Era 2 (1583-1763)
A person who has agreed to work for an
individual for a specified period of time in
order to repay a debt. In colonial times, it was
fairly common for a person to indenture his
or her self for payment of passage on a ship
to America.
Indenture meant “under contract” in 17th century English
Common Law. An indentured servant was under a
contract to serve from 4-7 years.
A person sold
themselves to a ship
captain, who then sold
them at the port. Like
slaves, they could be
bought or sold, and
could not marry without
permission of their
master. When they had
served their term, they
were to free to go and
had earned their
freedom dues.
This is a copy of a contract between James Best
and Captain Stephen Jones.
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’
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)
Where did indentured servants come from?
Indentured servants came from all over Europe. They
were primarily from Ireland, Scotland, England and
Germany. Over ½ of all white immigrants in the 17th
and 18th century were indentured servants. The
majority of indentured servants came between the time
period of 1620-1680, but the practice lasted until the
1770’s.
They came for many reasons. During this time, Catholics were being
persecuted for their faith. Many times they were kidnapped and sent
to the New World. There was also a policy of selling people to ship’s
captains who were debtors (people who owed money). There were
many who had been arrested for crimes, however small. There were
also many who were just trying to get away from poverty.
Where did they go?
Indentured servants went to all thirteen colonies and the
Caribbean. In the Northern Colonies, they were more likely to
become part of the community, using town oriented trade skills,
or housework. In the Middle and Southern Colonies, most of the
work was done in the fields, there were fewer towns and larger
farms. These areas grew tobacco, rice, and indigo which were
labor intensive crops. In the Caribbean, indentured servants
worked in the sugar cane fields which was very difficult work.
Indentured servants worked a variety of jobs depending upon where
they were. In towns they might work as bricklayer, joiners, plasterers,
cooks, clerks, gardeners, coachman, butchers, blacksmiths,
musicians, laundry, seamstresses, or housekeepers. In the farm
areas, they were most likely working in the fields as laborers or
overseers.
If the indentured servant
tried to run away, and many
did, there were severe
consequences. In 1638, the
punishment was several
lashes. In 1639, the
punishment became much
stricter, the servant could be
hanged. Often additional
years were added to a
person’s servitude for minor
infractions of the rules.
Freedom dues was payment given to
newly freed servants. It could have
been land, corn, tools, clothing, a gun,
or sugar, depending upon where the
servant had been working.
Indentured servitude died out in the 1770’s. Massachusetts had
passed a slave law in 1641 and slavery quickly spread throughout
the colonies. People who had purchased indentured servants,
realized that with slavery, they did not have to let people go after
working for them in 4-7 years. It also became much harder to find
people who were willing to become indentured servants. Although
many states in our country outlawed slavery very early in our
country’s history, slavery in the United States did not end until 1863
with The Emancipation Proclamation.
Additional Resources
Description of life as an indentured servant
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/jamestown-browse?id=J1012
Short video about indentured servants
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/6334-us-southern-coloniesindentured-servants-video.htm
Time line of indentured servants and slavery
http://www.google.com/search?q=indentured+servants+colonial+america&h
l=en&rlz=1T4GFRC_enUS322US202&sa=X&tbs=tl:1&tbo=1&ei=0JYySoLHLY
2NtgeggLmuCQ&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11
Lesson plans for Jamestown
http://www.virtualjamestown.org/tscreators.html
Description of life as servant and on voyage over
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/D/1601-1650/mittelberger/servan.htm
Several web sites
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/search.php?function=find
Additional Resources
Fiction Books
Molly Bannaky by Chris K. Soentpiet and Alice McGill Houghton Mifflin
Books for Children 1999 grade level 4-5
Night Journeys by Avi Harper Collins 2000 grade level 4-5
Shadows In the Glasshouse (American Girl History Mysteries) by Megan
McDonald Pleasant Com. Pub. 2000 grade level 4-6
Secret Along the St. Mary’s (Mysteries in Time) by Virginia B. Troeger
Silver Moon Press 2003 grade 3-5
Calico Bush by Rachel Field Alladin 1998 Ages 9-12
Encounter at Easton (An Avon Camelot Book) by Avi Harper Collins 2000
Ages 9-12
A Pickpocket’s Tale by Karen Schwaback Random House for Young
Readers 2006 Grade 4-8
Indentured servants were allowed to go anywhere they
wanted to.
They were not allowed to go
anywhere without their master’s
permission. There were very severe
consequences if they did not follow
the rules.
Indentured servants worked for a period of 4-7 years.
Time could be added if they broke rules.
Life on a sugar plantation in the Caribbean would have
been very easy. The indentured servants who worked
there were very lucky.
Working on the sugar plantations was
extremely hard work. Over ½ of the indentured
servants who worked there died in their first
two years.
“Freedom dues” was money that the indentured
servant gave to their master.
Freedom dues was what the master gave to the indentured
servant when they had completed their time. It was often clothing,
tools, and corn.
People became indentured servants for many reasons,
not everyone came because they wanted to.