Indentured Servants
Working Off the Cost of the Voyage
In 1750 a ship landed at Philadelphia. It was full of poor families from Germany. The trip had taken at least seven weeks. A passenger named Gottlieb Mittelberger watched what happened next. People who could pay for the trip walked off the ship. The rest had to stay on board. Buyers came out from the city. They looked over the healthy passengers. Then they made a deal. Each person would work for years to pay for the trip.
What an Indenture Was
The people sold on that ship became indentured servants. An indentured servant signed a paper. The paper said he or she would work for a master for a set number of years. Most terms ran four to seven years. Children had to work until they turned 21. Some parents sold their children's years so they could go free themselves.
During those years, a servant was not free. A servant could not marry without the master's say-so. The master could sell the servant's contract to someone else. A servant who ran away and got caught had years added on. At the end of the term, the servant went free. The master had to give freedom dues. Freedom dues were a payment at the end, like new clothes or a cow.
Servants in a War for Liberty
By 1775, tens of thousands of people were indentured servants. That was about 2 or 3 of every 100 workers. Then the war began. Servants still owed years of work. On November 7, 1775, Lord Dunmore made an offer. He was the king's governor of Virginia. He said servants of rebels could go free if they fought for the king. Some servants ran to the British. Some joined the American army instead. Many more stayed and worked off their years.
After the War
Few ships of immigrants crossed the ocean during the war. So the trade in servants almost stopped. After the peace in 1783, the ships came back. Servants were sold on the docks again. But the trade never got as big as before. By 1800 it was almost gone.
Key facts to use in your script
For your Hook
- In 1750 Gottlieb Mittelberger watched poor passengers sold off a ship in Philadelphia.
- Indentured servants signed a paper to work for a master for years.
- They did this to pay for their trip to America.
For your Story
- A servant could not marry without the master's say-so, and the contract could be sold.
- By 1775 there were tens of thousands of servants, about 2 or 3 of every 100 workers.
- In 1775 Lord Dunmore said servants of rebels could go free if they fought for the king.
- Some ran to the British, some joined the American army, and many stayed.
For your Wrap
- At the end of the term, a servant went free and got freedom dues.
- The war almost stopped the trade in servants.
- By 1800 the trade was almost gone.
Source Spotlight: A Document from the Time
Mittelberger — the ship becomes a market Philadelphia, 1750; published 1756
Gottlieb Mittelberger wrote this. He came from Germany to Philadelphia by ship in 1750. He saw what happened to the poor passengers when the ship landed. He went home and wrote a book about the trip. It came out in 1756. He wrote it to warn people who were thinking of making the trip.
Simplified version, not the source. These are not the writer’s words, so do not quote them. To quote, use the original words below.
Every day, English, Dutch and German people come from the city of Philadelphia and other places. […] They pick out the healthy people they think will fit their business. Then they make a deal with them. The deal says how long each one will work to pay for the trip. […] Grown-ups sign a paper. They agree to work 3, 4, 5 or 6 years for the money they owe. It depends on their age and strength. But very young people, from 10 to 15 years old, must work until they are 21.
Many parents must sell and trade away their children like cattle. If the children take on the debt, the parents can leave the ship free. […] It often happens that parents and children leave the ship and do not see each other again for many years. Some may never see each other again in their whole lives.
Read the original (the real words you can quote)
Every day Englishmen, Dutchmen and (German-speaking) people come from the city of Philadelphia and other places […] and select among the healthy persons such as they (judge; consider) suitable for their business, and bargain with them how long they will serve for their passage […] adult persons bind themselves in writing to serve 3, 4, 5 or 6 years for the amount due by them, according to their age and strength. But very young people, from 10 to 15 years, must serve till they are 21 years old.
Many parents must sell and trade away their children like so many head of cattle; for if their children take the debt upon themselves, the parents can leave the ship free and (free to go). […] it often happens that such parents and children, after leaving the ship, do not see each other again for many years, perhaps no more in all their lives.
Make it yours: Mittelberger wrote this to warn people who were thinking of moving to America. In your own words, tell what happens on the deck of that ship. Who pays the highest price?
Gottlieb Mittelberger, Journey to Pennsylvania in the Year 1750 (published 1756; trans. 1898) · See the source
In 1750 a ship full of poor German families tied up at the docks of Philadelphia. The voyage had taken at least seven weeks. A passenger named Gottlieb Mittelberger watched what happened next. The people who could pay for their passage walked off the ship. The rest had to stay on board. Each day, buyers came out from the city and looked over the healthy passengers. Then they bargained with each one over how many years of work would pay for the trip.
What an Indenture Was
The people sold on that ship became indentured servants, workers who signed a contract to serve a master for a set number of years. The contract was called an indenture. Mittelberger wrote that adults signed on for three to six years. Children between 10 and 15 had to serve until they turned 21. Most terms ran about four to seven years. Some parents could not pay. They had to sell their children's labor so that they themselves could go free. Mittelberger went home to Germany in 1754. He published a book warning others not to make the trip.
During the term, a servant's time belonged to the master. A servant could not marry without the master's permission. The master could sell the contract, and the servant with it, to someone else. A runaway who was caught had months or years added to the term. At the end, the servant went free and received freedom dues, a payment the master owed when the contract ended. In one Pennsylvania county in 1775, a court made a master give his former servant a new coat, a new hat and a young cow.
Servants in a War for Liberty
Before the Revolution, one-half to two-thirds of the white immigrants to the colonies arrived as indentured servants. By 1775 the system had shrunk. Servants made up only about 2 or 3 of every 100 workers in the colonies. That was still tens of thousands of people. Most were poor immigrants from Europe, and many of them were German.
When the war began in 1775, servants still owed years of work. On November 7, 1775, Lord Dunmore, the king's governor of Virginia, made an offer. He declared that the servants and enslaved people of rebels would be free if they would fight for the king. Some servants ran to the British lines. Others enlisted in the American army. Some served as a substitute, a man who took another man's place in the army, with a promise that the contract would end early. Many more stayed and served out their terms.
After the War
Few ships of immigrants crossed the Atlantic during the war. The trade in servants almost stopped. After the peace of 1783 the ships began to arrive again. Servants were sold on the Philadelphia docks as before. But the trade never grew back to its old size. By the end of the 1700s, indentured servitude from Europe was dying out.
Key facts to use in your script
For your Hook
- In 1750 Gottlieb Mittelberger watched buyers bargain for passengers on a ship in Philadelphia.
- Indentured servants signed a contract to serve a master for a set number of years.
- Terms usually ran four to seven years to pay for the voyage to America.
For your Story
- A servant could not marry without permission, and the master could sell the contract to someone else.
- By 1775 servants were about 2 or 3 of every 100 workers, tens of thousands of people.
- On November 7, 1775, Lord Dunmore offered freedom to rebels' servants who would fight for the king.
- Some ran to the British, some enlisted in the American army, and many served out their terms.
For your Wrap
- At the end of a term the servant went free with freedom dues, like a new coat or a cow.
- Few immigrant ships crossed during the war, so the trade almost stopped.
- After 1783 it started again, but by the end of the 1700s it was dying out.
Source Spotlight: A Document from the Time
Mittelberger — the ship becomes a market Philadelphia, 1750; published 1756
Gottlieb Mittelberger was a German passenger. He crossed to Philadelphia by ship in 1750 and watched what happened to the poor immigrants when the ship arrived. He went home to Germany and published this account in 1756 as a travel book. He wrote it to warn people who were thinking of making the same voyage.
Simplified version, not the source. These are not the writer’s words, so do not quote them. To quote, use the original words below.
Every day, English, Dutch and German people come from the city of Philadelphia and other places. […] They pick out, from among the healthy passengers, the ones they think are suited to their business. Then they bargain with them over how long they will serve to pay for their passage. […] Adults bind themselves in writing to serve 3, 4, 5 or 6 years for the amount they owe. The number depends on their age and strength. But very young people, from 10 to 15 years old, must serve until they are 21 years old.
Many parents must sell and trade away their children like so many head of cattle. For if the children take the debt on themselves, the parents can leave the ship free and unrestrained. […] It often happens that such parents and children, after leaving the ship, do not see each other again for many years. Perhaps they never see each other again in all their lives.
Read the original (the real words you can quote)
Every day Englishmen, Dutchmen and (German-speaking) people come from the city of Philadelphia and other places […] and select among the healthy persons such as they (judge; consider) suitable for their business, and bargain with them how long they will serve for their passage […] adult persons bind themselves in writing to serve 3, 4, 5 or 6 years for the amount due by them, according to their age and strength. But very young people, from 10 to 15 years, must serve till they are 21 years old.
Many parents must sell and trade away their children like so many head of cattle; for if their children take the debt upon themselves, the parents can leave the ship free and (free to go). […] it often happens that such parents and children, after leaving the ship, do not see each other again for many years, perhaps no more in all their lives.
Make it yours: Mittelberger wrote this as a warning to people thinking of emigrating. In your own words, say exactly what happens on that ship's deck, and who pays the highest price.
Gottlieb Mittelberger, Journey to Pennsylvania in the Year 1750 (published 1756; trans. 1898) · See the source
In 1750 a ship full of German families tied up at the docks of Philadelphia after a voyage of at least seven weeks. A passenger named Gottlieb Mittelberger watched what happened next. The people who could pay for their passage walked off the ship. The rest had to stay on board. Each day, buyers came out from the city and looked over the healthy passengers. Then they bargained with each one over how many years of work would pay for the trip.
What an Indenture Was
The people sold on that ship became indentured servants, workers bound by a contract to serve a master for a set number of years. The contract was called an indenture. Mittelberger wrote that adults signed on for "3, 4, 5 or 6 years for the amount due by them, according to their age and strength," and that children between 10 and 15 had to serve until they turned 21. Most terms ran about four to seven years. Parents who could not pay sometimes had to sell their children's labor so that they themselves could go free. Mittelberger went home to Germany in 1754 and in 1756 published a book warning others not to make the trip.
During the term, a servant's time belonged to the master. A servant could not marry without the master's permission, and the master could sell the contract, and the servant with it, to someone else. A runaway who was caught had months or years added to the term. At the end, the servant went free and received freedom dues, a payment the master owed when the contract ended. In Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in October 1775, a court ordered a master to give his former servant a new coat, a new hat, and a three-year-old heifer.
Servants in a War for Liberty
Between the 1630s and the Revolution, one-half to two-thirds of the white immigrants to the thirteen colonies arrived under an indenture. By 1775 the system had shrunk. Indentured servants made up only about 2 or 3 of every 100 workers in the colonies, tens of thousands of people in all. Most were poor immigrants from Europe, and many of them were German.
When the war began in 1775, servants had to decide what to do with the years they still owed. On November 7, 1775, Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, declared "all indented Servants, Negroes, or others" belonging to rebels free if they were "able and willing to bear Arms" for the king. Some servants ran to the British lines. Others enlisted in the Continental Army, sometimes as a substitute, a man who served in another man's place, with the master's permission and a promise that the contract would end early. Many more stayed and served out their terms.
After the War
Few ships of immigrants crossed the Atlantic during the war, so the trade in servants almost stopped. After the peace of 1783 the ships began to arrive again, and servants were sold on the Philadelphia docks as before. But the trade never grew back to its old size. By the end of the 1700s, indentured servitude from Europe was dying out.
Key facts to use in your script
For your Hook
- In 1750 Gottlieb Mittelberger watched buyers come aboard a ship at Philadelphia and bargain over how many years each passenger would serve.
- Indentured servants were bound by a contract, an indenture, to serve a master for a set term, usually four to seven years.
- Children between 10 and 15 had to serve until they turned 21.
For your Story
- A runaway who was caught had months or years added to the term; a master could sell the contract.
- By 1775 indentured servants were about 2 or 3 of every 100 workers; earlier, half to two-thirds of white immigrants had arrived under indenture.
- Dunmore's proclamation of November 7, 1775, freed "all indented Servants, Negroes, or others" of rebels who would bear arms for the king.
- Some ran to the British, some enlisted in the Continental Army, sometimes as a master's substitute, and many served out their terms.
For your Wrap
- In October 1775 a Pennsylvania court made a master give his freed servant a new coat, a new hat, and a three-year-old heifer.
- The war cut off the servant trade; ships returned after 1783 but the trade never regained its size.
- By the end of the 1700s indentured servitude from Europe was dying out.
- Unlike slavery, an indenture ended, and the servant went free.
Source Spotlight: A Document from the Time
Mittelberger — the ship becomes a market Philadelphia, 1750; published 1756
Gottlieb Mittelberger crossed from Germany in 1750 and watched what happened when a ship full of poor immigrants reached Philadelphia. He went home and published a warning to anyone thinking of making the voyage. This scene — human beings bargained for on a ship’s deck — is the system the Revolution’s language of liberty never touched.
Every day Englishmen, Dutchmen and (German-speaking) people come from the city of Philadelphia and other places […] and select among the healthy persons such as they (judge; consider) suitable for their business, and bargain with them how long they will serve for their passage […] adult persons bind themselves in writing to serve 3, 4, 5 or 6 years for the amount due by them, according to their age and strength. But very young people, from 10 to 15 years, must serve till they are 21 years old.
Many parents must sell and trade away their children like so many head of cattle; for if their children take the debt upon themselves, the parents can leave the ship free and (free to go). […] it often happens that such parents and children, after leaving the ship, do not see each other again for many years, perhaps no more in all their lives.
Make it yours: Mittelberger wrote this as a WARNING to people thinking of emigrating. In your own words: what exactly happens on that ship’s deck — and who pays the highest price?
Gottlieb Mittelberger, Journey to Pennsylvania in the Year 1750 (published 1756; trans. 1898) · See the source
In 1750 a ship full of German families tied up at the docks of Philadelphia after a voyage of at least seven weeks. A passenger named Gottlieb Mittelberger watched what happened next. The people who could pay for their passage, or find someone to guarantee it, walked off the ship. The rest had to stay on board until someone bought their time. Each day, buyers came out from Philadelphia and the surrounding country and looked over the passengers. They chose the healthy ones first, Mittelberger wrote, so "the sick always fare the worst." Then they bargained with each passenger over how many years of work would pay for the trip.
What an Indenture Was
The people sold on that ship became indentured servants, workers bound by a written contract, called an indenture, to serve a master for a set number of years. Mittelberger wrote that adults bound themselves "to serve 3, 4, 5 or 6 years for the amount due by them, according to their age and strength," and that children between 10 and 15 "must serve till they are 21 years old." Most terms ran about four to seven years. Parents who could not pay sometimes had to sell their children's labor so that they themselves could leave the ship free, and Mittelberger wrote that such families often did "not see each other again for many years, perhaps no more in all their lives." He went home to Germany in 1754 and in 1756 published a book warning his countrymen against the voyage.
During the term, a servant's time belonged to the master. A servant could not marry without the master's permission, and the master could sell the contract, and the servant with it, to someone else. Courts added time to the terms of runaways who were caught. In Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, a servant named Edmund Carmaddy ran away from his master on September 11, 1775, was caught in Maryland on February 3, 1776, and was jailed in Carlisle. On April 8, 1776, the court ordered him to serve two more years beyond the time in his indenture. At the end of a term the servant went free and received freedom dues, a payment the master owed when the contract ended. In October 1775 the same county's court ordered a master to give his former servant a new coat, a new hat, and a three-year-old heifer.
Servants in a War for Liberty
Between the 1630s and the Revolution, one-half to two-thirds of the white immigrants to the thirteen colonies arrived under an indenture. By 1775 the system had shrunk, and indentured servants made up only about 2 or 3 percent of the colonial labor force, tens of thousands of people in all. Most were poor immigrants from Europe, and in Pennsylvania many were German. Their status was different from slavery in one way that mattered: the indenture ended, and the servant went free.
When the war began in 1775, servants had to decide what to do with the years they still owed. On November 7, 1775, Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, issued a proclamation that declared "all indented Servants, Negroes, or others, (appertaining to Rebels,) free that are able and willing to bear Arms" for the king. The offer was made to the servants of rebels, not to the servants of Loyalists. Some servants ran to the British lines. Others enlisted in the Continental Army, sometimes as a substitute, a man who served in place of another, with the master's permission and a promise that the contract would end early. Many more stayed and served out their terms.
After the War
The war cut off the trade. Few ships of immigrants crossed the Atlantic between 1775 and 1783, and in Pennsylvania immigration almost stopped. After the peace of 1783 the ships returned, and servants were sold on the Philadelphia docks as before. But the trade never regained its old size. By the end of the 1700s the system of European indentured servitude was dying out.
Key facts to use in your script
For your Hook
- Mittelberger wrote in 1750 that adults bound themselves "to serve 3, 4, 5 or 6 years for the amount due by them, according to their age and strength."
- Buyers chose the healthy passengers first, so "the sick always fare the worst."
- Parents who could not pay sold their children's labor and often did "not see each other again for many years."
For your Story
- Edmund Carmaddy ran away on September 11, 1775, was caught on February 3, 1776, and was ordered to serve two more years.
- By 1775 servants were about 2 or 3 percent of the colonial labor force; earlier, half to two-thirds of white immigrants had come under indenture.
- Dunmore's proclamation offered freedom to rebels' servants "able and willing to bear Arms," not to Loyalists' servants.
- Some ran to the British, some enlisted as substitutes with a promise of early release, and many served out their terms.
For your Wrap
- Freedom dues ended a term; a 1775 Pennsylvania court set one servant's at a new coat, a new hat and a three-year-old heifer.
- Between 1775 and 1783 immigration to Pennsylvania almost stopped, and with it the sale of servants.
- Ships returned after 1783, but the system was dying out by 1800.
- The indenture ended and the servant went free, which set servitude apart from slavery.
Source Spotlight: A Document from the Time
Mittelberger — the ship becomes a market Philadelphia, 1750; published 1756
Gottlieb Mittelberger crossed from Germany in 1750 and watched what happened when a ship full of poor immigrants reached Philadelphia. He went home and published a warning to anyone thinking of making the voyage. This scene — human beings bargained for on a ship’s deck — is the system the Revolution’s language of liberty never touched.
Every day Englishmen, Dutchmen and (German-speaking) people come from the city of Philadelphia and other places […] and select among the healthy persons such as they (judge; consider) suitable for their business, and bargain with them how long they will serve for their passage […] adult persons bind themselves in writing to serve 3, 4, 5 or 6 years for the amount due by them, according to their age and strength. But very young people, from 10 to 15 years, must serve till they are 21 years old.
Many parents must sell and trade away their children like so many head of cattle; for if their children take the debt upon themselves, the parents can leave the ship free and (free to go). […] it often happens that such parents and children, after leaving the ship, do not see each other again for many years, perhaps no more in all their lives.
Make it yours: Mittelberger wrote this as a WARNING to people thinking of emigrating. In your own words: what exactly happens on that ship’s deck — and who pays the highest price?
Gottlieb Mittelberger, Journey to Pennsylvania in the Year 1750 (published 1756; trans. 1898) · See the source
Where these facts come from
Find a Face
Your topic is a group. Pick one real person from this list. Read about them. Add one fact about them to your Fact Bank, with the source.
- Matthew Lyon, came as a servant at 15, later a soldier. Wikipedia
- John Harrower, servant who kept a diary in Virginia. Wikipedia
About the group: Britannica: indentured labor