Joyce, The difference between an apprentice and an indentured servant is that an apprentice learned a specific trade. Apprenticeships grew out a practice in medieval Europe which required an apprenticeship before one was allowed to officially practice a specific trade on his own. It was a way to ensure that skilled labor was properly trained as well as a way to limit the competition. We continue the practice in the US today in some of the construction trades: bricklaying, electrician, plumbing, etc. It continues in England as well. In the past, apprentices (regardless of age or gender) lived with the family of the master while learning the trade. An indenture servant was essentially a laborer who received board, room and other basics, in return for his or her labor. Most, men and women, worked in the field, helping to clear land or farm. Others, women primarily, worked in the home, assisting with the many household and domestic chores. If one was lucky, the master might teach his servant a skilled trade but it wasn't a requirement. The term of service varied from four to seven years, at the end of which, the servant was to receive the agreed upon pay, clothing, food, or whatever. This was a common practice in England in the 16th and 17th centuries and was instrumental in providing essential labor for the American colonies. The vast majority of immigrants in 17th century VA and MD, for instance, were indentured servants who agreed to 7 years labor in return for their ship passage over. The practice continued throughout the 18th century and into the 19th century in this country. Some of the most interesting court cases were cases brought by servants against their masters!! Sara Patton -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 8:52 PM Subject: Riffe >Hello Listers, >Awhile back someone asked about a Jacob Riffe, I believe who may have been an >Indentured servant. I have had such a confusion of mail, again, and >apparently misplaced the message, so hopefully this reaches the right person, >or anyone else interested in the Riffe family. I am not researching this >family, but knew of a book at the RGS library. I finally got hold of it. >Turns out that it is a book about Apprentices, instead of indentures. I >looked up Jacob Riffe, and did not find him, not too surprising, considering >that he was apparently not an apprentice. >I am wondering where the line is drawn between an indentured servant and an >apprentice...was it just because the indentured was paying off someone, for a >bill? Either way, it appears to me, that people served "masters" and did not >seem to get much pay. And they both served a period of time. It is >interesting that in this book, there are six year old children as >apprentices, as well as women, with an undefined area of study. In thinking >about this, I suppose I am correct in concluding that the position of an >apprentice could be used to fill the gaps when the man of the house died, >leaving small children, or women, who were in need of protection. Perhaps >someone else knows more about this than I do. >I will try to list some names, which you might be interested in, in another >message. >Joyce in CA. > <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/3231/">Our Extended Family ></A> > >______________________________