How long was an average indentured servants contract?
A new life in the New World offered a glimmer of hope; this explains how one-half to two-thirds of the immigrants who came to the American colonies arrived as indentured servants. Servants typically worked four to seven years in exchange for passage, room, board, lodging and freedom dues.
Who were the indentured servants quizlet?
A worker bound by a voluntary agreement to work for a specified period of years often in return for free passage to an overseas destination. Before 1800 most were Europeans; after 1800 most indentured laborers were Asians. You just studied 15 terms!
What was the life span of an indentured servant?
Non-convict servants served terms of 4 to 6 years, while convicts had to serve at least 7 years. Those working within their contract found living conditions very similar to their enslaved counterparts, such as their less than substantial food and clothing provisions.
What was the indentured servant contract in England?
In England, an indenture, or contract for labor, was known as a “covenant merely personal,” and could apply either to farm laborers or apprentices learning a trade. Contracts generally lasted a year, after which terms were renegotiated.
How long did indentured servants serve at Ridgely?
Indenture contracts were written between British agents and Ridgely indenture purchasers. All indentures were bought for only a limited time. Non-convict servants served terms of 4 to 6 years, while convicts had to serve at least 7 years.
What was the average length of an indentured labor contract?
Most labor contracts made were in increments of five years, with the opportunity to extend another five years. Many contracts also provided free passage home after the dictated labor was completed. However, there were generally no policies regulating employers once the labor hours were completed, which led to frequent ill-treatment.