Letter from an Indentured Servant (1765)
Elizabeth Sprigs
Honored Father
My being forever banished from your sight, will I hope pardon the Boldness I now take of troubling you . . ., my long silence has been purely owning to my undutifullness to you, and . . . knowing I had offended in the highest Degree, put a tie to my tongue and pen, for fear I should be extinct from your good Graces and add a further Trouble to you, but too well knowing your care and tenderness for me so long as I retain'd my Duty to you, induced me once again to endeavor if possible, to kindle up that flame again.
O Dear Father, believe what I am going to relate the words of truth and sincerity, and Balance my former bad Conduct my sufferings here, and then I am sure you'll pity your Destress Daughter. What we unfortunate English People suffer here is beyond the probability of you in England to Conceive, let it suffice that I . . . am toiling almost Day and Night, and very often in the Horses drudgery . . . and then tied up and whipp'd to that Degree that you'd not serve an Animal, scarce anything but Indian Corn and Salt to eat and that even begrudged nay many Negroes are better used. [I am] almost naked no shoes nor stockings to wear, and the comfort after slaving during Masters pleasure, what rest we can get is to wrap ourselves up in a Blanket and ly upon the Ground.
(T)his is the deplorable Condition your poor Betty endures, and now I beg if you have any Bowels of Compassion left show it by sending me some Relief, Clothing is the principal thing wanting.
-Indentured servants in colonial America differed from enslaved people in which key respect?

Question

Letter from an Indentured Servant (1765)
Elizabeth Sprigs
Honored Father
My being forever banished from your sight, will I hope pardon the Boldness I now take of troubling you . . ., my long silence has been purely owning to my undutifullness to you, and . . . knowing I had offended in the highest Degree, put a tie to my tongue and pen, for fear I should be extinct from your good Graces and add a further Trouble to you, but too well knowing your care and tenderness for me so long as I retain'd my Duty to you, induced me once again to endeavor if possible, to kindle up that flame again.
O Dear Father, believe what I am going to relate the words of truth and sincerity, and Balance my former bad Conduct my sufferings here, and then I am sure you'll pity your Destress Daughter. What we unfortunate English People suffer here is beyond the probability of you in England to Conceive, let it suffice that I . . . am toiling almost Day and Night, and very often in the Horses drudgery . . . and then tied up and whipp'd to that Degree that you'd not serve an Animal, scarce anything but Indian Corn and Salt to eat and that even begrudged nay many Negroes are better used. [I am] almost naked no shoes nor stockings to wear, and the comfort after slaving during Masters pleasure, what rest we can get is to wrap ourselves up in a Blanket and ly upon the Ground.
(T)his is the deplorable Condition your poor Betty endures, and now I beg if you have any Bowels of Compassion left show it by sending me some Relief, Clothing is the principal thing wanting.
-Indentured servants in colonial America differed from enslaved people in which key respect?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The key difference between indentured servants and enslaved people was that indentured servants could eventually be freed from their bondage after a set number of years, while enslaved people were considered property for life. The letter from Elizabeth Sprigs describes her as an indentured servant who is suffering under the harsh conditions of her servitude. This indicates that she is not enslaved but rather has a limited term of service. Choice A is incorrect because indentured servants were often sold or traded, although they were not considered property in the same way that enslaved people were. Choice C is incorrect because indentured servants did not have the same rights as free people, and marriage was often a decision made by their owners. Choice D is incorrect because as Elizabeth Sprigs' letter clearly illustrates, indentured servants could be subject to physical punishment.