From The Connecticut River Valley in Southern Vermont and New Hampshire: Historical Sketches by Lyman S. Hayes, Tuttle Co., Marble City Press, Rutland, VT., 1929, page 285:
APPRENTICING POOR BOYS–DOCUMENT BY THOMAS GREEN FESSENDEN
A most interesting legal document over a century old recently came to light among papers connected with the town history, which had lain many years in the attic of a former selectman. It shows the seemingly hard-hearted system of contracting by the town for the care of dependent children, or "apprenticing" them, as it was then called.
The paper is also of value now to the souvenir hunter as it was written in long hand in the bold penmanship of Thomas Green Fessenden, who practiced law in this village from 1812 to 1822; was the first editor of the first newspaper printed here; a prominent member of Immanuel (Episcopal) church; published a number of books, both during his residence in England and in America; and was widely known in his day on two continents.
Also, the document is written on very heavy book paper, made by hand in the first paper mill established here by Bill Blake, and is a striking example of local paper makers' art. The contract follows:-
"This Indenture made the 12th day of August in the year of our Lord 1820 witnesseth that Solomon Hapgood and Ebenezer Locke, overseers of the poor of the Town of Rockingham in the County of Windham and State of Vermont have put and placed and by these presents do put and place. William Clap Wells, a poor boy of said Town of Rockingham, aged about nine years an apprentice to Jona. Sleeper of Unity in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire with him to dwell and serve from the day of the date of these pressents until said apprentice shall accomplish the full age [286] of twenty-one years, or eleven years from the 28th day of December next, according to the statute in such case made and provided, during which term the said apprenntice, his said master faithfully shall serve on all lawful business, according to his power and ability, and shall honestly, orderly and obediently in all things demean and behave himself toward his said master, and all his during said term.
"And the said Joanthan Sleeper, for himself, his executors and administrators doth covenant and agree with said overseers of the poor as aforesaid, and each of them, their and each of their successors in office for the time being, by these presents, that he the said Willliam, the said apprentice in the trade of husbandman or farmer, which the said Jona. Sleeper now useth Shall and Will instruct or cause to be taught and instructed, and during all the time aforesaid find, provide and allow unto said apprentice competent and sufficient meat, drink and apparel, washing, lodging, mending and all other things necessary and fit for an apprentice; and Shall and Will instruct or cause said apprentice to be instructed in reading and writing, and common arithhmetic, and also shall and will so provide for the said apprentice that he be not in any way chargeable to the said Town of Rockingham or the inhabitants thereof; but of and from all charges shall save the said Town and the inhabitants thereof harmless, and indemnified during the said term; and at the end of said term Shall and Will make, allow and provide and deliver to said apprentice one good new suit of holiday clothes, and two other good suits for every day wear.
"In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals interchangeably on the day and year above written;–
In presence of Thos G. Fessenden, Isaac Sturtevant, Benja. Quimby, Benja. Quimby, Jr.
Jonathan Sleeper L.S., Solomon Hapgood L.S., Ebenr Locke L.S."