Indentured Servants
An indentured servant was a person who would come to the New World to work for his employer for three to seven years. He would sign a contract that would give him transportation to the New World, food, drink, clothing, lodging and other necessities. A major problem of this type of worker in the new land was that the indentured servant would become indebted to their employer who would then forgive the debts in exchange for an extension to the contract.
These indentured servants were also subjected to violent treatment by their employers or overseers. The indentured servants could work in the home or in the fields. Over half of all white immigrants to the English colonies of North America during the 17th(1600) century were indentured servants.
Many times ship’s captains made a contract with a person bound for America.
Below is an example of one such contract.
“This INDENTURE Witnesseth that James Best a Laborer doth Voluntarily put himself Servant to Captain Stephen Jones Master of the Snow Sally to serve The said Stephen Jones and his Assigns, for and during the full Space, Time and Term of three Years from the first Day of the said James’s arrival in Philadelphia in AMERICA, during which Time or Term the said Master or his Assigns shall and will find and supply the said James with sufficient Meat, Drink, Apparel, Lodging and all other necessaries befitting such a Servant, and at the end and expiration of said Term, the said James to be made Free, and receive according to the Custom of the Country. Provided nevertheless, and these Presents are on this Condition, that if the said James shall pay the said Stephen Jones or his Assigns 15 Pounds British in twenty one Days after his arrival he shall be Free, and the above Indenture and every Clause therein, absolutely Void
and of no Effect. In Witness whereof the said Parties have hereunto interchangeably put their Hands and Seals the 6th Day of July in the Year of our Lord,
One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Three in the Presence of the Right Worshipful Mayor of the City of London. (signatures)”
(found in Wikipedia)
The captain then would post the servants that he had to sale when he docked in a port.
“Just imported, on board the Snow Sally, Captain Stephen Jones, Master, from England, A number of healthy, stout English and Welsh Servants and Redemptioners, and a few Palatines [Germans], amongst whom are the following tradesmen, viz. Blacksmiths, watch-makers, coppersmiths, taylors, shoemakers, ship-carpenters and caulkers, weavers, cabinet-makers, ship-joiners, nailers, engravers, copperplate printers, plasterers, bricklayers, sawyers and painters. Also schoolmasters, clerks and book-keepers, farmers and labourers, and some lively smart boys, fit for various other employments, whose times are to be disposed of.
Enquire of the Captain on board the vessel, off Walnut-street wharff, or of MEASE and CALDWELL.”
(found in Wikipedia)
The following was recorded concerning the sale.
“James Best. Who was under Indenture of Redemption to Captain Stephen Jones now cancelled in consideration of £ 15, paid for his Passage from London bound a servant to David Rittenhouse of the City of Philadelphia & assigns three years to befound all necessaries.”
(found in Wikipedia)
There were both men and women who became indentured servants. Most indentured servants were found in the growing number of unemployed poor people in large cities of England. Taken from their land and unable to find employment in the cities, many of these people signed contracts of indenture and took passage to the Americas.
In Massachusetts, religious instruction in the Puritan way of life was often part of the condition of indenture, and people tended to live in towns. In the north, indentured servants were likely to be a part of the community to some extent, with more household chores and town-oriented trade skills associated with their work.
In the South and more over in Virginia where tobacco was the most important cash crop most of the indentured labor was in the fields.
The land owners were also able to secure more land because they paid the passage of the indentured servant [headright system].
The dream of the indentured servant was to complete their time owed to the owner and have a chance to purchase their own land. After their time of indenture many of them moved to the back country of the colonies and purchased their own land.
In the 1700's the plantations were growing faster than the number of indentured servants that were being brought to North America. Slavery seemed to be the answer to the problem.