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In the days when the United States of America belonged to England, Europeans were brought here to be sold as indentured servants. Some of these were poor people who could not make a good living in England. They came over to this country without any money. The captain of the ship in which they came sold their services in this country to pay their passage.

Men and women who were sold had to serve four years; and boys and girls, a longer time. The person was sold until his time was out. The man who had bought them might beat them or sell them to another master. Many of these indentured servants did not get enough to eat.

In 1730, there was a little English lad at sea with his uncle, who was the captain of a ship. Whether the boy's father and mother were dead or not, history does not tell. But the boy was sailing on his uncle's ship, as though he were the captain's son.

One day, the captain was taken ill at sea. After a while he died. The mate and the sailors thought that they would like to steal the ship and all the captain's property. But it now all belonged to the little boy. The sailors laid a plan to get the boy out of the way.

The mate and his men saw a ship coming toward them. This ship had a great many people on board. They were Irish people, who were being taken to America to be sold as indentured servants.

The mate hailed the ship, and made a bargain with the captain and the mate. He sold the poor little boy, who had no friends, to this captain.

Then the mate and his men sailed away. What became of them, we do not know; but the ship, loaded with indentured servants, sailed to Boston. It landed at the Long Wharf, a pier running far out into the water. The servants were obliged to run up and down this wharf. The people who came to buy watched them to see how strong they might be.

The little boy sold by the mate was there. He ran up and down with the others, to show how nimble his legs were. He was bought by a Mr. Willard.

The boy served out his time and became free. He became a well-known officer in the Indian wars. His name was Johnson. He gained honor in the country into which he had been sold as an indentured servant.

Here is another story of the same kind. A little boy six years old got lost in London. After he had wandered about a good while, a ship captain met him and told him that he would take him to his father. The captain took the little boy into a boat, put him on board his ship, carried him to Maryland, and sold him. After the boy had served out his time and grown to be a man, he became a rich farmer.

The wicked ship captain who carried off the boy was caught stealing many years afterward. In that day, thieves were often sold into America for seven years, as a punishment. This captain who had sold others was now put on a ship and sent to be sold in Maryland. The man who bought him was the very person whom he had carried off when he was a boy.

This wicked old sea captain was frightened when he saw that he was now an indentured servant to the boy he had stolen. He was so much alarmed that he killed himself.

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the story multiple times.
  • Read the synopsis.
  • Review the vocabulary terms.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

In the early days of the United States of America, some European settlers traveled to America as indentured servants. Ship captains transported indentured servants to America in exchange for being able to sell the services of indentured servants for a set period. Men and women typically had to work for four years without pay in exchange for their passage. Girls and boys had to work even longer. Indentured servants were often treated cruelly by their masters. This lesson relates the tales of two kidnapped boys who were wrongly sold into servitude. Both served their time and went on to become successful in America.

Vocabulary

Indentured Servant: A person who must work for another for a set amount of time without pay in exchange for passage to a new country.
Captain: The person in command of a ship.
Kidnap: Take someone away illegally by force.
Mate: A deck officer on a merchant ship subordinate to the master.
Nimble: Quick and light in movement or action.
Honor: High respect; esteem.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After you read the lesson, narrate it aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Complete Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing   

  • Click the crayon above. Complete pages 17-18 of 'Second Grade American History Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing.'

Review

Question 1

How did indentured servants pay for their passage to America?
1 / 4

Answer 1

Indentured servants paid for their passage to America by becoming servants for a number of years upon arrival in America.
1 / 4

Question 2

In what horrible conditions did some indentured servants work?
2 / 4

Answer 2

Some indentured servants worked for cruel masters that beat them or starved them.
2 / 4

Question 3

In the lesson, what happened to the little six-year-old boy who was lost in London?
3 / 4

Answer 3

A bad captain kidnapped the little boy and sold him into servitude in America.
3 / 4

Question 4

What happened to the bad captain who kidnapped the little lost six-year-old boy in London?
4 / 4

Answer 4

The boy grew up and became successful. The bad captain was caught stealing and as punishment became the boy's indentured servant. Rather than serve the boy, the bad captain killed himself.
4 / 4

  1. How did indentured servants pay for their passage to America? Indentured servants paid for their passage to America by becoming servants for a number of years upon arrival in America.
  2. In what horrible conditions did some indentured servants work? Some indentured servants worked for cruel masters that beat them or starved them.
  3. In the lesson, what happened to the little six-year-old boy who was lost in London? A bad captain kidnapped the little boy and sold him into servitude in America.
  4. What happened to the bad captain who kidnapped the little lost six-year-old boy in London? The boy grew up and became successful. The bad captain was caught stealing and as punishment became the boy's indentured servant. Rather than serve the boy, the bad captain killed himself.

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