Sampson Wheatly	Ephraim King	Gentlemen
The Worshipfull	Joseph Gilliss	Thomas Jones	His Lordships
	Samuel Addams	John Dennis	Justices
Eph: Wilson Sheriff	Wm. Winder	Thos. Holbrook	Thos. Hayward Jr Clk

Whereupon the Court being Called Sat as above proceeded to Business in Manner following

Hovington Nichols bound	Hovington Nichols an Orphan of his Own free Consent is bound out by the
to Joseph Venables	Court here an Apprentice According to Act of Assembly in Such Case provided unto

Joseph Venables of Somerset County Blacksmith untill he the Said Hovington Should Arrive at the Age
of Twenty One Years the Said Hovington to Serve his Said Master the full term af^d. during which term
the Said Apprentice his Said Master well and faithfully he Shall Serve his Secrets keep his Commandments
Lawfully and honestly everywhere willingly he Shall doe and in all things as a good and faithfull
Apprentice he Shall demean himself towards his Said Master and all his during the term af^d.
             In Consideration of which Service the Said Joseph Venables present here in Court in his
Proper Person Covenanteth with the Justices of the Same Court in Court Judicially Sitting in Manner
And form following that is to Say that he the Said Joseph Venables Shall and will during the term
af^d. Learn his Said Apprentice the trade of a Blacksmith and to Read Write and Cypher as far
as the Rule of three Inclusive and at the Expiration of his Servitude Give him a New Suit of
Cloaths of Coat and Breeches of Broad Cloath Over and Above his Common wearing Cloaths and
Likewise find and Provide for his Said Apprentice Meat drink washing Lodging and Cloathing
Sufficient for Such an Apprentice to have and wear during the term af^d.
        Whereupon the Said Joseph Venables is Ordered to Give Security to Comply with the Covenants
af^d. Thereupon the Said Joseph Venables with Samuel Wilson and Benjamin Venables of Somerset County
Gen^t his Securitys all present herein Court in their Proper Persons Acknowledged themselves Indebted
unto the af^d. Hovington Nichols in the Sum of thirty Pounds Cur^t Money of Maryland of their bodys
Goods or Chattles Lands and tenements Joyntly and Severally to the use of the Said Hovington Nichols
his heirs and Assigns to be made and Levied if it happen that the Said Joseph Venables do not during
the term af^d. Learn his Said Apprentice the trade of a Blacksmith and to Read Write and Cypher as far
the Rule of three Inclusive and at the Expiration of his Servitude do not Give him a New Coat and breeches
of Broad Cloath over and Above his Common wearing Cloaths and do not Likewise find and provide for his
Said Apprentice meat drink washing Lodging and Cloathing Sufficient for Such an Apprentice to have and wear
during the term af^d. &^c

Hovington Nicholson	Hovington Nicholson an Orphan Above the Age of fourteen years Came here into Court
Chose	in his proper person and prays that he may be permitted to Chose a Certain Joseph Venables as his
Joseph Venables Guardian	Guardian which is by the Court here unto him Granted &c. Thereupon the Said Hovington

Nichols present here in Court as af^d. made Choice of the af^d. Joseph Venables as his Guardian Accordingly &^c.
Whereupon the Said Joseph Venables is ordered by the Court here to take into his Care and Possession
the af^d. Hovington Nicholson and all his Estate personall and it is further Ordered that a Certain
William Tully deliver up unto the af^d. Guardian all the Estate of the af^d. Orphan of whatsort Soever
that he hath in his hands and possession and that of Right doth belong unto the af^d. Orphan
And that the af^d. Guardian Give Good Security to Comply with the Law in Relation to Such Guardianship
as af^d. and to deliver up unto the af^d. Orphan his heirs Ex^rs. or Adm^rs. all his Estate Real and personall
that he Shall take into his hands and possession peaceably and Quietly whenever the Same Should be
Legally Required    Whereupon the Said Joseph Venables together with Samuel Wilson and
Benjamin Venables of Somerset County Gen^t his Securitys all present herein Court in their proper
persons Acknowledged themselves Indebted unto the af^d. Hovington Nicholson in One hundred
pounds Cur^t Money of Maryland of their bodys Goods or Chattles Lands and tenements Joyntly
and Severally to the use of the Said Orphan his heirs or Assigns to be made and Levied if it happen

that