"As can be quickly recognized by examining the following abstracts, indenture or apprenticeship records can be some of the most valuable and informative records ever encountered by the genealogical researcher. It appears that the majority of the children who were being bound out were from poor families, or were without one of both of their parents. In most cases, an accurate date of birth is available for the child, and frequently the name of a parent(s) or guardian is provided along with places of residence. ...An index to all the indentured children follows the abstracts. Names of parents, guardians, county or township officials, masters and witnesses were not indexed."