Indentured Servants Record

Indentured Servants Record Series

The Genesee County History Department maintains records documenting the placement of children from the Genesee County Home/Almshouse with families for work and apprenticeship. The records date from 1827 to 1899.

Record Series Information

• Sample record: View a sample indenture record (PDF)(PDF, 70KB)
• Dates: 1827-1899
• Geographic location: Bethany – County Home / Almshouse
• Format: Printed forms with handwritten data
• Arrangement: Chronological
• Department: County Clerk
• Use restrictions: Staff will access all records and must approve requests for copies because the documents are in fragile condition.

Historical Background

The Genesee County Home / Almshouse was established in 1826 by the Board of Supervisors at the direction of the State of New York. Before its establishment, individual towns within the county were responsible for the care of indigent residents, people with mental illness, orphans and abandoned children.

During the 19th century, children could be indentured as laborers until they completed a specified term of service or reached an age of freedom: 21 years for males and 18 years for females. The Genesee County Home / Almshouse used indenture agreements for nearly a century, placing children with area families for farm labor and housekeeping. In some cases, infants were also taken into family households through indentureship.

Children entered the County Home / Almshouse in several ways, including being born there, being brought by relatives or arriving with their mothers. The Overseers of the Poor acted as guardians and arranged indenture or work-service contracts with local families.

In 1831, children between ages 5 and 16 were required to receive an education similar to that provided in public schools. Following investigations into the treatment of children in New York almshouses, laws enacted in 1875 required counties to place children in orphanages. In Genesee County, children were sent to the Ontario Orphan Asylum.

Description of the Records

The collection includes indenture contracts that identify children's names, ages and sex, the person who accepted the child and the town where the child was expected to live.

Purpose of the Records

These records document the placement of children with families in towns throughout Genesee County and in neighboring counties.

Finding Aids

• Information About the Indentured Servants Index (PDF)(PDF, 7KB)
• Indentured Children Index – Sorted by Child's Name (PDF)(PDF, 91KB)
• Indentured Children Index – Sorted by Person Accepting the Child (PDF)(PDF, 91KB)

Related Records

Genesee County Home / Almshouse Records (PDF)(PDF, 25KB)