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What was in colonial cups besides tea? Cider, water, milk, and whiskey! by Melissa Swindell https://americanhistory.si.edu/

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Editor's note: Yesterday, museum fellow Melissa Swindell gave us a peek into colonial cups in her blog post about hot chocolate. Today she examines four more important drinks: cider, water, milk, and whiskey.
Practically everyone in 18th America drank chocolate and tea, but what about cider, water, milk, and whiskey? Well, of course they drank water and milk. The colonies were an idyllic paradise-lush forests, rolling hills, crystal clear streams. Not so much. In fact, water and milk were big carriers of disease. Americans stuck with cider and whiskey because they were alcoholic. Alcohol-based drinks typically wouldn't spread disease, and they had a much longer "shelf-life," than non-alcoholic beverages. Even children drank alcohol-of course it was significantly watered down.

Want to know more about cider, water, milk, and whiskey? Keep reading. The story gets better...

Cider: Apple trees were not native to North America. The colonists had to bring apple trees with them aboard ship to the New World. And because apple trees are not native, neither were the insects to pollinate them. Honeybees were also imported.

So the story of Johnny Appleseed spreading apple tress wherever he went is true... Well, ok he was actually a missionary named Jonathan Chapman, who planted apple nurseries across the mid-west, but the concept is still the same. Other pioneers took apple trees across the nation; later some even went by wagon along the Oregon Trail.

By the late colonial period there were so many apple trees that everyone, even children, drank cider. That's hard cider-it lasts longer. A typical middling family of six drank about 90 gallons of cider each year-that's 15 gallons per person.

Water: You probably learned that the colonists lived simple, pastoral lives. And what would they drink besides water? This is only half true. Colonists on rural farms or on the frontier could find natural, clean sources of water, or could dig wells to reach fresh water. Colonists in the city drank "bottled water," from the countryside.

City dwellers used bodies of water for garbage disposal, not drinking. Just slaughtered a pig? Throw the carcass into the river. Need to empty your chamber pot? Dump it down the well. In defense of the colonists, they did not know about germs or bacteria. They could however, clearly recognize clean water from dirty water. But clean water was only available outside the city. This would have been a problem, if the tea-water trade hadn't blossomed.

"Tea-water" was clean water usually found on the outskirts of a city. It was primarily used for making tea; though it was safe to drink alone. Workers, known as tea-water men, drew the water, sealed it in kegs, and transported it into the city. Having this "bottled water" delivered cost about 45 shillings per year. Today that's about $310. But in the late colonial era, it took the average tradesman one month to earn that much money.

"A diseased cow, unable to stand, is pulled up to be milked. Distilleries kept a stable of such animals, fed them mash and whiskey slops. The milk made the beasts tipsy and often sick." Image from: Dupuis, E. Melanie. Nature's Perfect Food. (New York University Press: New York, 2002).

Milk: On the farm it was safe to drink milk, but few people did. Milk by-products like cheese, butter, or yogurt were more common because milk spoiled so quickly. This was especially the case in cities. Unlike water, which could be transported, by the time milk from the countryside reached the city it was likely to have gone bad. Since transportation was the main issue, industrious brewers attached cow stables to their city breweries.

"Swill" milk stables, provided cities with milk. The problem: the cows' diet consisted of the leftover grain from beer production, or "swill." This does not make for a happy cow. In fact, most of these cows were sickly and diseased. At best they produced very poor quality milk; at worst they spread diseases, such as cholera. The average person consumed less than one third of a pint of milk a day and most of this was through cooking or in coffee, tea, or chocolate.

Whiskey: Rum was shipped directly from the West Indies to northeastern port cities. Before the American Revolution, rum, not whiskey was the colonial favorite. A boycott of British goods before and during the Revolution prompted colonists to invest in distilling a uniquely "American" drink.

Kentucky Bourbon soon became popular. The soil in Kentucky was perfect for growing corn, from which American whiskey, or Bourbon, was made. (Bourbon was made up of at least 51% from corn, while whiskey was anything less than 51% corn based.) The only problem was that it was very difficult to transport goods (including Bourbon) across the Appalachian Mountains, to east coast cities.

To reach the east coast, Bourbon had to travel by land to a port on the Mississippi River where it was loaded onto boats headed for the port of New Orleans. From New Orleans the Bourbon was loaded on to larger ships that traveled around Florida and then up the coast. Within a few years, colonists east of the Appalachians, began whiskey production using barley and rye. These crops grew better than corn on the east coast. Within only few years, whiskey surpassed rum consumption.

The story behind each colonial beverage is packed with details about colonial life. Before this project, I couldn't imagine that something so small as what someone drank 250 years ago could have such meaningful and revealing ties to history, at large. It just goes to show that even the things we take for granted have fascinating stories to tell.
Melissa Swindell is a graduate student at George Washington University and a Goldman Sachs Junior Fellow at the museum. Follow the progress of the American Enterprise exhibition she is working on and find more information about our fellowship program.

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What was in colonial cups besides tea? Cider, water, milk, and whiskey!

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Editor's note: Yesterday, museum fellow Melissa Swindell gave us a peek into colonial cups in her blog post about hot chocolate. Today she examines four more important drinks: cider, water, milk, and whiskey. Practically everyone in 18th America drank chocolate and tea, but what about cider, water, milk, and whiskey?

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Colonial Jobs by Ducksters

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Kids learn about the jobs, trades, and occupations of colonial America including apothecary, blacksmith, cabinetmaker, cobbler, cooper, milliner, printer, and wheelwright.

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Pgs. 6-7 from Young Colonists by Polly Peterson

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Colonial Food and Cooking by Ducksters

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Kids learn about food people ate and cooked during Colonial America including farming, hunting, fishing, meals, and how they prepared for winter.

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Pgs. 12-13 from What If You Lived in Colonial America?

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Pgs. 12-13 from Pgs. 8-9 from Life in a Colonial City by Therese Harasymiw

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Women's Clothing by Ducksters

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Kids learn about women's clothing during Colonial America including the gown, petticoats, shift, stay, shoes, ruffles, cloak, apron, mob caps, hair styles, and hats.

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Pg. 8 from Young Colonists by Polly Peterson

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Colonial Homes and Housing by Ducksters

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Kids learn about the housing and homes of colonial America including early cabins, plantations, farms, city dwellings, architecture, and other fun facts.

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Pgs. 22-23 from Historic Communities: Colonial Life by Bobbie Kalman

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Places and Buildings in a Colonial Town by Ducksters

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History >> Colonial America

Places and Buildings in Town
Meetinghouse

One of the first buildings built in many colonial American towns was the meetinghouse. The meetinghouse served both as the Puritan church and as the meeting place for the citizens to discuss issues and make plans. Everyone in the town was responsible for helping to build and maintain the meetinghouse.

The Courthouse in Williamsburg
Photo by Ducksters

Courthouse

Larger cities would often have a courthouse where the local judge would oversee disputes and punish crimes. After hearing the evidence and testimony, the judge would quickly make his ruling and any punishments could be carried out immediately.

Gaol

The gaol was the town jail. The word "gaol" is pronounced just like "jail." People were held in the gaol while they awaited their trials or punishment. Prisoners might include criminals, debtors, and runaway slaves.

Magazine

The magazine was a building designed to hold the town's weapons including muskets, swords, pikes, and gunpowder. The magazine was often a stone or brick building to help make it fireproof as it stored the town's gunpowder.

The Magazine in Williamsburg
Photo by Ducksters

Church

The church was often the center of the town. Everyone in the town was expected, sometimes by law, to attend church on Sunday. Churches in Colonial America were generally fairly simple buildings.

Post Office

Major towns would have a post office where mail could be sent between the colonies. The mail was slow and unreliable at first, but was much improved by the late 1700s. The post office usually was home to the town printer and newspaper. It was a great place to get the latest news and learn what was going on in the region.

Tavern

Most larger towns had a number of taverns. Taverns were places to get a cooked meal and a drink. They were also important meeting places. Men would go to the tavern after work to discuss business and politics. A lot of plans for the American Revolution were made by patriots in taverns across the colonies.

Governor's House

Each colony had a special house where the governor lived. This was usually the largest home in the town. The governor's home was where town leaders often met to discuss issues and make new laws.

The Governor's Palace in Williamsburg
Photo by Ducksters

Market Square

At the center of the town was often a large open square where people could meet and trade goods. Farmers could set up booths to sell produce and small merchants could peddle their goods. Major outdoor events took place at the market square including holiday celebrations and athletic contests.

Coffeehouse

The coffeehouse was sort of an elite form of the tavern. Only gentlemen were allowed inside the coffeehouse where they would drink mostly non-alcoholic beverages such as coffee, tea, and chocolate. It was a place where wealthy and educated men made business deals and discussed intellectual topics.

Colonial Shops
Photo by Ducksters

Shops

Colonial towns had plenty of shops to buy all sorts of items such as shoes, tools, food, candles, clothing, paper, and furniture. Most shops specialized in one area like the wigmaker who made custom wigs or the apothecary who made medicines.

Interesting Facts about Places in a Colonial Town

Many early settlements, like Jamestown, were forts surrounded by walls for protection from the natives as well as other colonial powers like France and Spain.

Larger towns were able to establish colleges for higher education including Harvard (founded in Massachusetts in 1636) and William and Mary (founded in Virginia in 1693).

The millinery was a store that sold clothing accessories (hats, ruffles, shifts, aprons, cloth). It was one of the few stores that was typically owned by a woman.

The harbor was an important place of trade and business for many colonial towns that were located on the coast.

Activities

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Works Cited

History >> Colonial America

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Kids learn about the places and buildings in a typical town of Colonial America including the meetinghouse, magazine, gaol, post office, tavern, market square, and shops.

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Pgs. 22-23 from The Dish on Food and Farming in Colonial America by Anika Fajardo

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Pgs. 4-5 from Young Colonists by Polly Peterson

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Pgs. 28-29 from Colonial Women by Niki Walker

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Colonial Cities by Ducksters - the first paragraph is most helpful

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Kids learn about daily life in the city during Colonial America including jobs, trades, education, middling class, church, the enslaved, and interesting facts.

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From Readworks

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Pgs. 20-21 from The Dish on Food and Farming in Colonial America by Anika Fajardo

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Pgs. 8-9 from Historical Communities: Colonial Home by Bobbie Kalman and John Crossingham

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Pg. 7 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 10-11 from Historic Communities: Colonial Life by Bobbie Kalman

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Pg. 19 from Historic Communities: Colonial Life by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 12-13 from Colonial Women by Niki Walker

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Pgs. 14-15 from The Dish on Food and Farming in Colonial America by Anika Fajardo

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Pgs. 8-9 from Historic Communities: Colonial Life by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 28-29 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 20-21 from Historic Communities: Colonial Life by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 6-7 from What If You Lived in Colonial America?

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Pg. 20 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pg. 7 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Primary Source - a warning to indentured servants

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Primary Source - a warning to indentured servants

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"Packed Densely, Like Herrings": Gottlieb Mittelberger Warns His Countryman of the Perils of Emigration, 1750

In the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, many colonists arrived as indentured servants or bondsmen who served a term of service before receiving their freedom. This practice meant that impoverished Germans and other Europeans financed their passage across the Atlantic. Between 1749 and 1754 more than 30,000 Germans came to Pennsylvania, and by mid-century they constituted about one third of the colony's population. Gottlieb Mittelberger arrived in Philadelphia in late 1750 aboard the Osgood, along with 500 of his fellow countrymen. With fortunes better than most, he settled as an organist and schoolmaster in New Providence, a German farming community outside Philadelphia. He found much distasteful about his new home and returned in 1754 to write an expose warning Germans about fraudulent accounts of ideal conditions in America.

Both in Rotterdam and in Amsterdam the people are packed densely, like herrings so to say, in the large sea-vessels. One person receives a place of scarcely 2 feet width and 6 feet length in the bedstead, while many a ship carries four to six hundred souls; not to mention the innumerable implements, tools, provisions, water-barrels and other things which likewise occupy such space.

On account of contrary winds it takes the ships sometimes 2, 3, and 4 weeks to make the trip from Holland to . . . England. But when the wind is good, they get there in 8 days or even sooner. Everything is examined there and the custom-duties paid, whence it comes that the ships ride there 8, 10 or 14 days and even longer at anchor, till they have taken in their full cargoes. During that time every one is compelled to spend his last remaining money and to consume his little stock of provisions which had been reserved for the sea; so that most passengers, finding themselves on the ocean where they would be in greater need of them, must greatly suffer from hunger and want. Many suffer want already on the water between Holland and Old England.

When the ships have for the last time weighed their anchors near the city of Kaupp [Cowes] in Old England, the real misery begins with the long voyage. For from there the ships, unless they have good wind, must often sail 8, 9, 10 to 12 weeks before they reach Philadelphia. But even with the best wind the voyage lasts 7 weeks.

But during the voyage there is on board these ships terrible misery, stench, fumes, horror, vomiting, many kinds of sea-sickness, fever, dysentery, headache, heat, constipation, boils, scurvy, cancer, mouth rot, and the like, all of which come from old and sharply salted food and meat, also from very bad and foul water, so that many die miserably.

Add to this want of provisions, hunger, thirst, frost, heat, dampness, anxiety, want, afflictions and lamentations, together with other trouble, as . . . the lice abound so frightfully, especially on sick people, that they can be scraped off the body. The misery reaches the climax when a gale rages for 2 or 3 nights and days, so that every one believes that the ship will go to the bottom with all human beings on board. In such a visitation the people cry and pray most piteously.

Children from 1 to 7 years rarely survive the voyage. I witnessed . . . misery in no less than 32 children in our ship, all of whom were thrown into the sea. The parents grieve all the more since their children find no resting-place in the earth, but are devoured by the monsters of the sea.

That most of the people get sick is not surprising, because, in addition to all other trials and hardships, warm food is served only three times a week, the rations being very poor and very little. Such meals can hardly be eaten, on account of being so unclean. The water which is served out of the ships is often very black, thick and full of worms, so that one cannot drink it without loathing, even with the greatest thirst. Toward the end we were compelled to eat the ship's biscuit which had been spoiled long ago; though in a whole biscuit there was scarcely a piece the size of a dollar that had not been full of red worms and spiders' nests. . . .

At length, when, after a long and tedious voyage, the ships come in sight of land, so that the promontories can be seen, which the people were so eager and anxious to see, all creep from below on deck to see the land from afar, and they weep for joy, and pray and sing, thanking and praising God. The sight of the land makes the people on board the ship, especially the sick and the half dead, alive again, so that their hearts leap within them; they shout and rejoice, and are content to bear their misery in patience, in the hope that they may soon reach the land in safety. But alas!

Source: Gottlieb Mittelberger, Journey to Pennsylvania in the Year 1750, trans. Carl Theo Eben (Philadelphia, John Jos McVey, 1898), 25-31

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"Packed Densely, Like Herrings": Gottlieb Mittelberger Warns His Countryman of the Perils of Emigration, 1750

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In the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, many colonists arrived as indentured servants or bondsmen who served a term of service before receiving their freedom. This practice meant that impoverished Germans and other Europeans financed their passage across the Atlantic.

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Pg. 13 from The Dish on Food and Farming in Colonial America by Anika Fajardo

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Pgs. 8-9 from What If You Lived in Colonial America?

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Pg. 16 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Men's Clothing by Ducksters

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Kids learn about men's clothing during Colonial America including the waistcoat, cravat, breeches, shoes, stockings, shirt, cloak, banyan, hair styles, tricorn hats, and wigs.

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Pgs. 12-13 from Colonial Women by Niki Walker

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Pgs. 14-15 from Young Colonists by Polly Peterson

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Pgs. 24-25 from Colonial Women by Niki Walker

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This picture, Industry and Idleness, shows 2 apprentices starting in identical circumstances, one is the industrious Francis Goodchild and the other is the unsuccessful Thomas Idlefrom.

The growth of tobacco, rice, and indigo and the plantation economy created a tremendous need for labor in Southern English America. Without the aid of modern machinery, human sweat and blood was necessary for the planting, cultivation, and harvesting of these cash crops. While slaves existed in the English colonies throughout the 1600s, indentured servitude was the method of choice employed by many planters before the 1680s. This system provided incentives for both the master and servant to increase the working population of the Chesapeake colonies.

Virginia and Maryland operated under what was known as the "headright system." The leaders of each colony knew that labor was essential for economic survival, so they provided incentives for planters to import workers. For each laborer brought across the Atlantic, the master was rewarded with 50 acres of land. This system was used by wealthy plantation aristocrats to increase their land holdings dramatically. In addition, of course, they received the services of the workers for the duration of the indenture.

This system seemed to benefit the servant as well. Each indentured servant would have their fare across the Atlantic paid in full by their master. A contract was written that stipulated the length of service - typically five years. The servant would be supplied room and board while working in the master's fields. Upon completion of the contract, the servant would receive "freedom dues," a pre-arranged termination bonus. This might include land, money, a gun, clothes or food. On the surface it seemed like a terrific way for the luckless English poor to make their way to prosperity in a new land. Beneath the surface, this was not often the case.

Only about 40 percent of indentured servants lived to complete the terms of their contracts. Female servants were often the subject of harassment from their masters. A woman who became pregnant while a servant often had years tacked on to the end of her service time. Early in the century, some servants were able to gain their own land as free men. But by 1660, much of the best land was claimed by the large land owners. The former servants were pushed westward, where the mountainous land was less arable and the threat from Indians constant. A class of angry, impoverished pioneer farmers began to emerge as the 1600s grew old. After Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, planters began to prefer permanent African slavery to the headright system that had previously enabled them to prosper.

The misery reaches the climax when a gale rages for 2 or 3 nights and days, so that every one believes that the ship will go to the bottom with all human beings on board. In such a visitation the people cry and pray most piteously. -Gottlieb Mittelberger, On the Misfortune of Indentured Servants, 1754
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Pg. 12 from The Dish on Food and Farming in Colonial America by Anika Fajardo

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Pg. 14 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pg. 15 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pg. 6 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 16-17 from Gross Facts About the American Colonies by Mira Vonne

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pg. 21 from Colonial Times 1600-1700 by Joy Masoff

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Pgs. 14-15 from Colonial Women by Niki Walker

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APPRENTICESHIP INDENTURES - 1830-1908

"An act concerning apprentices & servants" was passed by the New York State Legislature on February 20,1801 and is found in Laws of New York 1801, Chapter 254. Under this Act, a person could be bound by Indenture by his, or her, own free will, with the consent of a parent or guardian, by Justices or Overseers of the Poor to serve as clerks, apprentices or servants. Specific conditions are set forth in the Act and later amendments, etc.

The Indentures listed hereafter, are filed, and/or recorded in the Delaware County Clerk's Office. Unless otherwise stated, these Indentures were executed by the County Superintendents of the Poor, in Delhi, for children resident in the County Poor House.

Electronic text prepared by Joyce Riedinger, Nov 1996, December 1, 1996 from typed copy of Shirley Houck of the Delaware County Clerk's Office, Delhi, NY.

Originals may be ordered from the: Delaware County Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 426, Delhi, NY 13753

ALLEN, Ann, aged 5 years & 7 months Indentured to Hugh H. Sloan, of Kortright, until the age of 18 to be a servant to learn housekeeping. Indenture is dated Jan. 13, 1835 and was filed Jan. 17, 1835. Identification # 9.116

ALLEN, Emaline, aged 7 years & 6 months Indentured to Angus McMullen, of Delhi, until the age of 18 to be a servant to learn housekeeping. Indenture is dated Mar. 9, 1832 & was filed Dec. 15, 1832. Identification # 9.14.

ALLEN, Nancy, aged 10 years & 3 months Indentured to Hiram Merit, of (not stated), until age 18 to be a servant to learn housekeeping. Indenture is dated May 17, 1834 & was -filed May 19, 1834. Identification # 9.114

BORST, Amamda, aged 12 years on Nov.28,1866, Indentured to S.B. Champoin, of Kortright, until age 18 to be a servant in Lois family. Indenture is dated Nov. 14, 1866 & was -filed Nov.15, 1866. Identification # 9.158.

BRONSON, Beatrice, of Middletown, aged about 3 weeks Indentured to Isaac G. & Lizzie Happy, of Middletown, by the Super. of Poor of Middletown until age of 21 to learn housekeeping. Indenture is dated Auy.10,1908 & filed Dec. 16, 1908. Identification # 9.161

BROWN, David Alanson Indentured on Dec.19,1835 by the Superintendents of the Green County Poor house to Orrin Parsons, of Roxbury as an apprentice. Mr. Parsons swore under oath before 2 Justices of the Peace at Stamford that said David had, since that date, been guilty of divers acts of Misdemeanors, ill behavior and misconduct. (Particulars are set forth.) Said David was also examined & the Justices determined that the complaints were well founded & therefore said David Brown was discharged from his service & said Orrin Parsons was discharged from all obligations to him. Document is dated Feb. 21, 1837 & was filed Mar. 10, 1837. Identification # 9.21.

BUCK, Martha, aged 7 years "on Feb.3 last", Indentured to Thomas Liddle, of Bovina, until age 18 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Apr. 2, 1838 & was -filed June 14, 1838. Identification # 9.131

COLE, Julia Ann, aged 11 years "on Nov 9 last", Indentured to Eli Gould, of Walton, until age 18 as servant art housework. Indenture is dated Feb.27,1837 & was filed Nov.10, 1837. Identification # 9.125.

CRAWFORD, Elisabeth, aged 11 years, 6 month & 22 days, Indentured to George Sturges of Stamford, until age 18 to learn housekeeping. Indenture is dated & filed Dec. 17, 1833. Identification # 9.17.

DAVIS, James, aged 7 years "on July 14 last', Indentured to Thomas J. Harkness, of Kortright, until age 21 as apprentice to -farming business. Indenture is dated & was filed Sept. 24, 1838. Identification # 9.132.

DAVIS, William, aged 8 years "next June", Indentured to William Davis of Delhi, until age 21 as apprentice to farming.. Indenture is dated Mar. 13, 1837 & was filed Nov. 10, 1837. Identification # 9.127.

DENNIS, Amy, aged 6 years, Indentured to Chester Fuller of Meredith, until age 18 as servant to learn housekeeping. Identification # 9.15.

DOUGHERTY, Morgan D., aged 6 years, 3 months & 8 days, Indentured to William Broadwell (residence not stated) until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated & was filed May 8, 1834. Identification # 9.113.

FERDON, Erastus, aged 9 years, 3 months & 18 days, Indentured to William Hanna, of (not given) until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated May 27, 1830 & was filed June 8, 1830. Identification # 9.11.

FIELDS, Jane, aged 5 years "on Sept 17 last", Indentured to James A. Liddle, of Bovina, until age 18, as servant to learn housekeeping. Indenture is dated Apr. 2, 1838 & was filed Feb. 2, 1839. Identification # 9.134.

FOOTE, Ann, aged 8 years "on June 15 last", Indentured to John Liddle, of Bovina, until age 18 as servant to learn housekeeping. Indenture is dated Feb 1, 1838 & was filed Feb 2, 1839. Identification # 9.135.

FOOTE, Chauncey, aged 8 years "on Mar 1 last" Indentured to James Paul, of Kortright, until age 21 As apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated Dec. 20, 1836 & was filed Nov. 10, 1837. Identification # 9.128.

FRAER/FRIER, Lyman, aged 1 year "on Feb 1 last", Indentured to Isaac D. Seeley, of Sidney, until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated Mar.4,1836 & was filed Mar. 22, 1836. Identification # 9.121.

GARKEN, John H., aged 7 years, Indentured to John McNaughton, of Meredith, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Apr. 11, 1854 & was filed Oct. 5, 1855. Identification #9.140.

GARTIPPE, Truman I.,of Tompkins, aged 5 years, Indentured by Superintendent of Poor of Tompkins to James Quackenbush, of Tompkins until age 21 as a servant. Indenture is dated Feb. 3, 1905 & was recorded Mar. 2, 1905 in Liber 2 of Miscellaneous Records on pages 18 & 19.

GARTIPPEE, Edith A.,of Tompkins, aged 2 years, Indentured by Superintendent of Poor of Tompkins to George 0. Manwaring, of Sidney until age 18 as servant. Indenture is dated Feb. ,1905 & was recorded Mar 2, 1905 in Liber 2 of Miscellaneous Records on page 18.

GOODMAN, William, aged 9 years "Oct 3 instant", Indentured to John Shiland of Kortright, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Oct. 9, 1851 & was filed Feb. 5, 1852. Identification # 9.136

HADDOCK, William J., aged 4 years, 3 months & 4 days Indentured to Asahel Merriam, of (not 1isted), until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated Oct. 25, 1836 & was filed Mar 30, 1836. Identification # 9.123.

HEAGENY, Catharine A., aged 1 year "on Apr 29,1858", Indentured to Orrin Carrington, of Harpersfield until age 18 as apprentice at housekeeping. Indenture is dated Oct. 20, 1858 & was filed Oct.22, 1858. Identification # 9.150.

HOSIER, George W. Jr., of Middletown, aged about 3 months, Indentured by Overseer of Poor of Middletown to Hugh Rosier, of Andes, until age 21 to "service in the employment of the said Hugh Hosier". Indenture is dated Sept. 16, 1907 & was filed Mar.21, 1908. Identification # 9.160.

HOWLAND, Henry, aged 4 years & 9 months, Indentured to Robert Ballentyne, of (not listed), until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated April 4, 1834 & was filed same date. Identification # 9.111.

HOWLAND, William, aged 7 years & 8 months, Indentured to Thomas Hymers, of (not listed), until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated & was filed April 2, 1834. Identification # 9.110.

HULETT, Catharine, aged 9 years, 4 months & 7 days Indentured to Andrew Christie, of (not listed) until age 18 as servant to learn housekeeping. Indenture is dated May 7, 1830 & was filed June 8, 1830. Identification # 9.12.

HULETT, Catherine, aged 11 years, 11 months & 10 days, Indentured to Henry Davie, of Delhi, until age 18 as apprentice to learn housekeeping. Indenture is dated Dec.10, 1832 & was filed Dec. 15, 1832. Identification # 9.16.

LAKE, John, aged 5 years 6 months Indentured to Robert Balentyne, Jr., of (not listed) until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated & was filed April 4, 1834. Identification # 9.112. NOTE: Contract was rescinded by mutual agreement on Nov.27, 1840.)

LAKE, Sylvester, age 4 years & 8 months Indentured to Benjamin Munson, of (not listed) until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated & was filed Oct. 4, 1834. Identification # 9.115.

LAKE, Sylvester, aged 8 years "on Feb.5 last" Indentured to Robert C. Scott, of Bovina, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated May 28, 1838 & was filed May 30, 1838. Identification # 9.130.

LANDON, Clinton, aged 7 years & 1 month, Indentured to William W. Tuttle, of (not listed) until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated Feb. 19, 1835 & was filed March 31, 1835. Identification # 9.117.

LAW, Abigail, aged 12 years, Indentured to Joe Bragg, of Unadilla, Otsego Co., N.Y. until age 18 as a domestic. Indenture is dated Oct. 9, 1851 & was filed Feb. 18, 1852. Identification # 9.138.

LAVALLEY, Alexander, aged 13 years "on Mar 8 last", Indentured to William Kerr, of Walton, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Nov. 27, 1857 & was filed Dec. 16,1857. Identification # 9.146.

LEISTER, Roxanne M., aged 9 years, 2 months & 10 days, Indentured to Jonathan Finney, of (not listed), until age 18 as servant to learn housekeeping. Indenture is dated May 20, 1830 & was filed June 8, 1830. Identification # 9.13.

McFARLANE, George, aged 12 years "on June 12,1862", Indentured to James Seath, of Andes, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated & is filed Dec 4, 1862. Identification # 9.156.

McNINIME/McNimona/McNININAME, Charles, aged 15 years, Indentured to Ezra N. S Signor, of Colchester, until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated Sept. 28, 1855 & was filed Oct. 5, 1855. Identification # 9.141.

MILLER, Abraham, aged 9 years & 2 months, Indentured to Roswell Judson, of (not listed), until age 21, as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Feb. 3, 1834 & was filed Feb. 20, 1834. Identification # 9.19.

MORGAN, Charles Edward, aged 7 years "last Nov", Indentured to Erastus Bennett, of Franklin, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Mar 10, 1857 & was filed June 15,1857. Identification # 9.144.

MORGAN, Rosanna, aged 3 years old "on June 8 last" Indentured to Chester W. Pomeroy, of Sidney, unti1 age 18 as apprentice to housekeeping. Indenture is dated July 18, 1857 & was filed Nov. 10, 1857 as apprentice to housekeeping. Identification # 9.145.

MULLINEX, Elnathan, aged 13 years "on Jan 1 last", Indentured to Robert W. Foster, of Otego, Otsego Co.,N.Y. until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Mar 1, 1837 & was filed Nov 10, 1837; Identification # 9.129.

O'BRIEN, Alexander, aged 4 years "on Apr 4 last", Indentured to Henry B. Goff, of Meredith, unti1 age 21, as apprentice in farming. Indenture is dated Oct. 4, 1838 & was filed Oct. 5, 1838. Identification # 9.133.

OSBORN, Jennie, child of Lillie Osborn of Franklin, aged 3 months, Indentured to James H. Frisbee, of Delhi, for 17 years & 4 months until age 18, to serve as an apprentice or servant in the family to learn the art of housekeeping. Indenture is dated & was filed, March 14, 1884. Identification # 9.159.

OSTRANDER, Lawrence (by Henrietta Ostrander, his mother) aged 11 years old "Sept 11 last". Indentured to William V. Webster, of Sidney, until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated June 22, 1836 & was filed June 23, 1836, Identification # 9.124.

PIGGERY, Freeman, aged 6 years "on Nov,26,1862" Indentured to Guernsey H. Munson, of Meredith, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Nov 26, 1862 & was filed Dec 11, 1862. Identification # 9.157.

PINDER/PENDER, Temperance C., aged 15 years, 11 months & 24 days, Indentured to Isaac Archer of (not listed), until age 18 as apprentice to learn housekeeping. Identification # 9.118.

PLATNER, Harriet, aged 3 years "Aug 3 last", Indentured to Albert Garrison, of Roxbury, until age 18 as apprentice in housekeeping. Indenture is dated Sept. 26, 1859 & was filed Feb 13, 1862. Identification # 9.153.

PLATNER, Joseph L., aged 7 years "on Dec 7 next", Indentured to Peter McLaren, of Camden until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture dated Sept. 10, 1858 & filed Sept. 17, 1858. Identification # 9.149.

PULVER, William Henry, aged 3 years "on Apr 13 last" Indentured to Jacob Mickel, of Davenport, until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated & was filed July 20, 1835. Identification # 9.120.

RIDENBERG, William, aged 12 years, Indentured to Robert Kerr, Jr. of Walton, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Feb. 2, 1852 & was filed Apr. 22, 1852. Identification # 9.139.

ROBINSON, John, aged 13 years, 4 months & 21 days, Indentured to William Baker, of Camden, until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated Nov. 11, 1833 & was filed Feb. 3, 1834. Identification # 9.18.

SCHERMERHORN/SCHEMERHAN, Wesley, aged 1 year "in Sept last past", Indentured to Asaph K. Smith, of Meredith, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Nov. 5, 1858 & was filed Nov. 9, 1858. Identification #9.151.

SHAVER, Clarissa, aged 7 years "on the 3d of March next", Indentured to John Beardslee, of Middletown, until age 18 as servant girl. Indenture is dated July 19, 1837 & was filed May 30, 1838. Identification # 9.130 1/2.

SIGNOR, David, aged 5 years "last May", Indentured to Thomas Nichols, of Hamden, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Oct. 17, 1854 & was filed Oct 5, 1855. Identification # 9.142.

TUBBS, Charles, aged 10 years "on May 2 last", Indentured to Samuel Baldwin, of Masonville, until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated Oct. 2, 1835 & was filed Mar. 22, 1836. Identification # 9.143.

TUBBS, Charles, aged 11 years old "on May 2 last", Indentured to William Kentfield, of Masonville, until age 21 as apprentice to farming. Indenture is dated Nov. 18, 1836 & was filed Dec. 20, 1836. Identification # 9.125.

TUBBS, Julona, aged 6 years "on Mar 8 last" Indentured to Anson Clinton, of Andes, until age 18, as servant at housekeeping. Indenture is dated & was filed June 13, 1835. Identification # 9.119.

VANVALKENBURG, Phebe, aged 9 years, Indentured to Jared Gregory of Unadilla, Otsego Co., N.Y. until age 18 as a domestic. Indenture is dated Oct.9,1851 & was filed Feb 5, 1852. Identification # 9.137.

WALTON, Charles, aged 10 years "on Mar 31 last", Indentured to Alanson Northrup, of Colchester, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Sept. 26, 1859 & was filed Feb. 13, 1862. Identification # 9.154.

WALTON, Curtis B., aged 5 years "on Aug 18,1859, Indentured to John Andrews, of Delhi, until age 21 as apprentice to blacksmith business. Indenture is dated Feb. 16, 1860 & was filed Feb. 17, 1860. Identification # 9.152.

WALTON, John H., age 13 years " Apr 30 last" Indentured to William Amos, of Delhi, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Feb. 12, 1862 & was filed Feb. 13, 1862. Identification # 9.155.

WALTON, Mary Ann, aged 13 years "on Aug 1,1857" Indentured to John Stoddard, of Delhi, until age 18, as a housekeeper. Indenture is dated Dec. 22, 1857 & was filed Dec. 28, 1857. Identification # 9.147

WRIGHT, John, aged 12 years "on Jan 30,1858", Indentured to Roswell Peake, of Hamden, until age 21 as apprentice to farming business. Indenture is dated Jan. 29, 1858 & was filed Jan. 30, 1858. Identification # 9.148.

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Delaware County NY Genealogy and History Site

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APPRENTICESHIP INDENTURES - 1830-1908 "An act concerning apprentices & servants" was passed by the New York State Legislature on February 20,1801 and is found in Laws of New York 1801, Chapter 254.

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Pgs. 14-15 from What If You Lived in Colonial America?

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Pgs. 10-11 from What If You Lived in Colonial America?

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Pgs. 12-15 from Gross Facts About the American Colonies by Mira Vonne

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Pg. 5 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pg. 18 from Historic Communities: Colonial Life by Bobbie Kalman

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Pg. 26 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 20-21 from What If You Lived in Colonial America?

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Pg 27 from What If You Lived in Colonial America?

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Pgs. 28-29 from Colonial Women by Niki Walker

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pgs. 22-23 from Colonial Times 1600-1700 by Joy Masoff

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Pgs. 18-19 from Historical Communities: Colonial Home by Bobbie Kalman and John Crossingham

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pg. 18 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pg. 4 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 12-13 from Young Colonists by Polly Peterson

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pg. 18 from Colonial Times 1600-1700 by Joy Masoff

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Pg. 12 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 10-11 from Young Colonists by Polly Peterson

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Women's Clothing by Ducksters

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Kids learn about women's clothing during Colonial America including the gown, petticoats, shift, stay, shoes, ruffles, cloak, apron, mob caps, hair styles, and hats.

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Slavery by Ducksters - the first paragraph is on indentured servants

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Kids learn about the history of slavery during colonial America including indentured servants, the first enslaved people, how they lived, how the enslaved were treated, and the jobs they did.

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Pgs. 18-21 from Gross Facts About the American Colonies by Mira Vonne

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Pgs. 10-11 from The Dish on Food and Farming in Colonial America by Anika Fajardo

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Pgs. 12-13 from Historical Communities: Colonial Home by Bobbie Kalman and John Crossingham

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Pgs. 24-25 from Colonial Women by Niki Walker

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Pgs. 14-15 from Life in a Colonial City by Therese Harasymiw

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Pg. 17 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 18-19 from What if You Lived in Colonial America?

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Pgs. 37-41 from What If You Lived in Colonial America?

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Women's Roles by Ducksters

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Kids learn about the history of women's roles during colonial America including education, dialy work, rules, legal status, enslaved women, facts, and the wealthy.

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Indentured Servitude by NBC News

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Watch and Share Youtube Videos Safely - For Teachers and Family

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Watch, trim and share online videos safely with minimal ads and zero distractions. Our link-sharing technology tools are useful for marketers, schools, teachers, and parents to provide a clean distraction-free experience. We support YouTube and Vimeo.

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From Readworks

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pg. 27 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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Pgs. 14-15 from Historical Communities: Colonial Home by Bobbie Kalman and John Crossingham

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Colonial Trade Routes and Goods by National Geographic

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Map of trade routes across the Atlantic Ocean

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Pgs. 31-35 from What If You Lived in Colonial America? by Capstone Publishing

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Pgs. 10-11 from Life in a Colonial City by Therese Harasymiw

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pg. 19 from Colonial Times from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

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pgs. 20-21 from Colonial Times 1600-1700 by Joy Masoff

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Pgs. 22-23 from Historic Communities: Colonial Life by Bobbie Kalman