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Archiver > MDSTMARY > 2003-09 > 1062982305
From:
Subject: Re: [MDSTMARY-L] Servitude
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2003 20:51:45 EDT
John:
Indentured Servants fell in many groups.\
1. Those shipped from gaols in England to America.
2. Women who were shanghied onto boats and sold as Servants in America.
3. Those who could not pay their way and who signed indentures in order to
get to America where they obtained their freedom, a suit of clothes, and land
after serving their time.
4. Tradesmen such as Coopers, Smiths, Carpenters, etc.
Category 1 and 2 were generally indentured for 7 years. The Captain of the
boat often sold their indenture at the dock and you went home with your
servants.
Category 3 were often indentured from 3-7 years, with many paying off their
indenture before their time was up
.
Category 4 were probably the shortest of all.
When an argument came up between the indentured servants and the 'owner' the
courts decided how long.
When a woman servant became pregnant she often was whipped for the crime with
the responsible party possibly fined.
There were many more categories and many more answers to your question. I
would think that Peter Wilson Coldham might have an explanation in one or more
of his several books on immigrants.
Charley
writes:
> I have the following record from MD State archives.
> Questions?
> How did one obtain a servant?
> Why would you have to go to court to determine the lenght of servitude?
>
> Allexander Mackotter Brought his Saruant Mary Crissell to haue
> Judgmt of this Courtt for her time the Courtt hath ordered her to
> same Seaven yeares:
>
>
> Have A Great Day
>
> John S. Wilkinson
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