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.

Era 2 (1583-1763)

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 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)

This is a copy of a contract between James Best and Captain Stephen Jones.

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-colonies-indentured-servants-video.htm

Time line of indentured servants and slavery

http://www.google.com/search?q=indentured+servants+colonial+america&hl=en&rlz=1T4GFRC_enUS322US202&sa=X&tbs=tl:1&tbo=1&ei=0JYySoLHLY2NtgeggLmuCQ&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

https://collab.iisg.nl/image/image_gallery?img_id=11485&t=1203079780110

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.