Colonial Workers

In order for the colonial economy to grow and thrive, the colonies needed lots of workers. Some were native-born colonists. Others were free immigrants. Many more though, were black African slaves and indentured European servants. Some were convicts sent over to get them out of England. To understand more about colonial workers, read these descriptions.

Document of Indenture
THIS INDENTURE WITNESSES THAT we, the Overseers of the Poor of the City of London, do place and bond out Martha Williams, now in the Alms house, unto James Samuels, of the City of Boston in the colony of Massachusetts. The said Martha Williams is to dwell and serve with the said James Samuels from this date of October 5, 1701, until the full term of five years be completed and ended on October 4, 1706. During all of this term, the said Williams shall faithfully service her said master and gladly obey his lawful commands everywhere. She shall not contract matrimony within the said term.
The said master, during the said term of service, shall teach the said servant to read, write, and cipher, and shall also teach her all branches of good housewifery. He shall find and provide for the said servant sufficient and wholesome meat, drink, clothing, lodging, and washing for a servant during all the said term. At the end of said term, the master shall give the servant two good suits of wearing apparel.
Virginia Slave Law, 1669
Be it enacted and declared, if any slave resists his master and by the extremity of the correction should chance to die, that his death shall not be accounted as a felony. The master (must) be acquitted from molestation, since it cannot be presumed that premeditated malice (which alone makes murder a felony) should induce any man to destroy his own estate (property).
On Transported Convicts, by William Eddis, 1770
Persons convicted of felony, and in consequence transported to this continent, if they are able to pay the expense of passage, are free to pursue their fortune agreeably to their inclinations or abilities. Few, however, have means to avoid themselves of this advantage. These unhappy beings are generally consigned to an agent, who classes them suitably to their real or supposed qualifications; advertises them for sale; and disposes of them, for seven years, to planters, to mechanics, and to such as choose to retain them for domestic service.