In this document dated August 4, 1755, twenty-two-year-old William
Buckland, a carpenter and joiner from Oxford, England, agrees to become an indentured servant for four
years "in the Plantation of Virginia beyond the Seas." George Mason, overseeing the construction of his
house, Gunston Hall, was in need
of a skilled woodworker, and he called upon his brother Thomson, who was then in
England, to engage a servant for the task. Mason agreed to pay Buckland twenty pounds
sterling per year in addition to room and board ("Meat, Drink, Washing, Lodging").
The contract is a printed form, with the specifics—such as names and dates—filled in
with ink. (Information in ink is indicated below by underlining.) After his four years of service were completed, Buckland gained his
freedom, while also earning an excellent recommendation, which Mason wrote on the
reverse side of the document. Some spelling has been modernized.
This Indenture, Made theFourth Day of August in the Twenty ninth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second King of Great-Britain,
&c, And in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty five Between William Buckland
of Baford Carpenter & Joiner of the one Part, and Thomson Mason of London Esq. of the other Part, Witnesseth, That the said
William Buckland for the Consideration herein
after-mentioned, hath, and by these Presents doth Covenant, Grant, and Agree to, and
with the said Thomson Mason Executors and Assigns, That
He the said William Buckland
shall and will, as a faithful Covenant Servant, well and truly serve the said Thomson Mason, his Executors and assigns in the
Plantation of Virginia beyond the Seas, for the Space of
Four Years, next ensuing his Arrival in the said
Plantation, in the Employment of a Carpenter & Joiner.
And the said William Buckland doth hereby Covenant and
Declare him self, now to be the Age of Twenty two Years
Single and no Covenant or Contracted Servant to any
other Person or Persons, And the said Thomson Mason for
himself his Executors or Assigns, in Consideration
thereof, doth hereby Covenant, Promise and Agree to and with the said William Buckland his Executors, and Assigns, that He the said Thomson Mason his
Executors or Assigns, shall and will at his or their own proper Costs and Charges,
with what convenient Speed they may, carry and convey, or cause to be carried and
conveyed over unto the said Plantation, the said Wm
Buckland and from henceforth, and during the said Voyage, and also during the
said Term, shall and will at the like Costs and Charges, provide for and allow the
said Wm Buckland all necessary Meat, Drink, Washing,
Lodging, fit and convenient for Wm as Covenant Servants in such Cases are usually
provided for and allowed and pay and allow the said William
Buckland wages or Salary at the Rate of Twenty Pounds Sterling per Annum Payable
Quarterly And for the true Performance of the Premisses, the said Parties,
the these Presents bind themselves, their Executors and Administrators, the either to
the other, in the Penal Sum of Forty Pounds Sterling, firmly by these Presents. In
witness whereof, they have hereunto interchanged by set their Hands and Seals, the
Day and Year above-written.
Sealed and Delivered
in the Presence of
Tho Hayes
Wm Buckland
W Kidd
These are to certify, That the above-named Wm Buckland
came before Me Gyles Sone Deputy to the Patentee at London
the Day and Year above-written, and declared him self to be a Single Person no
Covenant or Contracted Servant to any Person, or Persons; to be of the Age of Twenty
two Years; and to be desirous to serve the above-named Thomson Mason or his Assigns
Four Years, according to the Tenor of the Indenture above-written. All which is
Registered in the Office for that Purpose, appointed by Letters Patents. In witness
whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Common Seal of the said Office.
Gyles Sone DL
...
— page 2 —
The within named William Buckland
came into Virginia with my brother Thomson Mason, who engaged him in London, &
had a very good Character of him there; during the time he lived with me he had the
entire Direction of the Carpenter's & Joiner's work of a large House, &
having behaved very faithfully in my service, I can with great Justice recommend him,
to any Gentleman that may have occasion [to] employ him, as an honest sober diligent
man, & I think a complete Master of the Carpenter's & Joiner's Business both
in Theory & practice.
