About Indentured Servant 1627
This is a contract to be a servant for four years on a Virginia Plantation in exchange for 50 acres of land. They would live no better than a slave. This is great to personalize because you can stipulate any terms and conditions.Definition of Indentured Servitude: work under an unbreakable contract for a fixed period, in return for room and board, training, or pay.
BEFORE THE JOURNEY: “Many of the spirits [people who recruited indentured servants] haunted the London slums and those of Bristol and other seaports. It was not difficult to find hungry and thirsty victims who, over a dinner and much liquor, would sign anything before them. The spirit would then hustle his prey to his headquarters to be added to a waiting company of others, safely kept where they could not escape until a ship was ready for them. An easier way was to pick up a sleeping drunk from the gutter and put him aboard a vessel for America, where, with no indenture, he could be sold to his own disadvantage and with the American planter’s gain. Children were valuable and could be enticed with candy to come along with a spirit. Sometimes they, and older people too, were seized by force.”
Below is the text of Indentured Servant 1627. The names available to be personalized are in red and can be replaced with Any names you choose. All names are optional. Or you can order the historical document showing the original names and places.
THIS WRITING INDENTURE made the Last day of July Anno Domine 1627 And in the Third yeare of the raigne of our Sovereign Lord Charles. By the Grace of God king of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith &c &c.
Betweene (1. Indentured servant’s name)Richard Lowther of Broleme in the Parish of Southill in the County of Bedford a Brewer. Of the one party and (2. Plantation owner’s name)Edward Hurd Cittizen and Ironmonger of London. Of the other party. Witnesseth that the said (1. Indentured servant’s name)Richard Lowther (for the Considerations herein after Mentioned) hath hired himselfe and is become and by these presents doth agree and bind himselfe to remaine and Continue to bee servant of him the said (2. Plantation owner’s name)Edward Hurd his heirs and assignes. To be by him or them sent and transported unto the Country and land of (3. Plantation State’s name)Virginia, in the parts beyond the Seas & to be by him or them employed upon his plantation there. For and during the space of Four yeares to begin at the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel now next comeing.
During which said term the said (1. Indentured servant’s name)Richard Lowther shall and will truely employ and endeavour himselfe to the utmost of his power, knowledge and skill to doe and performe true and faithfull service unto the said (2. Plantation owner’s name)Edward Hurd, his heirs and assignes. In for and concerning all such Labour and businesse as he or they shall think good to use and employ him the said (1. Indentured servant’s name)Richard Lowther in. And shall and will be tractable and obedient as a good and a faithfull servant ought to be in all such things as shall be Commanded him by the said (2. Plantation owner’s name)Edward Hurd, his heires or assignes in (3. Plantation State’s name)Virginia aforesaid or elsewhere dureing the said term.
IN CONSIDERATION whereof the said (2. Plantation owner’s name)Edward Hurd for himselfe his executors administrators or assignes and for every one of them do promise and grant to and with the said (1. Indentured servant’s name)Richard Lowther his heires executors administrators and assignes by these presents that he, the said (2. Plantation owner’s name)Edward Hurd his heires executors administrators and assignes shall and will (at his and their owne charges) not only transport and furnish out the said (1. Indentured servant’s name)Richard Lowther to and from (3. Plantation State’s name)Virginia aforesaid; and there find provide and allow unto him sufficient meat, drink, apparell and other necessaryes for his livelihood and maynetenance dureing the said term. But also at the expiration of the said terme shall and will grant, assign and allot unto him the said (1. Indentured servant’s name)Richard Lowther the quantity of Fifty acres of Land in (3. Plantation State’s name)Virginia aforesaid to hold to him his heires and assignes forever as in such Cases usuall without fraud or Coven.
In wittnes whereof the said parties to theis present wrytings indented Enterchangeably have sett their hands and seales given the day and year first above written.
(1. Indentured servant’s name)Richard Lowther
Sealed and delivered in the presence of us
(4. First witness’s name)Andrew Ball
(5. Second witness’s name)John Davies
Servants to: (6. Second plantation owner’s name)Thompson Serwill
PERSONALIZED: I want to personalize history. Above is the text of Indentured Servant 1627. The names available to be personalized are in red. When ordering a personalized document please list the names to be changed in the text box on the order form along with the new names you have chosen. All names are optional.
1. Indentured servant’s name
2. Plantation owner’s name
3. Plantation State’s name
4. First witness’s name
5. Second witness’s name
6. Second plantation owner’s name
HISTORIC: If you would like the document in its original historic form and not personalized, check that option on the order form. You will receive your document with the original text and not personalized.