Summary: Colonial Indentured Servants

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In the 1730s and 1740s America was being shaped into a prosperous society. However, this prosperous society was only obtainable for the upper-class people who could afford it. The availability of land was increasing, thus calling for the need for more labor. As a result, indentured servitude and slave labor became an essential piece for developing America. The textbook, Oakes of the People, puts this into perspective by stating, “Those who could take advantage of these opportunities profited wildly, whereas the poor, both white and African, were without defense” (Oakes of the People p. 68). This defenseless system lead to the inhumane treatment endured by the indentured servants and slaves of the time-period. The brutality that the indentured …show more content…
In his article, “Colonial Indentured Servants,” author Gary Nash recognizes, “Given the harshness of the indentured labor system, it is not surprising that the colonial newspapers were filled with advertisements for runaway servants, interspersed with notices for runaway slaves” (Nash 207). In the articles presented by the Maryland Gazette of a runaway slave and a runaway servant, it is evident how the 1730s-40s society dealt with and viewed race and unfree labor in relation to class and the institution of slavery.
An article was published on May 18th, 1748 describing the runaway servant David Hughes. The most striking piece of information that is given in this article applies not to the language used for describing this man, but instead applies to the story revealed of Hughes’ life. According to the ad, this is the second time that this servant has escaped his owner. After the death of his previous owner, Hughes had escaped and worked his way to become a free person. The Maryland Gazette explains the sequence of David Hughes life after his first term of servitude, describing that, “he worked a considerable time at the eastern shore as a …show more content…
After reading the ads, without looking deep into the meaning, but rather at the urgency and actual text it is evident to me that the slave ad was more urgent than the indentured servant ad. In the ad seeking slave, Jack Spurlock, the slaveholder emphasizes, “whoever brings the said negro, dead or alive, to me, shall receive two pistoles reward” (Maryland Gazette ad, March 15 1749-runaway slave Jack Spurlock). The most apparent wording that Spurlock’s slaveholder exclaims is “dead or alive”. It is obvious that the slaveholders did not care about the lives of their slaves but instead cared more about the principles being set for their other slaves. In the Indentured servant ad, this sense of urgency to make a statement to the rest of the indentured servants is not evident. On the other hand, these ads are similar based off the contents they reveal on how society viewed class. There is an obvious reveal of how the upper class used their power over those who could not afford to speak out against them. In fact, that is the whole basis upon why these ads are out in the first place. The lower class of people had no say in their lives, therefore, they needed to resort to running away in hopes of a better future. It is compelling how they were willing to risk being caught and put through torture for the slim chance that they would make it away from
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