Many people came to this country as indentured servants. They were not slaves--it was more like a work contract. In the 1600's there were even blacks who came as indentured servants. You served a specfic amount of time to repay the cost of your passage or perhaps an apprenticeship. Except for convicts the indentures were voluntary and a means to get ones passage over. As to where to search it depends on when they came. Some indentures are recorded in the courts but usually only if the terms of service were disputed--some are noted in various shipping records etc. or as part of records of a government program. Since most indentures were private contracts however most of them are not recorded.--Nancy Harvey