The Apprentice: Adam S. Pryor, born ca. 1805 in Bullitt Co., KY

In 1791 Nathaniel and Robert Pryor were apprentices in Jefferson County, Kentucky.¹ Nathaniel Pryor was part of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803.² In 1808 in Jefferson County, Jane Pryor married John B. Gilly.³ The Adam S. Pryor who was apprenticed in 1817 in New Orleans was Robert’s son and probably the nephew of Jane (Pryor) Gilly and Nathaniel Pryor.⁴

Transcription of 1817 Apprentice Contract

City and Parish
of New Orleans

This Indenture made the twenty
eight day of March in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, witnesseth
That for divers good causes and considerations Adam
S. Pryor, a boy aged twelve years or thereabouts,
born in Bullet County, Kentucky, has with the
advice and consent of his father, Robt L. Pryor,
and the [apporabation?] of the Hon^le Augⁱⁿ McCarthy
Mayor of the city of New Orleans, bound and
–? himself apprentice to John B. Gilly of
the said City to learn the occupation of a merchant
which the said John B. Gilly now actually
follows, and to dwell and continue with the
said John B. Gilly his executors and administrators
day of this?
from the ^ date hereof until he attains the
age of twenty one years. During all which
period the said apprentice his said master
faithfully should serve by his lawful
commands and not depart from s^d service
without his consent, and the said J. B.
Gilly in consideration of the promisses [sic] his
said apprentice in the occupation of a
Merchant aforesaid with all things thereunto
belonging shall and will teach or cause
to be taughteth [sic], and shall during the said
term of apprenticeship —? for the said
Adam S. Pryor good and sufficient, good
meal, drink, lodging, cloathing [sic], was being,
medical aid in case of sickness and

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such schooling as is eccessary for the
profession of a Merchant.

In Testimony whereof
the parties have herunto
subscribed their names & affixed
their seals respectively at New
Orleans aforesaid the same
day month and year first ab[ove]
written

Adam S.
Pryor
Robt. L. Pryor
J. B. Gilly

Signed& sealed in
the presence of
G. Stoutamat?
D Jfs Crevon?

1. Jefferson Co., Ky., court minutes, 3:40, Robert Pryor & Nathl Pryor orphans of Jno Pryor decd, 5 July 1791; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-PSXM-K); FHL film 007834533, image 121.
2. Reuben Gold Thwaites, ed., Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806: Printed from the Original Manuscripts in the Library of the American Philosophical Society …(New York, NY: Antiquarian Press Ltd., 1959), vol. 1, 11.
3. Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89SQ-CBSY), Jefferson Co., marriage bond, 17 May 1808, Gilly – Pryor; FHL film 005557867, image 949.
4. “New Orleans, Enslavement Records, 1809-1818,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSPJ-Y4W4), Mayor’s Office Indentures, 1815-1815, no. 114, Adam S. Pryor, Robert L. Pryor, and John B. Gilly, 28 March 1817.