Chapter III: Domestic Service During the Colonial Period

Domestic service has a history 16
Three periods of this history 16
The colonial period 16
Classes of servants during this period 17
Early reasons for colonizing America 17
Advantage to England of disposing of her undesirable population 17
Protests against this method of settlement 18
The freewillers 19
Proportion of redemptioners 20
Place of birth of redemptioners 20
Social condition of redemptioners 21
Methods of securing redemptioners 22
Form of indenture 22
Servants without indenture 22
Virginia law in regard to servants without indenture 23
Early condition of redemptioners 25
Subsequent improvement in condition 27
Wages of redemptioners 28
Legal regulation of wages 30
Character of service rendered by redemptioners 31
Service in Virginia 32
Service in Maine 33
Service in Massachusetts 34
Colonial legislation in regard to masters and servants 37
Laws for the protection of servants 38
Physical protection 39
Laws for the protection of masters 40
Laws in regard to runaways 40
Harboring runaways 41
Inducements to return runaways 43
Corporal punishment 44
Trading or bartering with servants 45
Miscellaneous laws protecting masters 46
Obligation of masters to community 47
Redemptioners after expiration of service 48
Indian servants 49
Negro slavery 51
General summary of character of service during the colonial period 52