James Franklin: Indenture of Apprenticeship
Printed form, with ms insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society
[November 5, 1740]

This Indenture Witnesseth, That  James Franklin late of Newport in Rhodeisland, but now of Philadelphia in Pennsilvania  Hath put himself, and by these Presents, doth voluntarily, and of his own free Will and Accord, put himself Apprentice to  Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia, Printer  to learn his Art, Trade, and Mystery, and after the Manner of an Apprentice to serve the said Benjamin Franklin from the Day of the Date hereof, for, and during, and unto the full End and Term of  Seven Years  next ensuing. During all which Term, the said Apprentice his said Master faithfully shall serve, his Secrets keep, his lawful Commands everywhere readily obey. He shall do no Damage to his said Master, nor see it to be done by others without letting or giving Notice thereof to his said Master. He shall not waste his said Master’s Goods, nor lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not commit Fornication, nor contract Matrimony within the said Term. At Cards, Dice, or any other unlawful Game, he shall not play, whereby his said Master may have Damage. With his own Goods, nor the Goods of others, without Licence from his said Master, he shall neither buy nor sell. He shall not absent himself Day nor Night from his said Master’s Service, without his Leave: Nor haunt Ale-houses, Taverns, or Play-houses; but in all Things behave himself as a faithful Apprentice ought to do, during the said Term. And the said Master shall use the utmost of his Endeavour to teach or cause to be taught or instructed the said Apprentice in the Trade or Mystery of  Printing  and procure and provide for him sufficient Meat, Drink,  Cloaths  Lodging and Washing fitting for an Apprentice, during the said Term of  Seven Years, and at the Expiration thereof shall give him one good new Suit of Cloaths, besides his common Apparel   And for the true Performance of all and 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 interchangeably set their Hands and Seals hereunto. Dated the  Fifth  Day of  November  in the  Fourteenth  Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord  George the second  King of Great-Britain, &c. Annoque Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty.

James Franklin

Sealed and delivered in
the Presence of us

Christopher Thompson

Richard Verguson [sic]

Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office, near the Market

Endorsed: Jemmy’s Indenture
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