White Servitude in Colonial America (docs)

[Electronic God-Man]

I've been looking through tons of primary documents about White indentured servants in colonial British North America. In this case, the sources have been colonial newspapers that issued advertisements looking to recapture runaway servants. There are also instances of advertisements being taken out to request servants as well as to sell off certain white servants.

All of the following excerpts are from the Pennsylvania Gazette and that is solely because other searchable databases that I have access to do not have the newspapers actually transcribed but scanned. The dates range from the early 1700's to 1776 (the end of the colonial period).

At least half of all European migrants to British North America during the eighteenth century signed a contract which indentured themselves to a master for a period of between three and seven years. In doing so, the immigrant received payment for his or her trip across the Atlantic, food, shelter, and clothing during the length of the indenture, and sometimes land or money at the end of their servitude if they were lucky.

Once bought by someone in the colonies the servant was more or less a slave to their master with the main difference being of course that at some point he/she was to be given their freedom. It's important to point out that when white indentured servants ran away they were tracked down much like a runaway Black African slave would be (punishments after capture and chances of succeeding were most likely different, I would imagine). The advertisements taken out to tell people to be on the look-out for runaway servants were very similar to those you would see for runaway slaves.

I have on occasion heard (generally any occasion where the topic is brought up) many Europeans express their belief that when Europeans traveled to the American colonies they lived a fairly well-to-do life, living off the backs of Indians and African slaves. The truth is that most came as small-time farmers and a very large number (at least 1/2 of the total immigrants during the 18th century alone) came as indentured servants.

The advertisements give many details such as the date of the newspaper article, the date the servant fled, a description of the servant's physical appearance, the place of birth of the servant, whether or not the servant could speak English (including which accents at times), where the person is thought to be heading, their occupation, reason for fleeing, who they might be running off to or with, etc. Many of these advertisements can be quite hilarious, especially in the descriptions of the runaways. Such as the "Dutch Servant Man" with hair "of a pissburnt colour".

Feel free to ask any questions whatsoever about the topic at hand. After all, apparently I am supposed to know something about it now. Add anything you want. Most likely, I'll add some things I find as I go along. Maybe some quotes from the biographies of an indentured servant or two.

In general, it's never a bad idea to have some primary documents lying around. So without further ado...

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: September 16, 1762
RUN away on the 31st of August, from David Rose, A Servant Man, named John O Neal, about 20 Years of Age, has red Hair, white Eyebrows, is about 5 Feet 7 Inches high: Had on, and took with him, Two Jackets, one white , the other Blue, an old castor Hat, and white and check Shirts. Whoever takes up and secures said Servant , so as his Master may have him again, shall have Twenty Shillings Reward, paid by David Rose, in Philadelphia.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: October 30, 1755
A NEGROE or white servant lad, that can serve in a gentleman house; and a good servant woman, that understands house work, and can dress victuals well, upon applying to the printers, may hear of a place.
N.B. To be sold, a strong likely Dutch servant woman, fit for country business, and who has been above a year in the place. Enquire as above.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: November 22, 1733
RUN away on Saturday Morning last the two following Servant Men, viz From Joseph Gray at the Middle Ferry on Skuylkill, a Dutch Servant Man speaks a little English and French, named Andreas Baseener [Bafeener], about 25 Years of Age, long strait Hair of a Pissburnt colour, tall, swarthy Complexion; Had on a Broadcloth Coat and Breeches somewhat worn, Felt Hat, wears a Stock with a large Brass Clasp, Ozenbrigs Shirt, Grey Yarn Stockings, strong Shoes. From Christian Grassholt a Dutch Servant Man, by Trade a Taylor, talks little or no English, named Hans Wulf Eisman, no Hair, about 22 Years old, wears a white Cap under his Felt Hat, white Flatband, an old Olive green Duroy Coat, one Sleeve a little torn, a black Cloth Wastecoat and Breeches, white Yarn Stockings, and dark Stockings, square toe'd Shoes with large Brass Buckles, coarse Linen Shirt. Whoever secures the said Servants so as they may be had again, shall have Forty Shillings Reward for the first and Twenty Shillings for the other, and reasonable Charges paid by Jos. Gray & Ch. Grassholt. Novem. 13.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: May 14, 1741
RUN away last Night, from John Dabbin, of this City, Blacksmith, an Irish servant man named Nicholas McGray, aged about 26 years, a well set fellow, full fac'd, and red complexion: Had on when he went away, a suit of brown duroy, white stockings, new pumps, beaver hat, white wig or cap, and white shirt. Whoever secures the said servant so that his master may have him again, shall have Five Pounds reward, and reasonable charges paid by John Dabbin.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: September 8, 1763
RUN away, the 22d of August last, a Dutch Servant Girl, named Elizabeth Ferringhan, about 16 Years of Age, short Stature, and thick set, of a brown Complexion, and dark Hair, pitted with the Small pox: Had on when she went away, a brown Serge Petticoat, with a black Quilt under it, a blue and white stamped Linen short Gown, a white Apron, with a Piece across it, white Stockings, old Shoes, with odd Buckles in them, a brown Sattin Bonnet, lined with White , and a white Ribbon round it; also took with her a black Bombazeen ruffled Gown. Whoever brings the said Servant to her Master in Philadelphia, shall have Twenty Shillings Reward, paid by JOHN CHEVALIER.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: February 2, 1744
RUN away, on the 8th Instant, from William Baker, in Chesnut Street Philadelphia, a Dutch Servant Woman, named Catherine Vernon, lusty and well set. fair Complexion, drest after the Dutch Fashion, dark Petticoat, short calico Jacket, dutch Cap, white Apron and Handkerchief, dutch Shoes with Nails in them; the said Servant can talk pretty good English, and has been in this Country about three Years. Whoever takes up the said Servant , and secures her so that her Master may have her again, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, and reasonable Charges paid by William Baker.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: December 13, 1748
Philadelphia, December 13. 1748.
Run away, last Tuesday night, from Jacob Asleman, in Conestogoe, a Dutch servant lad, middle stature, a fat, chunky fellow, and of a fresh complexion: Had on when he went away, a blue linsey woolsey jacket, white trowsers, new felt hat, and red silk handkerchief about his neck. Whoever take up and secures said servant in any goal, so as his master may have him again, shall have Forty Shillings reward, and reasonable charges, paid by JACOB ASLEMAN. N.B. All masters of vessels, and others, are desired not to entertain said servant at their peril.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: December 2, 1762
RUN away from near Newport, a Servant Man, named John Shannan, about 5 Feet 10 Inches high, born in England, and came here from Cork with Captain Rankin: Had on, when he went away, a green SailorJacket, and Hat, and Check Shirt, carried with him two Check Shirts, one white ditto, a dark coloured Coat; he is Pock marked, his Hair club. Whoever takes up said Servant , and secures him in any Goal, so as Notice may be given to Victor King, in York County, or to John King in Philadelphia, at Capt. John Mease, that said servant may be had again, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by me
JOHN KING.

Let me know if the font is too small. I want to fit more in but I didn't want it to take up a huge amount of space.

[Electronic God-Man]

One thing to point out here is that (to Ulf's great disappointment) the "Dutch" described in the ads are actually Germans from the Palatinate not the Dutch as we would think of today. I have been wondering whether anyone has ever found an ancestor who at one point ran away from their servitude by looking through these newspaper ads.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: October 19, 1774
RUN away from the subscriber, an English servant girl, named Christiana Weeks, came from Bristol in the ship Two Brothers, Captain Robert Adams, in July last, of a brown complexion, black hair, dark eyes, and stoops when she walks; had on, and took with her, three short gowns, one of white linen, another red and white India calicoe, and the other blue and white striped linen, one brown camblet long gown, a good black quilt, three check aprons, a black Barcelona handkerchief, a new black bonnet, lined with blue, black leather high heeled shoes, and a pair of large white plated buckles. She has with her a certificate of her marriage with Nathaniel Weeks. Whoever takes up and secures said servant , so that her master may have her again, shall have TWO DOLLARS reward, and reasonable charges, paid by
JOHN CHEVALIER.
It is supposed she is gone towards New York; all masters of vessels are forbid to harbour or carry her off.
October 17.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: December 2, 1742
RUN away last Night, from William Rush, in Front street, Philadelphia, an Irish Servant Man, named Garrat Condon, round shoulder'd: Had on when he went away, a good felt Hat, worsted Cap, or white Wig, an olive colour'd drugget Coat, new kersey Jacket, lead colour'd, with flat mettal Buttons, white Shirt, light broad cloth Breeches, new yarn Stockings, and good Shoes. Whoever takes up and brings the said Servant to his Master, or secures him so that he may be had again, shall have Three Pounds Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by William Rush.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: October 6, 1748
Philadelphia, October 6. 1748.
Run away, on the 29th of last month, from Joseph McFarlan, of Tenicum township, Bucks county, a native Irish servant man, named Bryan O'Murry, about five foot six inches high, dark complexion: Had on when he went away a good felt hat, very short black hair, white shirt, brown linsey jacket, leather breeches, white yarn stockings, and old shoes. Whoever takes up said servant , and secures him, so that his master may have him again, shall have Forty Shillings reward, and reasonable charges, paid by Joseph McFarlan.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: November 20, 1766
RUN away from the Subscriber, on the 9th Instant, living in Soleberry Township, Bucks County, a Servant Man, named John Johnson, an Englishman; had on, when he went away, a green Jacket, lined with white Swanskin, white Linen Shirt, old Buckskin Breeches, dark coloured Stockings, old Shoes, with carved Buckles; he is about 5 Feet 8 Inches high of a fair Complexion, and blind of the right Eye. Whoever takes up and secures said Servant , so that his Master may have him again, shall have Eight Dollars Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by
JAMES BOYLES

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: August 20, 1767
Title: RUN away from the Subscriber, living in West Nottingham, an
RUN away from the Subscriber, living in West Nottingham, an Irish Servant Woman, named Eleanor Kinney, but apt to change her Name; she is about 25 Years of Age, a very fat, short thick woman, sandy Complexion, red faced, Pockmarked, chews and smoaks tobacco much, and given to strong Liquor; had on, when she went away, a Linsey Petticoat, striped brown and white , with a short blue and white striped Gown, and other Things, not her Property. Whoever secures said Servant in any Goal, or brings her to the Subscriber, shall have Twenty Shillings Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by JOHN CARMICHAEL.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: October 16, 1755
Lancaster, October 13, 1755. RUN away from the Subscriber, living near John Harris, in Derry Township, Lancaster County, an Irish Servant Man, named Andrew Walls, about 24 Years of Age, 5 Feet 9 Inches high, is small bodies, round faced, thick liped [sic], and is a Weaver by Trade. Had on when he went away, a good Castor Hat, a pale bob Wig, a brown Rateen Coat, with White Metal Buttons, and only the Fore skirts lines, blue Cloth Breeches, a blue and white stripes Linsey Jacket, the Stripes across, two white Linen Shirts, blue worsted Stockings, and good Shoes, with Brass Buckles in them: He is but lately come into the Country; he dresses neat, writes a good Hand, and does not appear like a Servant . Whoever takes up and secures said Servant , so that his Master may have him again, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by JAMES McCREA.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: August 31, 1758
Title: Philadelphia, August 31, 1758.
Philadelphia, August 31, 1758. RUN away on the 22d Instant, from Edward Parrish, an English Servant Man, named William Simmons, by Trade a Bricklayer, about 30 Years of Age, about 5 Feet 8 Inches high, very well made, of a sandy Complexion, and has a remarkable Scar on his under Lip: Had on when he went away, a Castor Hat, pretty much worn, a short brown cut Wig, a dirty white Fustian Coat, with a Cape, Ozenbrigs Trowsers, good Shoes, with Soldiers square Copper Buckles; he took with him two Pair of Breeches, one of dark Fustian, the other white twilled Ditto, two Check Shirts, one white Ditto, two Pair of Thread Stockings, and a new Felt Hat. Whoever takes up and secures said Servant so that his Master may have him again, shall be entitled to a Reward of FIVE POUNDS. EDWARD PARRISH. Masters of Vessels are forbid to carry off said Servant at their Peril.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: December 21, 1758
Run away, on the 10th of this Instant December, from William Kindell, of Kent County, Maryland, a Welsh Servant Man, but speaks good English, named John, alias William Philips, and took with him a dark roan Mare, her off Hind foot white , a Blaze in her Face, and a hanging Mane, with a half Hunting Saddle, and a yellow and white Saddle Cloth. Said Servant is about 5 Feet 9 Inches high, of a dark Complexion, round Face, black Eyes, Black Hair, and is lame, in his left Ancle [sic]. Had on when he went away, a brown Fly Coat, and a white Jacket, with black Buttons, whoever takes up said Servant and Mar, and secures them, so that said William Kindell may have them again, shall have Two Pistoles REward, and reasonable Charges, or for the Mare only, One Pistole, paid by WILLIAM KINDELL.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: August 20, 1761
Philadelphia, August 14, 1761. RUN away, on the 11th Instant, from the Subscriber, living in Donnegall Township, Lancaster County, an Irish Servant Man, named Peter McLane, about 30 Years of Age, 5 Feet 7 Inches high, wears his own short black Hair: Had on when he went away, a good Felt Hat, white lapelled Flannel Jacket, tied with Strings, a good white Shirt, Check Trowsers, and good Shoes, with Brass Buckles. He took with him a black horse, about 15 Hands high, with a Blaze to his Face, shod before, paces and trots, has four white Feet, branded I. S. on the near Buttock, and a Saddle, with green Cloth Housings. Whoever takes up and secures said Servant and Horse, so as the Subscriber may have them again, shall have Five Pounds Reward, and reasonable Charges, if brought Home and paid by
JOHN MEAS.
N.B. All Masters of Vessels are forbid to carry off said Servant , at their Peril.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: August 1, 1765
RUN away from the Subscriber (about the 29th of June last) in New London Township, Chester County, at the Cross Roads, an Irish Servant Girl, named Jane Scott, came from Carrickfergus in the Sally, Capt. Taylor, about 20 Years of Age, of a middle Stature, rather low, of a clear open Countenance, black Hair, tolerable handsome: Had on, and took with her a Cotton Gown, light ground and purple sprig, a green and white striped Lincey Petticoat, two Shifts, a long white Linen Bed Gown, a red short Cloak, white Silk Bonnet, coarse Cotton Stockings, and old Worsted Shoes. Whoever takes up and secures said Servant , shall have Forty Shillings Reward, paid by Randle Mitchell, in Philadelphia, or the Subscriber,
ALEXANDER JOHNSTON.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: December 1, 1773
West Caln, November 24, 1773. RUN away from the subscriber, in the night of the 21st instant, an indented servant girl, a native of Ireland, named MARY BAILY; had on, and took with her, a red and white stuff gown, striped camblettee petticoat, blue stuff shoes, white yarn stockings, a plain muslin apron, one check ditto, a white linen handkerchief, a light blue bonnet, pretty much worn. Said servant is supposed to be gone off with a certain JOSEPH SILVIAN, by trade a shoemaker, a talkative drunken fellow, and was shipped from the city of Dublin to this country. Whoever takes up and secures said servant , so as her master may have her again, shall receive FOUR DOLLARS reward, and reasonable charges, if brought home, paid by
GEORGE LIGGETT.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Packet
Date: July 14, 1778
RAN AWAY on the 21st of January last from the subscriber, a Scotch servant girl named JENNY CAMERON, short and thick, of a dark complexion, has dark brown hair rolled on a string: Had on and took with her a new lincey petticoat and bed gown with brown and white stripes, a lincey petticoat, with red, black and white stripes, one under brown quilt, patched with different colours of linen, an under brown and white petticoat, two new hempen shifts, three lawn caps, four linen handkerchiefs, three white and one purple, two pair of yarn stockings, one blue and the other brown, strong shoes with leather heels, two white tow aprons, and is supposed to have check aprons. Whoever takes up said servant , and secures her in any jail, so that her master may have her again, shall have Ten Dollars reward and reasonable charges, paid by
JOHN SPEAKMAN.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: December 8, 1737
RUN away on the 12th of Novemb. past, from the Subscriber, living in Sussex County, an Irish Servant Man named David Finly, by Trade a Blacksmith, of middle Stature, short dark Hair, and hath a scar on the right side of his upper Lip about an Inch long, which scare is up and down or Perpendicular: Was Clothes when he went away, with a checker'd Shirt, a blue and white stripp'd flannel Jacket, a seersucker Vest lin'd with Linnen, a white duroy close bodied Coat, a white old great Coat, a pair of white stockings newly footed, and a pair of ozenbrigs Trowsers, He rode on a white Horse, that has but one Eye. Whoever secures the said Servant , so that his Master may have him again, shall have Three Pounds Reward, and reasonable Charges paid by John Shankland.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: July 22, 1736
RUN away from William Beeks of New Castle , an English Servant Man named William Darlington , formerly a Servant to Jacob Metcalf , opposite to Philadelphia , and afterwards to George Hargrave back of Burlington , aged about 30 Years, of middle Stature, light brown strait Hair, brown Complexion, down look, wheyish Beard; Had on when he went away, a white corded Fustian Jacket, much worn and to big for him, good ozenbrig Shirt, new ozenbrigs Trowsers, Felt Hat. Note, He was sent to Town with Horses to return to New Castle, and has absented himself from the Three Tuns. Whosoever secures the said Servant so that he may be had again, shall have Thirty Shillings Reward and reasonable Charges paid. William Beeks.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: May 31, 1770
RUN away the 20th of May, from the subscriber, a servant man, named Daniel Thomas, he says that he is an Irishman, but I am firmly of opinion that he is country born, a cunning fellow, about 21 years of age, middle size, but very fat and clumsy, pretends he has been sick, which was the occasion of his becoming a servant ; I am informed that Michael Duffey, who sold him to me, gave him a writing before they parted which makes me think they have combined together to defraud me; had on, a drab coloured cloth jacket, an old white shirt, a wool hat, new tow trowsers, and old shoes, with steel buckles in them. He says he has lived in New Castle county, and never was but once in Philadelphia, though the man who sold him to me, told other people, that he had lived in Philadelphia a considerable time. Any person who secures said servant , so that I may get him again, shall receive Five Pounds, reward, and reasonable charges, from his master, living in West Nantmell, Chester county.
PETER HUNTER.

Publication: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: May 6, 1736
ON the 15th Instant, an English Servant Man named John Galloway, belonging to Cornelius Tobit, made his Escape from William Tufft, Sub Sheriff of Salem County; he is about 22 Years of Age, pretty tall and slender, fresh coloured, a Roman Nose, wears his own Hair and has a down Look: Had on when he went away an old Beaver Hat, a good Silk blue and white Handkerchief, 3 or 4 homespun white Shirts, a striped woolen Jacket and Breeches, blue stuff Breeches, grey Stockings, and having a sore Heel wears his left Shoe slipshod. Whoever secures the said Servant so that he may be had again, shall have Three Pounds Reward paid by William Tufft.

[Angharad]

I don't see any familiar names in the posts that you made. I looked up some ancestors in a indentured servant list, but I only came up with one, the ancestor of Martin Van Buren, Cornelis Maessen.

He must have been a good boy and didn't run away, because the farm he lived on/bought after his indenture is now a big chunk of Greenwich Village.

[Electronic God-Man]

The following comes from the autobiography of William Moraley, an English indentured servant who spent his indenture in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. He later returned to England. It explains how people, at least in the British Isles, commonly entered into an indenture. This scene took place on the streets of London, 1729.

A man accosted me in the following manner. Sir, said he, I have for some time observ’d you, and fancy your Condition of Life is alter’d for the worse, and guess you have been in better Circumstances; but if you will take my Advice, I’ll make it my Business to find out some way which may be of Service to you. Perhaps you may imagine I have a Design to inveigle you, but I assure you I have none; and if you will accept of a Mug of Beer, I will impart what I have to propose to you.

Then he ask’d me, if I was bred to any Business. I told him, Watchmaking was my occupation. He said, he was afraid I would not do for any other Business, that being of little service to the Americans; the useful Trades being, Bricklayers, Shoemakers, Barbers, Carpenters, Joiners, Smiths, Weavers, Bakers, Tanners, and Husbandmen more useful than all the rest.

They drank two pints of beer together, Moraley signed up, and the man sent him on his way with other servants towards Philadelphia.
More on Moraley possible later...

But now I think it might be useful to go over a certain type of indentured servitude that was very important to Pennsylvania at least, the redemptioner style. This was used amongst the Germans from the Palatinate who were being sent to Pennsylvania.

The following quotations are from American Colonies: The Settlement of North America by Alan Taylor:

About three-quarters of the Germans landed in Philadelphia, the great magnet for colonial migration. During the late 1720’s about three ships, bearing a total of six hundred Germans, annually arrived in Philadelphia. By the early 1750’s some twenty ships and 5,600 Germans landed every year. Seeking farms, most emigrants filtered into rural Pennsylvania

About two-thirds of the (German) emigrants had sufficient means to pay their own way; the poorer third came as indentured servants. Sometimes parents could afford their own passage and that of younger children but had to indenture their adolescents, who had the highest value as laborers.

Migrant trade developed a relatively attractive form of indentured servitude adapted to the needs of families. Known as ‘redemptioners’, the Germans contracted to serve for about four to five years. Unlike other indentured servants, the redemptioner families had to be kept together by their employers and not divided for sale. Most contracts also gave the emigrant family a grace period of two weeks, upon arrival in Pennsylvania, to find a relative or acquaintance who would purchase their labor contract. Often arranged by prior correspondence, these deals afforded the emigrants some confidence in their destination and employer. If the two-week period passed, the redemption became open to general bidding from any colonist who needed laborers. After serving out their indentures, the redemptioners became free to seek out their own farms, usually on the frontier where land was cheaper.

The system worked well, because successful German farmers in Pennsylvania needed labor, preferred fellow Germans, and favored intact families. The redemptioner system accelerated the chain migration as the early migrants succeeded, reported their gains, encouraged friends and relatives to follow, and helped finance their journey by purchasing their contracts upon arrival.

I know of at least one German family I am descended from that emigrated in this manner. They (a husband and wife) worked on a farm in Bethlehem, PA for several years before they had paid their dues and were free.

[Ulf]

One thing to point out here is that (to Ulf's great disappointment) the "Dutch" described in the ads are actually Germans from the Palatinate not the Dutch as we would think of today. I have been wondering whether anyone has ever found an ancestor who at one point ran away from their servitude by looking through these newspaper ads.

Fortunately, none of my ancestors, that I know of, were in servitude. From the stories it seems we came here with enough money to at least purchase our own farms. Also, I don't know exactly what the Mennonite belief on 'slavery' is but I don't think we owned any slaves/servants either.

[Allenson]

Fortunately, none of my ancestors, that I know of, were in servitude. From the stories it seems we came here with enough money to at least purchase our own farms. Also, I don't know exactly what the Mennonite belief on 'slavery' is but I don't think we owned any slaves/servants either.

I haven't come across any servitude in my own genealogical searches either. That's of course not to say that there wasn't any, just that I haven't found it yet.

One of my forebearers though did squat for some years & even built a house & barn on someone else's land in the Catskills (later 1700s). And, many of my ancestors settled in the Hudson River valley where the Dutch Patroon system was in play for a long time--particularly in Rensselaerwyck (which is now Albany & Rensselaer Counties). So, under this system, they built homes & farms, farmed the land but did not actually own the land itself but instead, had to cough up both crops & money every year to the Patroon as payment.

That is, until many of the famers of this area who wanted the option to buy the land from the Patroon staged the Anti-Rent War in the middle 1800s:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...0/ai_88702710/

[Electronic God-Man]

The amount of indentured servants that were sent to the American colonies increases from New England to the Middle Colonies to the South. The South received, by far, the most servants while New England had relatively few. The regions had different economic systems in place. The South could use the most indentured servants, usually unskilled laborers, because of the plantation system. The Middle Colonies could use many servants that were skilled in some profession to work in the booming trades and businesses there, especially in New York City, Philadelphia, etcetera.

Here's some stuff about soldiers/sailors and convicted felons and how they made up a lot of the indentured servants.

Colonial emigration partially revived during the intervals of peace, when the crown demobilized thousands of soldiers and sailors, temporarily saturating the English labor market. Unable to find work, some people entered indentures for service in the colonies. Other demobilized men went unwillingly as convicted and transported criminals…Between 1718 and 1775, the empire transported about fifty thousand felons, more than half of all English emigrants to America during that period.

The crown generally paid three pounds per convict to shippers, who carried the felons to America for sale as indentured servants with especially long terms, usually fourteen years. The shippers’ profit came from combining the sales price (about twelve pounds) with the crown subsidy, less the cost of transportation (five to six pounds).

In order to fill the ranks of their army, the British recruited destitute poor off of the streets of cities and towns such as London. The process was not too different from the one used to indenture servants to be sent to the American colonies. Breaks in the war caused a flooding of cheap labor in Britain as those recruits were discharged from the army. With so many people in need of work and a great number of them unable to find any, many turned to petty crime. When arrested many chose to be sent away to the colonies as indentured servants with extended times of service (usually around 14 years) instead of face the harsh laws in Britain. Convicts from the British Isles were a substantial part of the total number of indentured servants sent to the American colonies.

Most convict indentured servants (around 80%) were sent to either Maryland or Virginia. They often had little or no skills in a trade.

[Bloodeagle]

I was wondering if this indentured servitude phenomenon might have been prevalent throughout all of the colonies or was it more common in Pennsylvania?

Was white servitude a condition of the North and black servitude a condition of the South?

My earliest American ancestors were quite active in the black servitude department.

[Loddfafner]

I was wondering if this indentured servitude phenomenon might have been prevalent throughout all of the colonies or was it more common in Pennsylvania?

Was white servitude a condition of the North and black servitude a condition of the South?

My earliest American ancestors were quite active in the black servitude department.

It was throughout the colonies, but from what I understand it was more prevalent in the South. The plantation owners first tried Indians as a labor source but they knew the lay of the land and ran off. Next they tried indentured servants. The plantation owners tried to get as much work out of them as possible so many were worked to death and others escaped into the hills and begat the Appalachian folk. Finally they switched to Africans who were more easily identified if they escaped. As they were now investment property, the plantation owners did not have the motive to work them to death as with the indentured servants.

[Jamt]

Seuthanan. Have you seen any other nationality than English, Irish Dutch and Germans?
And did poor Americans sell themselves or were forced in to similar servitude?