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National Humanities Center Resource Toolbox Becoming American: The British Atlantic Colonies, 1690-
Library of Congress
Herman Moll, A New & Correct Map of the Whole World, London, 1719, detail; Moraley’s voyage to Pennsylvania marked
THE INFORTUNATE
The Voyage and Adventures of William Moraley, An Indentured Servant
1743__ EXCERPTS
At age 20, after a brief apprenticeship in the law and a financial downturn upon his father’s death, William Moraley journeyed to America to serve a five-year contract as an indentured servant. Frustrated by his experiences, he decided to return to England after completing his indenture. Nine years after his return he published a memoir of his experiences as "The Infortunate." In these selections we join Moraley in 1729 as he arrives in Philadelphia on the ship Bonetta with about twenty other indentured servants.^1
We render’d God thanks for his Mercy in bringing us through so many Hardships, and prepar’d to sail up [the] Delaware River, so called from Capt. Delaware , who first discovered it. In order to our more safe passing, there being many Rocks at the first Entrance, we took a Pilot, and in three Tides, after passing Newcastle and Chester , arrived in Philadelphia , the day after Christmas Day.... 2 We all of us had the Liberty of Visiting the Town, where I sold my Red Coat for a Quart of Rum, my Tie Wig for Sixpence, with which I bought a Three-penny Loaf and a Quart of Cider. Our Cargo consisting chiefly of Voluntary Slaves, who are the least to be pitied, I saw all my Companions sold off before me; my turn came last, when I was sold for eleven Pounds, to one Mr. Isaac Pearson , a Man of Humanity, by Trade a Smith, Clock-maker and Goldsmith, living at Burlington , in New Jersey :... I left Philadelphia to go to Burlington to my Master. I went in a Boat, where I got myself Drunk for the first time after my Arrival, and then first experienced the Strength of Rum. About Twelve we landed there, and I was conveyed to my Master, where I dined upon Dumplings, boil’d Beef, and Udder, when I became enamour’d with Mrs. Sarah , the Daughter. I was stripp’d of my Rags, and received in lieu of them a torn Shirt, and an old Coat. They tell me it was only for the present, for I might expect better. I went to bed that Night, being the first Time I had seen one since I left London , which was fifteen Weeks....
- (^) National Humanities Center, 2008: nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds. William Moraley, The Infortunate: The Voyage and Adventures of William Moraley, An Indentured Servant , 1743; ed. Susan E. Klepp & Billy G. Smith (Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992; 2d. ed., 2005), pp. 26-28, 41, 46-47, 60-61, 73-75, 77-78, 88, 93; permission pending. Some spelling and punctuation modernized by NHC for clarity. Complete image credits at nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/becoming amer/imagecredits.htm. (^1) For Moraley’s experiences in England that led him to become an indentured servant in America, see the Infortunate excerpts in History Matters at historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6229 (George Mason University and the City University of New York). (^2) Moraley is mistaken about the day. The ship actually entered the port of Philadelphia during the week of December 9-16, 1729, according to reports in both the city’s newspapers... [Klepp & Smith footnote continues.]
My Master employed me in his Business. I continued satisfied with him for sometime; but being desirous to settle at Philadelphia during the rest of my servitude, I declared to him, I would stay no longer, and desired him to dispose of me to some other Master, and insisted upon it, agreeably to the Tenour of my Indenture. This Demand made him cross to me, and I attempted an Escape, but was taken, and put into Prison; but was soon released with a promise to satisfy my Demand. About a Fortnight after, we went to the Mayor of Philadelphia , his Name was Griffith , a Man of exact Justice, tho’ an Irishman , who reconciled us; so I returned back to Burlington and continued with him three Years, he forgiving me the other Two. I was ever after perfectly pleased with my Master’s Behaviour to me, which was generous.
There lived in the Family a Relation of his, named Hannah Lambert , a Gentlewoman of Beauty, good Parts, and a good Fortune, Daughter to Mr. Thomas Lambert , a Native of Yorkshire....
Our Family consisted of a Wife and two Daughters, with a Nephew, a Negro Slave, a bought Servant, and myself, with the aforesaid Gentlewoman....
The Condition of bought Servants is very hard, notwithstanding their indentures are made in England, wherein it is expressly stipulated that they shall have at their Arrival all the Necessaries specified in those Indentures to be given ’em by their future Masters, such as Clothes, Meat, and Drink. Yet upon Complaint made to a Magistrate against the Master for Nonperformance, the Master is generally heard before the Servant, and it is ten to one if he does not get his Licks for his Pains, as I have experienced upon the like Occasion, to my Cost.
If they endeavor to escape, which is next to impossible, there being a Reward for taking up any Person who travels without a Pass, which is extended all over the British Colonies, their Masters imme- diately issue out a Reward for the apprehending them, from Thirty Shillings to Five Pound, as they think proper, and this generally brings them back again. Printed and Written Advertisements are also set up against the Trees and public Places in the Town, besides those in the News-papers. Notwithstanding these Difficulties, they are perpetually running away, but seldom escape, for a hot Pursuit being made brings them back, when a Justice settles the Expenses, and the Servant is obliged to serve a longer time....
Thomas Costa, University of Virginia
Typical runaway servant advertisement, Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg), Oct. 27-Nov. 3, 1738
My Master, after we were civilly to me, and I lived very happy, to the Expiration of my Servitude. He had a Share in an Iron Work at a Place called Mount Holly , about seven Miles from Burlington , where I was sent to Work. Here I have had many a merry Day. Sometimes I have acted the Blacksmith; at other times, I have worked in the Water, stark naked, among Water Snakes. Sometimes I was a Cow Hunter in the Woods, and sometimes I got Drunk for Joy that my Work was ended.
At last this Iron Work was perfected and the time of my Servitude expired, and I became free. ’Tis impossible to express the Satisfaction I found at being released from the precarious Humour and Dependence of my Master. He accouter’d me in a indifferent Manner, and gave me my Discharge to find out a new Way of Living. I then went to Philadelphia and served one Edmund Lewis , a brisk young Clock-maker; but he being unsettled, and of a roving Temper ( like Master, like Man !), I left him, and lived with Mr. Graham , a Watch-maker, newly arrived, and Nephew to the famous Mr. Graham in Fleet- street. With him I continued ten Weeks at Ten Shillings per Week Wages, and my Board found me; but he designing to settle at Antigua [island in the West Indies], I left him.
National Humanities Center William Moraley, The Infortunate , 1743, excerpts 2
