Indentures are traditionally an agreement between two parties where one party agrees to provide labor in recompense for money loaned to them (in many cases, a ship’s passage from Europe to the New World) or in recompense for a skilled learned such as an apprenticeship. Indentures usually had time limits and responsibilities of both parties under the indenture. This indenture continues the servitude of Moses and is without time limits, without training and without payment to Moses, he receives what we would call room and board. Other documents refer to Moses’s brothers and sisters with other members of the Guilford community.
This Indenture (Witnesses that) Ruth Naughtye of Guilford
in the County of New Haven (in the Colony) of Connecticut in New England w(?)
(for and In Consideration of the payments herein aftermentioned) Hath &
by these Presents Doth Put out, and Bind her Negro Man Named, Moses
a Servant to Amos Fowler of Guilford aforesd, Clerk, to Serve him from
the day of the Date hereof During the whole Time and Term of the Natural
Life of the sd Moses, and until his Death; During which Term the sd
Negro Man Shall Constantly Serve the sd Amos Fowler his Heirs Ex-
-ecutors or Admt’rs according to his or theirLawful Commands; And
the sd Amos Fowler or him self his Heirs Executors & Admt’rs Doth
Covenant and Promise to find and provide for sd Negro Man Sutable
Meat, Drink, Apparrel, Washing and Lodging During the sd Term
both in sickness and health, and to pay all Rates & Taxes that
may arise on sd Negro Man’s Head; And the sd Amos Fowler Doth
for himself his Heirs Executors & Admt’rs further Covenant and Promise
not to Sell or Dispose of sd Negro Man in Service to any other Persons
but that the sd Moses Shall Remain and be kept in the Service
of him the sd Fowler and his Heirs During the whole Term of his
(sd Moses’s) Natural Life; And the sd Amos Fowler, for himself his
Heirs Executors and Admt’rs Doth further Covenant and Promise to pay
to sd Ruth Naughtye (for sd Negro Man’s Service) Twelve Pounds, Law-
-ful money, a year, to be paid Yearly and every Year During the Term of
the Natural Life of the sd RuthNaughtye, and no longer ——————-
In Witness whereof the Parties have Interchangeably Set to their hands and
Seals this Ninth Day of November Annos Domini 1762 ———————
Signed Sealed and Delivered (signed) Amos Fowler
In presence of —————–
John Redfield
Nath’l Hill
