of Hawkins County, Tennessee document dated Sept Term, 1846.
PETITION FOR HABEAS CORPUS BY ISAAC ARTERBURN
It reads as follows (Pages b & c):
State of Tennessee
Hawkins County
Circuit Court
Sept. Tm. 1846
To the Honorable Seth J. W. Luckey.
The petition of Isaach Arterburn humbly represents unto your Honor, that at the request of Sarah
Courtney, her son Andrew R. Courtney was bound to your petitioner at the September term of the County Court 1846 for the term of (fourteen? - unreadable) years at the end of which time, the said boy so bound will be twenty one years of age.
Your petitioner further represents unto your Honor, that in a few days after said boy was bound to him, he got him into his possession and carried him home with him.
Said boy was at the house of your petitioner but few days, when some five or six men, as your petitioner is informed I believe came up back of the stable in the field of your petitioner, and carried said boy off by force. Your petitioner is also informed and believes that Larkin Willis Jr. is one of the individuals who came and assisted in carrying the said boy off from the premises of your petitioner. and your petitioner is further informed and believes that the said boy so bound to him as aforesaid, is now in the possession of and detained from your petitioner by the said Larkin Willis, Jr. - your petitioner therefore prays that your Honor will order a writ of Habeas Corpus to issue, to have said boy so bound to him as aforesaid, brought up before your honor at this term of the court, and the final prayer of your petitioner is that your honor will order said boy to be delivered into the care and keeping of your petitioner, where he rightfully belongs.
signed: Isaac Arterburn
Sworn to and subscribed in Open Court 29 Sept 1846 - signed (Gro. R. Povrel Clk. - hard to determine)
Second Document (Page e):
State of Tennessee
To the Sheriff of Hawkins County
Greeting
Whereas on this 29th day of September 1846, Isaac Arterburn filed his petition in the Circuit Court of the County of Hawkins setting forth among other things that a certain Larkin Willis Junr had wrongfully taken out of his possession a certain bound boy named Andrew R. Courtney and the Judge of our said court having ordered a (Cartionan - unreadable-citation maybe) to issue in the cause. We therefore command you to take the body of the said Andrew R. Courtney and bring him forthwith before his honor the Judge of the Circuit Court at the Court House in Rogersville at a court now sitting for the County of Hawkins, there and then to be dealt with by said court as to right and justice may assertain. Herein fail not and have show thus then this court witness Gro.R. Povrel Clk of our said court at office in Rogersville this 20 Sept 1846.
(signed) Gro. R. Povrel clk. (clk – Clerk)
Cover of Habeas Corpus Order (page f):
I Jarvis P. McCarty, Sheriff of Hawkins County do hereby deputise David S. Rogers to execute the within 29th Sept 1846
(signed) J.P. McCarty.
On Cover of Habeas Corpus Order (page f):
Habeas Corpus
Isaac Arterburn for Larkin Willis
Issued 29 Sept 1846
Not Found
(Signed) J.P. McCarty
