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Yes, I'm pretty sure many of my ancestors who arrived here in Virginia in the 17th and 18th century were indentured servants but I'm more certain about my 6x great grandparents who came here in the 1720s and ended up with a plantation on the James River between Richmond and Charlottesville. They then relocated further West. One of their great grandchildren with their name became governor of Missouri.
my maternal grandfather's side, my g g g g g great Grandfather arrived in Maryland on a convict transport in 1719, less than six months after the Transportation act was passed. James and his brother's family were from a rural family, but they were arrested selling clothes taken off a clothesline. I can only guess that as lands were being enclused then they were dispossessed and moved to the greater London area. Williamn's later wife was also arrested for reciieving the stolen shirt he sold and all three were transported to Maryland.
He married eleven years later, and since no sentence was stated in the Old Bailey documents I found attached to his name I assume either it was a longer sentence or it was extended via the normal means used under the system. His wife was born in Pensulvania and was fourteen at her marriage to him (he was 31). William married his wife about the same time later and moved onto Kentucky.
Twin boys seemed to have run in the family. James named his James and William and altered the spelling of the last name. Then his son William had two boys named James and William, retruning it to the 'normal' one. Must have got confusing if they had a family reunion.
But James ended up living a life that stretched from being a petty thief on the streets of London to a convict to a family man with sixty years of family to enjoy, seeing America become an independant nation along the way. Lots more to look up about him, but he had quite an amazing life. He died at the ripe old age (especially for then) of 91.
From Maryland, James moved through Kentucky and West Virginia, where one son was born, and were early settlers in Missouri where generations remained (and still do).
Before that, there are ancestors here, but I'll have to delve deeper back in good time to find out But given that at the time of the revolution, fifty percent of white citizens of Virginia were descendent of indentured servants, its a good possibility. Over half of those who came to Jamestown, for instance, were indentured.
Good thread. I think we need to recognize that not everyone came with money for the boat and some not even wanting to come at all. Lets give some kudos to the survivors who weren't inclined to give up. I see that in my family all the way down to me.
I wonder what sort of trouble they could have gotten in if caught.
I believe the most common punishment was to add time onto the original length of the servitude.
These particular ancestors went into some of the most remote parts of Appalachia. I doubt anyone was too keen on going in there to look for them. Much of it was Indian territory.
I believe the most common punishment was to add time onto the original length of the servitude.
These particular ancestors went into some of the most remote parts of Appalachia. I doubt anyone was too keen on going in there to look for them. Much of it was Indian territory.
My ancestors dissapeared into Kentucky post indenture about 1730. Since Maryland was one of the prime areas where they were in demamd due to the need for a large cheap and disposable labor force for the tabacco fields.
I've been trying to find specifics, but they are scatted around the book, but punishment for being caught was harsh there. Whipping was used just as a matter of course, and public stocks. But since the owner had a vested interest in keeping their property as long as possible, adding time became an increasingly used method of making even small offenses not worth it. Escapees when caught would have months or if it was a second one, years added. Plus, they were charged in time for the expense of advertising for them, searches or any expense, and for the 'work lost'. A few days freedom could easily add a year if they owner wanted to.
Marriage was forbidden, so since my ancestor didn't marry and leave for ten years, my assumption would be he spent more than his seven years in bondage. All over stealing a shirt.
An excellent book with the whole history of the 'servant' trade from its beginning is White Cargo The Forgotten History of Britan's White Slaves in America by Don Jordan and Michael Walsh. In the history forum there's a long thread about the subject.
It was the first form of forced labor in British colonies and the practices of African slavery grew out of the foundation it provided. It was officially outlawed in the 13th amendment along with generational slavery.
I'm thinking I do, but I have no way of knowing that.
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