The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-01-29
By C. W. WHITMORE, In the Bal
timore Sunday Sun


I >lem. Servants in the modern sense
were few indeed. There was wilder
ness to subdue, farms to be carved
out of a primeval forest, a govern
ment to be set up and a whole new
civilization to be created. Buffers and
second maids would have been given
axes and hoes and put to work.
In his Constructions" Cecilius Cal
vert included this detail as to SER
wants: planters are to employ their
servants in planting of sufficient
quantity of corn and other provis-
ions of victuall and that they do not
suffer them to plant any other COM
modify whatsoever before that be
done in a sufficient proportion. This
must be observed yearly" Men who
are engaged in grim battle to stave
off starvation which had been the
tragic experience of other colonies
were not concerned with the niceties
of domestic service. Comfort must
wait upon planting and planting of
luxuries, such as tobacco, must wait
upon planting of food.
There was no time for social activ-
tiles of a pretentious sort and the
one-story, two-roomed log huts which
were at first the only homes in the
colony were not conducive to conspic-
uous expenditure. A few women for
general work, seamstress or two and
the tale of domestic help is complete.
The rest of those referred to in the
records as Servants" were laborers,
men with trades and farm hands.
**
In the "Conditions of Plantation
drawn up by Lord Baltimore to fur
nish guide to anyone intending to
colonize in Maryland, he says, "In
the taking of servants he may do well
to furnish himself with as many as he
can of useful and necessary arts; a
carpenter of all others most neces-
sary; a millwright, shipwright, boat
wright, wheelwright, brickmaker
bricklayer, potter, one that can cleave
lath and pale and make pikestaves, a
joiner, cooper, turned, sawyer, cut
Ter, smith, leather dresser, miller
fisherman and gardener. These will
be of most use, but any lusty young
able man that is willing to labor and
take pains though he have no partic-
ular trade, will be beneficial enough
to his master" Of such were the
bulk of the servants who were brought
over from Europe.
The first concern of the projectors
of the colony was to secure as many
as possible of this type of servant
To this end they established what we
would call employment agencies" in
England, and in the Conditions OF
Plantation" it is stated, eff any adj
venturer shall be unprovided of such
men he may have direction at the
place where this book is to be had
how and where he may provide him.
self with as many as he please"
When the first expedition finally set
sail it was made up of only twenty
gentleman adventures" who brought
with them a number of laborers OF
servants, variously stated at from
two to three hundred. The lower
number seems to be nearer correct
Later companies of settlers were in
about the same proportion.
***
Most servants came over under
definite contract of indenture which
bound the servant to his master from
the date of his signing the agreement
until his first and next arrival in
Maryland; and after, for and during
the term of E. . years, in such service
and employment as the said master
or his assigns shall employ him, ac-
cording to the custom of the country
in like times" In turn the master
agreed to pay for the passage of his
servant and "fnd him with meat
drink, apparel and lodging, and with
other necessities during said term. ,
At the end of the term the master
was obligated to give him one years
provision of corn and fifty acres OF
land together with certain articles Of
clothing, weapons and implements, de-
tails of which varied from time tt
time. The usual term of indenture
was five years, but it was recommend,
ed that shorter terms be offered tt
artifcers and that they be given Other
special inducements.
While these indenture contracts
were generally made direct with the
intended Maryland employer or hi:
agent, it was a frequent practice fol
merchants and ship captains to "buy
servants" which means to arrange in
dentures and to sell or assign then
at profit upon arrival in the Colony
In such transactions the servant:
were given a measure Of choice o.
masters to whom their indenture!
would be assigned and were not com
PEELED to accept unwelcome or often
sive service. The clause in the linden