Colonists in Bondage White Servitude and Convict Lab

by Abbot Emerson Smith

This is the story of the colonists of the kitchens, the stables, the fields, the shops, and those who came to America as indentured servants, men and women who sold" themselves to masters for a period of time in order to pay passage from an old world to a new and freer one. Their leaven has gone into the fiber of American society."Originally published in 1947.A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction

435 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to learn more about the indenture system in colonial America. I certainly did learn a lot and found many parts very interesting. The book is divided into the following parts: Trade in Servants, Penal Transportation, and The Servant in the Plantations and includes the Caribbean colonies and Canada. Trade in Servants discussed the social, political and economic factors fueling indentured servitude. The chapter on kidnapping and spiriting reads like something right out of Dickens. Penal Transportation gives details on those who didn't indenture voluntarily, unlike the redemptioners, and divides them into the following categories: convicts (true criminals), rogues and vagabonds (the unfortunate incarcerated poor), and political and military prisoners. The final section doesn't really cover daily life of the indentured servant in the colonies as the title would imply, but rather covers the voyage there, the freedom dues paid at the end of indenture, and then goes into legal records found in colonial court systems to uphold the authors point of view that most of the indentured servants were worthless.

And that is what really bothers me about this book. The favoritism toward Scots and obvious animosity toward Irish servants, the complete dismissal of discussion on Africans who were indentured instead of enslaved, the belief that these indentured people were worthless and that only a tiny fraction contributed anything of benefit to society. Written in 1947, it still reflects the points of view of the aristocratic elite of the 17th and 18th centuries. It is written as if it is unbiased and considering the facts, but I found that what the data showed and what the author often contended were at odds. Statements such as "servants... were for the most part men and women of low grade, lazy, unambitious, ignorant, prone to small crimes and petty evasions, an unsavory and sometimes a dangerous class" will make the modern reader cringe. Court records do not support the author's claims as only a small fraction of those who were indentured ever appear in court for criminal cause. Data in the appendix shows that this statement should apply to the over half to two-thirds of all white immigrants, who during colonial times were indentured in one form or another. While this book may be a product of its times, I am not so certain that Mr. Smith wasn't already behind the times in 1947 when this book was published as he more than once lashes out at more liberal contemporary accounts of indentured servants. So read this for its compiliation of facts and data on the indenture system and not necessarily the author's interpretation. Oh, and if you don't read Latin or French, you will need a translator since the author annoyingly didn't translate several contemporary quotations included in the book.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Colonists in Bondage is not a bad book, it was simply published in 1947 and illustrates the nature of the evolution of history. In general, it is a good basic book on the nature of European servitude- indentured, redemption and as punishment. Smith puts a lot of emphasis on servants survival- almost a Social Darwinist approach. The scholarship has changed since then, there just isn't another synthesizing work to replace this one.

[Edward Vallecillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very academic. Well researched. Check out the bibliography. Written through the 1930's and published in 1947. Something for a history buff.