First to own a black slave for life

[brtmchl]

I must be thinking of involuntary servitude Laurie. However indentured servants were not always willing. There are many examples of kidnapped people ( especially children ) that were forced into servitude. I guess what really seperates the phrase "indentured" or "slave" was that indentured servants were guaranteed their freedom at the end of their contracts, whether they were signed willingly or forced.

I read an interesting stat that claimed that "half of the white immigrants to the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries were indentured.' -Wikipedia

One of my ancestors, possibly more, came to America this way from Germany. Eventually settling on the West Virginia/ Kentucky border. No relation to the Hatfield's or McCoy's.