498 HISTORY 



system. It became very popular with both employers aud laborers/"' on account 

 of its mutually advantageous features. At the end of the apprenticeship system 

 many of the laborers were eager to continue in the service of their former 

 masters under agreements similar to those under which they w^orked as appren- 

 tices/'" based upon the principle of mutual agreement before witnesses. x\gree- 

 ments or contracts could not in any case be made binding for a longer period 

 than twelve months, after the expiration of which period they must be renewed. 

 This provision seemed to have been easily enforced, and it became the most sat- 

 isfactory and beneficial feature of the whole apprenticeship system. Its oper- 

 ation was subject to some difficulties and disagreements, but it placed a certain 

 responsibility upon the negro, to which he responded, and it gave him a recog- 

 nition as a person, which encouraged him to rise to meet that responsibility and 

 to cope with his circumstances. It allowed the enterprising to gain time to 

 utilize for their own purposes; it made it possible for many to bargain for 

 their OAvn freedom, and to gain it. After the year 1835 record books were kept 

 on each plantation in which were entered records of all agreements entered into 

 by apprentices on that plantation. These were entered by a special justice. 

 In case of disagreement as to the terms of a contract, it was ascertained whether 

 the apprentice fully understood the terms of the agreement before the case was 

 decided-'^' 



In the absence of task-work agreements, the employers were allowed to 

 employ their apprentices forty-five hours each week, all work to be done between 

 sunrise and sunset on ^londays to Fridays inclusive. Saturdays and Sundays 

 were left at the disposal of the apprentices.^'^ Contracts voluntarily entered 

 into between employers and apprentices, and with the consent of a justice, 

 were enforciljle in the courts of the Colony under penalties on the violators of 



II 313 



them. 



Marital and Familij Rights. — Almost the same rights as to marriage and 

 family prevailed here as in the latter, part of the history of slavery. Some of 

 the restrictions of that time were removed. Marriages could now be celebrated 



'°° See reports of the Stipendiary Justices Winder and Hill, from the several 

 Out-islands, in Sess. P., 1836, 49, pp. 548-545. Colebrooke's Ds. of Jan. 9, 1836. 



"°Sess. P., 1839, 37, 487 (pp. 12 and 14). Cockburn to Glenelg, Nos. 92 and 99. 



^"5 William IV, 8 (4). 



^^M William IV, 21(17-19). Also Sess. P., 1839, 37, p. 487(4), remarks of 

 Attorney-General Anderson on the Imperial Act, 1 Vic, 19, amending that of 3 and 

 4 William IV, 73. 



^"4 William IV, 21. 



