William Moraley always viewed the British colonies using a poor labourer’s perspective. He lived between 1698 and 1762. Moraley left England at the age of twenty years and moved to America as an indentured servant. This was after a short law apprenticeship.
The experiences Moraley went through frustrated him greatly. Therefore, after he was through with the final indenture, he passed via the middle colonies and went back to England. This happened in 1734. Nine years later, Moraley published a memoir, which was referred to as The Infortunate.
Life for the Poor Free Workers and Bound Servants in the Colonies
In the 1600s, a majority of the bonded labourers who occupied the British interior settlements were white Europeans as opposed to black Africans. The occupants were mostly poor males and females who had moved from England. Moreover, they had contracts to work in the colonies for a number of years. In return, they would be granted free passageway to America, basic necessities, and clothing. The British colonies’ occupants were viewed as indentured servants.
This implies that they had minimal freedoms while attending to their masters. After fulfilling the 4- 7 years contract, they were set free. The enslaved Africans were not granted such contracts. The number of enslaved Africans increased during the 1700s when British America required more labourers[1].
Intensive labour was necessary to clear the massive lands, which were over- grown with wood for decades. It is worth noting that cultivating such land called for difficult labour.
Therefore, many English servants were employed to improve the lands. The servants were offered huge immunities and after their servitude was over, they were enticed by being given land. This ensured that they stayed for longer. In addition, they were obligated to bring in large numbers of African Negro slaves. This ensured that they were made the richest farmers globally.
The Negroes were subjected to severe laws. My take is that no single law favoured the unhappy Wretches. Committing the least mistake made someone a victim of severe punishment. The masters made amends where the slaves were permitted to marry. This was a strategy of ensuring that the slaves did not run away.
If a Negro died while being punished, the master was not subjected to any punishment. There was no law that protected the slaves from being murdered. In case a Negro killed another slave, he was supposed to pay the slave’s value to his master. Moreover, he was obligated to pay his master for the losses he would undergo for losing the slave. The slaves were given pieces of land, which they were supposed to improve. They were also exposed to hard labour for an entire week. Only Sunday was free for the slaves to work for themselves.
On Sundays, the slaves had to sell grain and corn so as to get money for purchase the basic necessities. The master’s wife had the obligation of taking care of the slave’s children. The slaves were never left free for the fear that they would end up being burdensome to the provinces.
There was a law that no master was supposed to emancipate any of his slaves. The slaves’ indentures originated from England. Therefore, their living conditions were extremely difficult. Upon arrival, the slaves were provided with the necessities stipulated in the indentures. Some of the provisions included drinks, meat, and attire. However, the masters failed to fulfil their responsibility regarding these provisions.
People who traced those trying to escape were rewarded greatly. Written and printed advertisements were made everywhere, which implied that the escaping slaves could not go far without being traced[2]. Hot pursuits prevented people from trying to escape. On return, they were required to serve for longer periods.
It is worth pointing out that Moraley also signed an indenture. A majority of the indentured slaves in the 18th century were young teenagers who lacked occupational skills. In my view, there are a number of factors that compel people to move from one place to another.
Push factors constitute of politics, warfare, finances, social nonconformity, religion, criminality, alienation, indebtedness, and family challenges. On the other hand, pull factors include finances, employment chances, land accessibility, and escape from individual challenges.
To ensure that there was no interruption from the female slaves, an indenture’s period was lengthened in case she became pregnant. The law permitted sale and purchase of servant’s contracts. This means that labour rights changed hands. However, the person was still a piece of property.
Prosperity Difficulties
The Negroes were allowed by their masters to marry. This ensured that they had no chance of running away. The implication of the marriage was that all generations were slaves, and there was redemption. Therefore, prosperity was extremely difficult. Running away from the colonies would have been useful in enhancing prosperity. However, an individual who was caught trying to escape was exposed to extremely grave punishments such as unmerciful whipping.
Bibliography
Hollitz, John. Contending Voices: Biographical Explorations of the American Past. New York: Pantheon Books, 2011.
Klepp, Susan E., and Billy Smith. The Infortunate: The Voyage and Adventures of
William Moraley, an Indentured Servant. New York: Knopf, 2005.
Footnotes
- John Hollitz, Contending Voices: Biographical Explorations of the American Past (New York: Pantheon Books, 2011), 45.
- Susan E. Klepp and Billy Smith, The Infortunate: The Voyage and Adventures of
William Moraley, an Indentured Servant (New York: Knopf, 2005), 45.