A story of British Home Children in just 20 objects nu 4 .......... an indenture

A story of British Home Children in just 20 objects which are in no particular order, have been selected purely at random and will reflect one of many different stories.

Anyone who wants to nominate their own is free to do so, just add a description in no more than 200 words and send it to me.

This is an indenture from the archives of the Together Trust, courtesy of Liz Sykes the archivist who writes,

Robert and Ellen A. Bilbrough – Wallace were in charge of the Marchmont Home in Belleville, Ontario between 1877 – 1912. 

Here, emigrated children would stay for a few weeks before going to work for people in the local area. Indentures like the one above were signed as a set of rules governing certain stipulations. 

Many conditions had to be met by the farmer along with references from an upstanding member of the community, i.e. a minister of religion or a magistrate and all applications had to be counter-signed.  

The farmers were required to provide housing, food and clothing for the child and to ensure they attended Sunday school. 

They were also required to receive some schooling for part of the year alongside their jobs. 

This largely involved farm work for the boys and domestic duties in the house for the girls, although some would also partake in milking and egg collecting.    

© Liz Sykes November 2013

Picture; courtesy of the Together Trust, http://www.togethertrust.org.uk/