Going on a little side tangent today.
Reading before that 25% of indentured servants died, it was time to delve a little further. In Virginia, servants at the time were considered British subjects. "In the 1600s, 75 percent of all English colonists in Virginia had been indentured servants at one time. Half of indentured servants died before their service was completed. One-quarter remained poor, and only one-quarter eventually achieved a degree of prosperity as free men."
(1. Virginia Museum of History and Culture; Becoming Virginians.
https://virginiahistory.org/sites/default/files/uploads/sov_virginians.pdf)
This stroll down history lane lead me to the following article:
Building "the machine": The development of slavery and slave Building "the machine": The development of slavery and slave society in early colonial Virginia society in early colonial Virginia
(2. Coombs, John C., "Building "the machine": The development of slavery and slave society in early colonial Virginia" (2004). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. William & Mary. Paper 1539623434. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21220/s2-xgrm-ar15)
The main emphasis of this paper, according to the title and abstract, seems to be on slavery and the slave society. However, the beginning of the paper deals with indentured servants, defining what they were, and how they were treated. It is horrifying to read how ill-treated the majority of the servants were treated. Very easy to understand why 50% died. Basically, they were "given" freely to the owners and treated deplorably.
What does this have to do with William Odean? Look at page 25 in the above research paper (2). He is mentioned in footnote 34 (2). The text is describing how horrific Henry Smith was to his servants; beating, raping, and murder. Footnote 34: ".......For two similar examples see the cases of Capt. William Odeon in Lower Norfolk County, Wills and Deeds D (1656-1666), ff. 343, 350, 358......"
WHAT? As mentioned in the blog yesterday, William had a bastard child. When first discovered some months ago, I was quite upset knowing it was probably the typical master using the servant. Looking up, and abstracting the references in footnote 34, this is what is found:
Deed Book D - 1656-1660; Lower Norfolk County, Virginia (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99PX-FFQP?mode=g&cat=370289)
p. 343 - image 203 of 630 - 1662, 17 June
Complaint against Capt. William Odean for mistreating his servants. (Remember, servants were not slaves.)
p. 350 - image 210 of 630 - 1662, 15 August
Elizabeth Manning confesses that she had a baby by Capt. William Odeon. She was given lashes the following December. He was fined. (I know, you cannot judge the past by the present, but this still is upsetting.)
p. 358 - Image 218 or 630 - 1662, November 18
Capt. William Odeon in court for killing his man servant. (That is horrific!)
The judgement is written there. That swirly handwritting can be too much to decipher. It would be wonderful if someone transcribe p. 358.
Capt. William Odeans will was written1662, Jan 25; and proved 1662, Feb 16. Remember, back then the year started in March. Looks as if he died before he could abuse and murder more servants. I really cannot read his punishment for killing his man servant. Perhaps he was hanged? Please someone, see if you can read it better that I.
Upsetting to discover that Toby Smith, p. 25, was mentioned in the paper (2). He was my 10X great-grandfather. Even worse, the Henry Smith mentioned above was his son. This is not the positive spin one looks for in genealogy. It's just all part of the family story.
Happy Hunting - until next time.
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