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Hard Times and Hope
By Karen Strubel

Indentured Servants

When England first settled the Colonies in America, there were people who wanted to come to America but did not have the money to do so. Instead of staying in England, these people could sign an indenture (a contract) that would help them. The person would agree to work for 4–7 years, and the person for whom they worked agreed to take care of their bills, feed them, and give them land on which to live. The worker was called an indentured servant. When the indentured servant completed the years of work agreed upon, he would have earned land of his own on which to live. Many of the colonists came to America as indentured servants. As long as these servants were granted their freedom as agreed, it was not wrong.

(What is a contract? When two people make an agreement, they write down their agreement and sign it.)

Read the article in the World Book to learn more about indentured servants: http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar274220&st=indentured+servants#tab=homepage

(If you haven’t already signed into World Book, please go to the World Book page on SchoolhouseTeachers.com and sign in now.)

What do you understand?

Tell a family member what an indentured servant is.

Read Genesis 29:15–30

Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

In the Bible, Jacob worked for seven years to “earn” the right to marry his Rachel. This is much like being an indentured servant. Laban tricked Jacob by telling him he would give him Rachel as his wife. Instead, he gave his older daughter, Leah, to Jacob. Because Jacob loved Rachel so much, he agreed to work seven more years so that he could marry her also. This example shows us that even in Bible times, masters did not always keep their promises of payment. It is very important to be honest and keep our promises.

What do you think?

How long do you think an indentured servant should work for a home and land?

What do you think about working as an indentured servant so that you can get married? What is good about this idea? What is bad about this idea?

Ask your parents and siblings these questions.
(Were your answers the same as others in your family?)

How about you?

Draw a picture of something for which you would be willing to work hard, even if it took a long time to receive it.