Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-09-10

The following interesting paper, copied
from the original by Mr. Joshua Coffin of New
bury, appears in the Liberator of last week -
This indenture, made and agreed upon this
thirteenth day of September, Ammo 1772, be-
tween Robert Pierpont of Boston, in the coun-
ty OF Suffolk, gentleman, OF the one part and
Jack and Cato, negro servants to the said
Plerpont, OF said Boston, of the other part.
Whereas the said Robert Pierpont is owner of
the said Jack and Cato and by the custom of
this country is entitled to their service during
their lives and whereas, the said Robert is
sensible that the LoUe of freedom Is Inherent IN aH
7, and By the laUs Of God and Nature ought equally
to be enjoyed By the utole human rdce-now,
therefore, these Presents Witness, that the
said Robert Pierpont, in consideration of the
covenants and agreements hereinafter men,
toned, by and on part of the said Jack and
Cato, to be respectively observed and kept
for himself, his heirs, executors and admins
traitors, doth undertake, covenant and agree to
and with the said Jack and Cato, and each of
them, to release, manumit and forever
discharge them, and each of them, from
that service, which, by the custom of this
land, he is entitled to, as aforesaid; and
by virtue OF these Presents he, the
said Robert Pierpont doth, from the date
hereof, release to the said Jack and Cato all bis
right, interest, or property in the said Jack
and Cato, and doth manumit and discharge
them, and each of them, from the service afore-
said. And the said Robert doth further cove.
nant with the said Jack and Cato, that they
and each of them, shall have good right and
free liberty to quit his service, and work and
labor with any other person or persons who
shall offer them the highest wages, provided,
always, that they shall give him. the said
Robert, the first refusal of their service at the
wages offered them by any others. And he,
the said Robert, doth further covenant to and
with the said Jack and Cato, that he will pay
them, severaly, the sum of Ell 6s. 81, lawful
money, BY the year, from the date hereof,
until greater wages are offered them by any
other person-fl3 6s Sd. OF which to be paid
in money at the expiration of the year, and
GA in clothing necessity and convenience
shall require. And the said Jack and Cato,
in consideration of their manumission and
freedom, above covenanted to be given them
by the said Robert, do tor themselves, and
each for the other, undertake, covenant
and agree to and with the said Robert Pier.
pont, his heirs, executors and administrators,
that they shall not, from the date of these
presents, ever hereafter incumber or charge
the estate of the said Robert Pierpont for their
maintenance and support excepting in case
OF some unforeseen accident or misfortune,
which may render them incapable to support
themselves; that they are willing and content
to be under the care and guardianship of Ca
leb Davis, merchant, and Gustavus Fellows,
mariner, both of Boston aforesaid whom by
these presents, the said Robert Pierpont doth
constitute and appoint to that charge that
they shall deposit in the hands of the said Da.
Wis and Fellows the several SUI of money
they shall from time to time receive, except so
much as shall be necessary for their immedi-
ate USE till each of them shall acquire the sum
OF E40 lawful money, when the same shall be
put to interest by the said Davis and Fellows
on such security as they shall esteem good, to
and for the only proper use OF the said Jack
and Cato and their heirs. And the said Jack and
Cato do, for themselves and each for the other,
further covenant and agree to and with the
said Robert Pierpont, his heirs, executors and
: administrators, that they, or either OF them,
shall not drink any strong liquors to excess /;
that they shall not steal, embezZle or purloin
the rightful property OF others that they shall
not use any oaths, curses, or imprecatons in
their conversation, or accustom themselves to
any obscene or base language; that they shall
not frequent any bad houses, or keep any bad
company that they shall not fight or quarrel
with, or strike any person whatsoever, except
III the necessary defence Of their lives or limbs !;
that they shall not prolane the Sabbath day,
but keep it holy and behave themselves in all
their conduct soberly, righteously, and godly
as becometh Christians.
III witness whereof, the parties of these
PRESENTS have hcreunto INTERCHANGEABLE set
thelr hands and seals, the day and year first
aooVe mentioned. RoBERTA PIERPoNT,
JACK, CATO.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
Ro6er Sessions John Hopkins.