Genealogy ..and indentured servants

[creativeaccents]

After recently puchasing Legacy 6 Deluxe to assist in my genealogical research I have REALLY been amazed how much easier such research has become. At 39.95 it is quite a bargain, and will be updated in April to version 7, with powerful charting capabilities. The ability to import GEDCOM files is a strong plus.
But, along the way I read about one predecessor who had the term FREEMAN next to his name. Does this mean he had been an indentured servant? Looking into indentured servants from Scotland, Ireland, and England I was surprised to see the arrival of over 900 on one boat. Considering that they were given food for two weeks before sailing, its a wonder they lived to see the new world. Then I found the following letter from an indentured servant to his family. Kind of blows the myth of plenty to eat, freedom, and equality in the new world.
"
Richard Frethorne, Letter to His Parents (1623)
Loveing and kind father and mother my most humble duty remembered to you hopeing in God of your good health, as I my selfe am at the makeing hereof, this is to let you understand that I your Child am in a most heavie Case by reason of the nature of the Country is such that it Causeth much sicknes [including scurvy and "the bloody flux"] . . . and when wee are sicke there is nothing to comfort us; for since I came out of the ship, I never at anie thing but pease, and loblollie (that is water gruell)[.] as for deare or venison I never saw anie since I came into this land there is indeed some foule, but Wee are not allowed to goe, and get yt, but must Worke hard both earelie, and late for a messe of water gruell, and a mouthfull of bread, and beife[.] a mouthfull of bread for a pennie loafe must serve for 4 men which is most pitifull if you did knowe as much as I, when people crie out day, and night, Oh that they were in England without their lymbes and would not care to loose anie lymbe to bee in England againe, yea though they beg from doore to doore. . . . I have nothing at all, no not a shirt to my backe, but two Ragges nor no Clothes, but one poore suite, nor but one paire of shooes, but one paire of stockins, but one Capp, but two bands, my Cloke is stollen by one of my owne fellowes, and to his dying hower would not tell mee what he did with it [although some friends saw the "fellowe" buy butter and beef from a ship, probably purchased with Frethorne's cloak]. . . . but I am not halfe a quarter so strong as I was in England, and all is for want of victualls, for I doe protest unto you, that I have eaten more in a day at home than I have allowed me here for a Weeke."

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

But, along the way I read about one predecessor who had the term FREEMAN next to his name. Does this mean he had been an indentured servant?

A Freeman was (usually) an individual who owned his land free-hold (as opposed to lease-hold), and was freely allowed to practice his trade or craft within a town. With this came the privilege of voting on matters affecting the community. With time, and the extension of the voting franchise, "Freemen" came to be elected community officials. In some communities members of the town council are still called "Freemen". An indentured servant (or an apprentice) could in theory, at the completion of his contract, become a Freeman.

In the Robert Louis Stevenson novel KIDNAPPED Uncle Ebenezer arranges for his nephew, Jamie Balfour of Shaws, to be kidnapped and sold as an indentured servant in the West Indies.