Pt. 1: CHILDREN IN THE COLONIZING PROCESS
C. MIDDLE COLONIES
Children from Dutch almshouses bound out in New Netherland
1. The directors of the West India Company urge the importation of poor and orphaned children from the Netherlands, 1645
E. B. O'Callaghan and Berthold Fernow, eds., Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York, 15 vols. (Albany, 1856-1887), I, 364.
… We are of opinion that permission should be obtained from the Magistrates of some Provinces and Cities, to take from the almshouses or orphan asylums 300 to 400 boys and girls of ten, twelve to fifteen years of age, with their consent, however, and that their pas-sage and board could be procured for 50 or 60 florins per head. With that recognition a large ship might be chartered, suitable for the conveyance of horses and salt from Curacao and afterwards return…with a cargo of logwood. It must be, further, declared that said children shall not remain bound to their masters for a longer term than six or seven years, unless being girls, they come meanwhile to marry, in which event they should have the option of hiring again with their masters or mistresses, or of remaining wholly at liberty and of settling there, on condition that they be allowed so much land as the Director shall consider it proper each should have for the support of her family…
2. The burgomasters of Amsterdam send a cargo of poor children to Peter Stuyvesant at Fort New Amsterdam, 1654
Documents Relative to the Colonial History of New York, I, 556.
Honorable, wise, prudent, right, discreet Sir!
Being informed by the governors of the almshouse of the vast number of poor people wherewith they are burdened and charged, we have concluded to relieve them and so do the Company a service, by sending some of them to New Netherland.
We have, therefore, sent over in the ship belonging to the bearer hereof, twenty-seven or twenty-eight boys and girls, requesting you, in a friendly manner, to extend to them your kind advice and assistance, and to advance them if possible; so that they, according to their fitness, may earn their board. If you consider that the population of that country could be advanced by sending over such persons, we shall, on being informed, lose no time to have some more forwarded. Meanwhile, we shall be much obliged by the aid and assistance you will extend in this instance.
3. An official of Fort New Amsterdam reports to commissioners at home on a cargo of poor children received in New Netherland and bound out to work, 1658
Documents Relative to the Colonial History of New York, II, 52.
The children sent over from the Almshouse have safely arrived and were in sufficient re- quest, so that all are bound out with one and the other; the oldest for two years, the others, and the major portion, for three years, and the youngest for four years, earning forty, sixty, and eighty guilders during the above period, and at the end of the term will be fitted out in the same manner as they are at present; the conditions are no worse, but rather better than were prescribed in the form transmitted. Please to continue sending others from time to time; but, if possible, none ought to come less than fifteen years of age and somewhat strong, as little profit is to be expected here without labor; but from people with large families or many small children, little is to be expected. When the men die they do not leave a stiver behind. The public must provide the coffin, pay all the debts, and feed or maintain those who survive.
Tax exemption for colonists who bring or beget children in New Netherland, 1650
"Freedoms and Exemptions granted and allowed by the Incorporated Dutch West India Company to all those who shall be willing to repair to New Netherland. Exhibited May 24, 1650," in Documents Relative to the Colonial History of New York, I, 401.
On the arrival of the aforesaid persons in New Netherland, they shall be allowed and granted the privilege of choosing and taking up, under quit rent or as a fief, such parcels of land as they shall in any way be able to cultivate for the production of all sorts of fruits and crops of those parts, on condition that they shall be bound to commence the same within the year, on pain of being again deprived of said lands.
Said persons shall enjoy Exemption from Tenths of all aforesaid fruits and crops for the term of years, and thenceforth one additional year's Exemption for every legitimate child they shall convey thither or get there.
The Palatine refugees and their children, 1710-1720
1. The governor of New York disposes of Palatine children
E. B. O'Callaghan, ed., Documentary History of the State of New York, III
(Albany, 1850),553.
The Palatine Germans were among the displaced persons of the War of the Spanish Succession. Approximately 3,000 of them, all poor and many sick, arrived in New York in 1709 and 1710; a large number, including the father of John Peter Zenger, one of the children bound out under the following order, died on shipboard. Young Zenger was apprenticed to the printer, William Bradford.
There having been several proposals made for the taking many of the Palatine children for a term of years, and there being many orphans who are unable to take care of themselves to work, and many who by sickness are rendered uncapable of doing any service for some time, and in that condition would be a great expense, and there being no prospect by settling them this summer by reason it's so much advanced, His Excellency [Governor Robert Hunter] does appoint Doctor Staats and Mr. Van Dam or either of them to take such proposals for placing out the orphans and other children whose parents have a numerous family, entering into an instrument in writing to clothe, victual and use them well and to deliver them to the government when called for.
It is ordered that an advertisement be printed signifying that His Excellency is willing to dispose of such orphans and other children as aforesaid, and directing all persons who are willing to take any to apply themselves to Doctor Staats or Mr. Van Dam or either of them.
2. Palatines protest loss of children
Documentary History of New York, III, 707-708.
In 1720 the Palatines sent a petition to the British government outlining "The Condition, Grievances and Oppressions of the Germans in his Majesty's Province of New York in America." Some of the Palatines eventually found a more cordial reception in Pennsylvania.
In the year 1709 was the late Majesty Queen Anne most graciously pleased to send a body of between 3 and 4000 Germans to New York under the inspection and care of Robert Hunter, then Governor there, with particular orders and instructions to settle them on lands belonging to the Crown, and such as were most proper for raising pitch, tar, and other naval stores.
Before they left England, they were promised five pounds in money per head, of which they have received nothing at all.
It was likewise promised, that on their arrival there each of them should receive clothes, utensils, tools, and other conveniencies belonging to husbandry, all which were sent with them from England for their use, but of these they received but very little.
They were moreover to have a grant of forty acres of land to each person, but it was never performed.
On their landing at New York, they were quartered in tents on the common and divided in six companies, over each of which was a captain appointed to command them… with an allowance of 15£ per annum each, but not one farthing has been hitherto paid them.
About the same time took the said Governor, without and against their consent, many children from them, and bound them to several of the inhabitants of that province till they should arrive to the age of twenty one years, particularly two sons from Captain Weiser, one of twelve and another of thirteen years of age, by which means they were deprived of the comfort of their children's company and education, as well as the assistance and support they might in a small time have reasonably expected from them.
A young thief exiled to Pennsylvania
"The speech of the Boy hang'd at Chester," American Weekly Mercury, Aug. 16-23, 1722.
Many youthful offenders were transported to the colonies as convict servants, but William Battin, who was hanged for arson and murder, had been sold as a servant by his father.
I, William Battin, Son of William Battin of White-Parish in Wiltshire in Great-Britain, do think it necessary to leave a few Lines behind me, that the World may in some Measure know something of my past Life, and what ill Use I have made of the time that God was pleased to bestow upon me in this World.
I had my Education under my Parents, and their Care was much over me; but I dishonoured and rebelled against them, and regarded not their Care for me; and through the Insinuation of the Enemy I neglected their Business, by wandering abroad. So without due Regard to that which is good, I gave up my self to serve the Devil, and to obey his Voice by yielding to his Temptations; which were Lying and picking and Stealing other Men's Goods. I shall briefly mention some of the gross Actions which I have committed before and after the Time of my running away from my Parents; which was chiefly stealing of other Men's Goods.
The first Thing that I stole was, to the best of my Remembrance, a Whalebone Whip from one Henry Whites, next a Cane from my Uncle John Battin, next a Knife and Fork from one Lawrence Tuch, a Great Coat from a Man in White-Parish, and several other Things which were found out by my Parents: For which I was severely chastized by them.
* * * * * * * *
The next Thing I stole was a Silver Watch, of the Value of Five Pounds, from one that I intended to serve an Apprentiship with, and about an Hour after I had Stolen it, I sold it to a Man for an English Half Crown; when my intended Master came to understand that I had stolen the Watch, he put me into Prison, and after three Days he took me out again and whipped me very severely: But I took no Warning, and soon found an Opportunity to make my Escape, taking with me a Beaver Hat, a Suit of Clothes and a Shirt; since which he never saw me.
This was the Course of Life which I followed whilst I was in England.
My Father seeing that there was not any Good like to come of use, ordered me to be brought over a Servant into this Province of Pennsylvania. About 7 or 8 Days after the Ship, which brought me over, was safely arrived here, I was sold to one John Hannam of Concord in the Chester-County. I had scarcely lived with him three Months before I fell again into my old Practice of Stealing and running away; for which Cause, after I had lived with the said Hannam about one Year, he sold me to Joseph Pyle of Bethel in the said County, with whom I continued in the old Practice of stealing, etc.
"An Oxford Scholar in the Situation of a bought Servant," 1727
Leonard W. Labaree et al., eds., The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (New Haven, 1964), p. 109.
It was an odd Thing to find an Oxford Scholar in the Situation of a bought Servant. He was not more than 18 Years of Age, and gave me this Account of himself; that he was born in Gloucester, educated at a Grammar
School there, had been distinguish'd among the Scholars for some apparent Superiority in performing his Part when they exhibited Plays; belong'd to the Witty Club there, and had written some Pieces in Prose and Verse which were printed in the Gloucester Newspapers. Thence he was sent to Oxford; there he continu'd about a Year, but not well satisfy'd, wishing of all things to see London and become a Player. At length receiving his Quarterly Allowance of 15 Guineas, instead of discharging his Debts, he walk'd out of Town, hid his Gown in a Furz Bush, and footed it to London, where having no Friend to advise him, he fell into bad Company, soon spent his Guineas, found no means of being introduc'd among the Players, grew necessitous, pawn'd his Cloaths and wanted Bread. Walking the Street very hungry, and not knowing what to do with himself, a Crimp's Bill [1] I was put into his Hand, offering immediate Entertainment and Encouragement to such as would bind themselves to serve in America. He went directly, sign'd the Indentures, was put into the Ship and came over; never writing a Line to acquaint his Friends what was become of him. He was lively, witty, good-natur'd, and a pleasant Companion, but idle, thoughtless and imprudent to the last Degree.