The following are contracts from 1842, 1843, and 1844 and were contributed by Ken Houp. The contracts were handwritten and drawn up by Joseph Bowman to teach the children of the families living along the Jessamine Creek. The number by the family name represents the number of children to be taught from that family.

1842

" I, Joseph Bowman propose to teach a school of reading writing and arithmetic in the Jessamine Meeting House for the term of 3 months to commence at the expiration of this present term -- if you all will support me in the next term I obligate myself to discharge the duties of a teacher to the best of my capacities for which services the subscribers agree to pay me two dollars and fifty cents per scholar at the expiration of the term ending May 2 1842".

H. Gillman - 2 J. Howser - 2 R. Cooley - 2 C. Smith - 1 J. Bowman - 2 S.A. Hoover - 1 J. Bowman - 2 G. Yost - 1 J.W. Dean - 2 S. Gossip - 1 S. Bowmer - 1 Thos. Welch - 1 J. Horine - 1 Thos. E. Wamsley - 1 P. Funk - 2 Mor. Hifner - 1 H. Robinson - 2 Wm. Richardson - 1 P. Terpin - 2 S. Watts - 1 Eli. Grow - 1

1843

" I, Joseph Bowman propose to teach a school of reading writing and arithmetic in the Jessamine Meeting House for the term of 3 months to commence at the expiration of this present term -- if you all will support me in the next term I obligate myself to discharge the duties of a teacher to the best of my capacities for which services the subscribers agree to pay me two dollars and fifty cents per scholar at the expiration of the term ending May 2 1843".

Harvey Gillman - 2 Jonathan Howser - 2 Perry Terpin - 2 John Bowman - 2 Isaac Bowman - 2 George Yost - 1 Lucy Ann Hoover - 1 John Dean - 2 R. Cooley - 3 Peter Funk - 2 M. Hifner - paper torn Henry Robinson - paper torn Thos. Welch - 1 J. Horine Jr - 1 S. Bowmer - 1 Eli Grow - 1 S. Gossip - 1 Thos E. Wamsley - 1 Susannah Wats - 1 William Richardson - 1 C. Smith - 1

1844

The contract for July 17 1844 had two major differences in the wording. First, there was no mention of the Jessamine Meeting House and second the fee was $2 per scholar in stead of $2.50. The contract was worded as follows: " I Joseph Bowman propose to teach a school of reading writing and arithmetic for the term of sixty days to commence the 22nd of this present month. I obligate myself to discharge the duties of a teacher to the best of my capacities for which services the subscribers agree to pay me two dollars per scholar at the expiration of the term".

Peter Howser - 2 Jonathan Howser - 3 Perry Terpin - 2 John Bowman - 2 Isaac Bowman - 1 David Smith - 1 Harvey Gillman - 2 Margaret Hifner - 1 Peter Funk - 1 Jacob Brown - 1