First to own a black slave for life

[LincolnMan]

One of my ancestors came to America from England as an indentured servant. It sounds like it was a contract, more or less, for servitude that was time limited- for a price. My ancestor agreed to it as a way for passage to the New World. He fulfilled the agreement in four years- and learned the tanning trade. This was in the year 1749. This kind of arrangement is far different than that of being a slave.