US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

A habeas corpus was issued to bring up the body of Benjamin, a minor, about fourteen years old, who had been bound by his guardian's consent, to the defendant, to serve her till he should arrive to the age of fifteen. Having absconded from her service, he was committed to goal, for that cause; and a general question was made, whether an infant could be bound as a servant in Pennsylvania?

The Court were unanimously of opinion, that the indenture, in this case, was void, and gave their opinions feriatim.

The opinion of Justice Bradford, (which is all I have in my notes) entered fully into the principles of the decision as follows.

Page 2 U.S. 197, 198

Bradford, Justice:

The imprisonment of this infant, if justified at all, must be supported under the Act of 1700, respecting servants; so that the only question for our determination is, whether he be a servant within the meaning of that act of Assembly? 1 Vol. Dall. Edit. p. 13.

It is clear that this indenture, by which the infant is bound to serve, and not to learn any trade, occupation, or labour, cannot be supported upon the principles of common law, nor by the express words of any statute. But, it is said, that it depends upon the custom of the country; and it is evident that such a custom is referred to in our laws. I have taken some pains to ascertain its origin and extent.

This custom seems to have originated with the first adventurers to Virginia, and to have arisen from the circumstances of the country. Persons desirous of coming to America, and unable to pay for their passage in any other way, shipped themselves and their children, as servants. If they were imported under indenture, those indentures were held good, and they were to serve according to their stipulation; but if there was no indenture, they were to serve according to the custom, to wit, five years, if of full age, or above seventeen; and if under seventeen, 'till they arrived at the age of twenty-two, or in some places 'till twenty-four. The early laws of Virginia and Maryland (some of them so early as 1638) speak of these servants thus imported: they are called, 'servants according to the custom;' 'servants bound to serve the accustomary five years;' and sometimes are described as 'servants sold for the custom.'

These servants were in a very degraded situation. They were a species of property, holding a middle rank between slaves and freemen; they might be sold from hand to hand; and they were under the correction of laws exceedingly severe.

It appears by all the early laws on this subject, that the custom extended to imported servants only; and it extended to all such as were imported, whether minors, or adults. The custom was founded on necessity; and it was thought to be mutually beneficial to the colony, and to the emigrant. But no such necessity existed as to the children who were already in the province. The custom, therefore, never extended to them; and there was in all the colonies, and particularly in Pennsylvania, a marked distinction between these two classes of minors. This is to be found in the articles of the laws agreed on in England, and more fully in the laws of 1682. These speak only of imported servants; and direct how long such servants, brought into the province without indentures, shall serve; but, in Chap. 112, all parents and guardians in the province are enjoined to teach the children under their care to read and write, 'till they are twelve years old, and that then they be instructed in some useful [2 U.S. 197, 199]

Full Text of Opinion