ART. 54. ] MASTER AND APPRENTICE..

the widow shall not think proper to keep such apprentice girl, she
shall carry such apprentice to the Orphans' Court of the county
and deliver her up, when she shall be again bound out as hereinbefore
directed.

507

30. In every case where the consent 'of the father cannot be ob-
tained by the widow of any deceased master to assign the residue
of the contract of any apprentice, the Orphans' Court, or any two
justices of the peace in the county where the deceased master did
last reside, may appoint three persons of the same trade or occu-
pation with the deceased master, any two of whom shall have power
to value, upon oath, the residue of the contract, and the father may
make his election either to pay the widow such valuation, or the
widow shall have power to make the assignment without his con-
sent, of the residue of the indenture, with the approbation of the
Orphans' Court.

NEGRO APPRENTICES.

Id s 30
1793, c 45, s 15.
Proceeding
where lather
refuses consent
to assignment
by widow

31, The several Orphans' Courts of this State shall, upon in-
formation being given to them, summon before them the child of
any free negro, and if it shall appear upon examination before such
court that it would be better for the habits and comfort of such child
that it should be bound as an apprentice to some white person to
learn to labor, the court shall bind such child as an apprentice to
some white person, if a male, till he is of the age of twenty-one
years, or if a female, till she is of the age of eighteen years.

Id s 31
1818, c 189, s 1,
1819, 35, s 1,
1846, c 355,
1849, c 441
When negro
child to be
bound by
Orphans' Court
23 Md 603, 25
Md 501, 80 Md.
500, 38 Md 110

32. The sheriff, or any constable of the county or city, shall
serve any process issued by the Orphans' Court to bring the child of
any free negro before the court, and in the service of such process,
shall arrest and cany such child before the court on the day therein
named. '

Id s 32
1839, c 35, s 5.
Sheriff or con-
stable to bring
child before
court.

33. No negro child shall be bound under this article if the parent
or parents have the means and are willing to support such child,
and keep the same employed so as to teach habits of industry; and
the parent or parents shall be summoned to be present at such
binding.

Id a 33.
1818, c 189, s 2,
1839, c 35 s 6
Not to be bound
if parents able
to support

34. In binding such children, the Orphans' Court shall give pref-
erence to those persons who may be selected by the parents, if there
be any, and if not, by the children, if the person selected by them
be approved by the court.

Id s 34
1818, c 189, 8 2,
1819, c 35, s 6
Parents to have
choice of
master.

35. Every such indenture of apprenticeship shall state the name
and age of the child bound, and the name of the master, and shall
be recorded in the office of the register of wills of said county, at
the expense of the master, within one month after the making of the

Id s 35
1819, c 35, s 1.
What indenture
to contain and
where recorded.

same; and no indenture under this section shall be invalid for want
of form, if it contains the name of the master and the name and age
of the apprentice.

Not void from
want of form.

36. It shall not be necessary in any such indenture, or in any
indenture of a negro made by the trustees of the poor, to require
that any education shall be given to such negro apprentice.

Id s 3G
1824, c 87, s. 1.
Indenture not
to require edu-
cation of child