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poor-relief
poor-relief · card B

Bound out

Bound out meant a child, usually poor or orphaned, was placed by contract to live and work in another household until coming of age.

Overseers of the poor and county courts bound out children whose parents had died or could not support them. New York gave overseers this power by law in 1788, and Virginia overseers did it through county court orders from 1780. Boys were usually bound until 21 and girls until 18, some from the age of two or three.

The master promised food, clothing, work training and some schooling; the child owed obedience and labor. For many poor children the indenture is the only record showing they existed, so it is worth searching town, overseer and county court papers.

As seen in a recordCounty court minutes, Virginia, 1800s
Bound out by the overseers of the poor, Wm. Dyer, aged 7, to Jno. Curtis, farmer, until 21
Sources
How to cite this page

Daily Ancestor. "Bound out." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/poor-relief/bound-out. Last checked 2026-10-03.

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poor-reliefAApprenticeYouth bound to a master to learn a tradepoor-reliefIIndenture of apprenticeshipWritten contract binding a child to a masterOccupationsIIndentured servantBound by contract to work a set termRelationshipsOOrphanChild who lost a father or both parentsOccupationsOOverseer of the poorTown official in charge of poor relief
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