Indentured Servants

Indentured Servitude

The migration of indentured servants grew rapidly because of the slim amounts of labor that the colonies had. Each indentured servant searched for a better life in colonial America. Each servant had many difficulties and obstacles they had to face in finding a new place to settle. English men and women in the 17th century had to become accustomed to a whole new life. The awful trips that were made from England to the colonies shaped many lives.

Obstacles were immensely different between colonies. In Richard Frethornes letter to his mother and father, it explains most of the horrible challenges he had to face as an indentured servant. In the beginning, Frethhorne tells his parents how very sick he is and he is hoping that his parents are well because he is not. He says, “as the scurvy and the bloody flux and diverse other diseases, which maketh the body very poor and weak.” In that sentence I consume the thought that all around him was sick people and very poor health. The masters did not give them proper care. Without good amounts of care, servants just kept dying. But, the fact that there were not enough servants to take care of the plantation did not go unnoticed. All of the pieces of land were spread out to stop the diseases from spreading. It was very uncomfortable for the servants to work in such a gross environment. “… I have nothing to comfort me, nor is there nothing to be gotten here but sickness and death...” Frethorne says in cries of sorrow. He was not in the comfort of his own home and moving from a different part of the country to be a servant does not sound like it is an easy thing to do. The limited food resources were also a huge add on to diseases and the uncomfortableness of this poor man and every other servant. Obviously, Frethorne did not come to the colonies thinking he was going to get a five-star meal, but he stresses that before he came into the colonies, he had only had peas and water gruel and “… as for deer and venison I never saw any since I came into this land.” he states. It seems like his is very touchy about how if he sees an animal he is not allowed to go and get it but he has to work long days and nights just for mess of water gruel and a mouthful of bread and beef. With no food, comfort, and the sickness all around, this indentured servant had many confrontations in his life.

The rules and regulations of indentured servants did not come lightly. There were many guidelines to follow or there was some serious punishment. If any rule was broken, it was considered a crime. The only part about an indentured servant that was free was if they had a child, the child was not allowed to be suffered by their master that fed and sheltered them. But, if the child became out of line, it was a misdemeanor and was viewed by authorities. If the indentured servant had a child and was not married, that would be another year added on to their servitude because of the time she missed while pregnant. Also, if the master wishes, the child would have to stay with the master and serve as an indentured servant. With that being said, indentured servants were not allowed to get married or have a child without the masters say so. Which, the majority of the time was not okay. These indentured