The Colonies Indentured Servants of Scotland.
We have been taught in our English Colonialism education that many of the settlers to the American Colonies were escaping religious persecution. These "religious" settlers were making their way to the "new world" to be able to practice their own religion without persecution. However, what we aren't taught is that many of these settlers escaping religious persecution had slaves and indentured servants. So they were escaping religious persecution while taking away the human rights of other people.
In today's blog I am briefly going to look at 1 portion of the indentured servants who were brought to the Colonies. The Scottish prisoners.
Between 1650 and 1775 many thousands Scots were banished to the American Colonies for political, religious or criminal offenses.
After the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell transported thousands of Scot soldiers to Virginia, New England and the West Indies. Many were taken to the Iron Works at the Massachusetts Bay Colony. They would work there as indentured servants for up to seven years. They would work as wood cutters, charcoal makers or unskilled laborers. They were placed in company housing and given what they needed to be able to work. One benefit is that some lived with skilled laborers and they learned to become blacksmiths and carpenters.
They came to the Colonies aboard a ship called the Unity. The shipmaster paid 5 pounds for each prisoner and then sold them for 20 to 30 pounds. Technically they signed contracts agreeing to the servitude but in reality they all spoke Gaelic and didn't know what they were signing.
Their families were not allowed to come with them and they had to leave them behind in Scotland. They would eventually work off their indentures, but many would not make the journey back to their families in Scotland. Some would eventually remarry, start new families, and assimilate into the Puritan society .
The Covenanter Risings of the late 17th century led to around 1700 Scots being expelled as enemies of the state. The highest concentration of covenanters were in the Southern Colonies. Some believe they are the source of the term redneck. They had signed their names on the National Covenant in blood then wore their reddened bandages around their neck to show their loyalty.
The Scottish Covenanters took their fierce ability to live rough to America, living in frontier settlements particularly in the Appalachians. Resistance to the crown was in their blood and their descendants rose in rebellion in 1775. One thing I discovered that happened not too far from me is that the "over-mountain men '' who defeated British loyalists at Kings Mountain were almost all descendants of Covenanters.
The Jacobite rebellion of 1715 and 1745 resulted in an additional 1600 men, women, and children being banished to the Colonies.
From the 1650's to 1830 banishment and transportation to the Colonies was a traditional punishment for serious and petty crimes and helped to contribute to an increase of the Scottish population in the American Colonies.
There is so much history that we are not taught correctly or not at all. There are events that lead to events that many don't even realize. How much did having Scottish indentured servants help shape the development of the United States?
We only hear and are taught history from the standpoint of the elite of society who want to remain in control. We need to start searching for the events of history on our own . Explore other cultures. Get to know other people from other cultures. We may actually learn something.
This was an introduction into the Scottish Indentured Servants who were sent to the America's. In future blogs I will look deeper into the contribution each group made in the development of the Colonies and the United States, as well as the impact left on Scotland.
Remember, we have to journey through history the right way. Through our ancestors. At the Fire. At the Ancestor's Fire.
Blessings.
By Michael Walters
The Ancestor's Fire
Writing the voices of the unheard
What a very interesting read. There have always been two cultures that have drawn my attention . The American Indian and The Scottish. As far back as I can remember . I am eager for next time. Thank you.