Sailor Indenture Contract 1876 (MAR.8)

This is an 1876 sailor indenture contract between Jasper Sargent, Master of the Schooner Clara Fletcher¹, and a sailor brought on board in Barbados.

Transcript:

I Edward Lindsay, do hereby agree to carry out the following arrangements, in connection with Captain Sargeant of the Three Masted Schooner “Clara Fletcher” Viz- That I will serve as seaman on board his vessel, for the space of sixteen months, the first ten months at Five Dollars ($5.00) per month and the latter six months at Eight Dollars ($8.00)* per month, and it will be at the option of the said Captain, to discharge me or to retain my services upon fresh agreement, at the end of that time; and further, should I not behave myself seemly and with satisfaction to the said Captain Sargeant during any time of my indenture he will have full power to discharge me in any port.
Edward Lindsay

In witness here of I affix my signature this Seventeenth day of November, in the year of Our Lord, One thousand Eight hundred and Seventy six at the Island of Barbados-West Indies.   * The above money to be paid in United States Currency.

Witness to signatures
MR Gooding

I hereby agree to the arrangements set forth in this indenture.
JN Sargent, Master Clara Fletcher

Jasper Newton Sargent (1828-1918) was the master on schooners that transported freight along the east coast and to and from ports in the Caribbean, such as Havana, Cuba, and islands such as Trinidad, St. Thomas and Barbados.

He sailed as Captain on the Schooner Magellan Cloud, the W. H. Sargent and then on the three masted schooner, Clara Fletcher.

In 1888 Jasper retired from the sea and with his wife, Abigail Roberts Byard Sargent, opened his home to travelers. The Sargent House was a popular inn for many years.

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¹Scan of original donated by Diana Marston Wood