Pehr Kalm, Swedish naturalist, during a visit of the 13 Colonies in 1749
“There were two classes of servants in the English colonies, domestics and slaves, and the former class was divided into two categories:
- Those, of free condition, who rented themselves out for the year at a price ranging from eight to 20 louis(1), not including food.
- Poor immigrants who, not having the means to pay their passage, had agreed with the captain of the ship on which they made the crossing, to let themselves be sold for a few years upon their arrival in America. This category of domestics, who were called indentured servants, included men and women of all ages, and many unfortunates fleeing oppression and religious persecution.”
(1) A French coin
