Thanks, Eldon, and the many others who wrote to answer my questions about indenture. You were all most helpful! Barb ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eldon Edgin" <eldon-edgin@worldnet.att.net> To: <ARMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 8:11 PM Subject: Re: ARMARION-D Digest V01 #120 > The word indenture came from a legal custom in England. An agreement was > written twice on the same page and the page was torn in half with each party > to the agreement taking half. You could always verify that the agreement > was the same if the two pieces could be fitted together. The word > indenture came because the torn piece of paper looked like dentures (teeth). > > Indenture was frequently used to bring people to America. The person agreed > to work for the person who paid his transportation for a period of time > (usually 7 years). > > Eldon J. Edgin > 14908 Woodbriar Drive > Dallas, Texas 75248 > Phone: (972) 991-4891 FAX: (214) 306-1535 > e-mail: eldon-edgin@.att.net > ______________________________________________ > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Phoneman" <ljeff@home.com> > To: <ARMARION-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 4:47 PM > Subject: Re: ARMARION-D Digest V01 #120 > > > > On the subject of Indenture, a friend of mine gave this explanation of his > > memory of the word.... > > > > I recall that word being used in relation to people being indentured to > > another person to serve them in any way the person desired for a certain > > period of time. Families use to do that with their kids to get money to > live > > on. > > In a way it was just slavery. This was done in England and also in > > America in our early years as a country. > > I believe it was still going on in the early 1900's in New York and other > > large cities. A lot of it went on in the sailing industry, in the old > days. > > > > It's just a little before my time... Can anyone verify the above story, > > which I've shared with you?? > > > > Larry Joe Jefferson-In Texas > > > > > > > > ============================== > > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query! > > > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB >