General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Gov. Ralph Northam Calls Slaves 'Indentured Servants' In Interview, Gets Corrected [View all]Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Although we'd all much prefer to have been an indentured servant than a slave in that era, very little reading would make anyone understand how Northam might have slipped and used the word "indentured" instead of "slave" in discussing the first arrival of African people in 1619. 1619 was also the year the initial contract of indenture established in 1609 was changed to allow planters to "rent" indentured servants from the Virginia Company.
He would know that something like 40% of indentured unfortunates died before their period of usually 4-5 but sometimes as long as 9 or more years of often involuntary servitude ended. Females who became pregnant while in bondage typically had their indentures lengthened, and other excuses were used to keep those who survived in bondage.
Many people who weren't desperate did indenture themselves in hopes of better lives in America, but as word got back about the death rates, the many abuses, the schemes to lengthen indentures, and the often very poor quality of land they were able to claim once free, their proportion lessened. But many adults had no real choice. And many children were sold into indentured servitude by parents who couldn't feed them, while parishes got rid of large numbers of unwanted orphans by selling them, and of course none of those consented.