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Freeman "Freedom" was earned after an allotted time, or until the person demanding "payment" was satisfied – this was known as Indentured Servitude , and was not originally intended as a stigma or embarrassment for the person involved since many of the sons and daughters of the wealthy and famous of the time found themselves forced into such temporary servitudes. It was a sort of Debtor's Prison without the walls, torture, or meager subsistance. However, as time wore on, the name "freeman" somehow became associated with the servitude of Slavery , and many of those who had thought that their servitude was only temporary, soon found out that their Master was asking them to work a little bit too hard, or that he was taking a little bit too long in setting them free. As a result, many " Servants " began escaping and eventually the entire system of "freemen" was officially eliminated by 1691 , though parts of the system did still remain through the 18th Century . Initially, anyone ... Initially, anyone first entering into a colony, or just recently having become a member of one of the local acceptable churches, was formally not Free . Such persons were never forced to work for another individual, per se, but their movements were carefully observed, and if they veered from the Puritanical ideal, they were asked to leave the colony. If they stayed or later returned to the colony, they were put to death. There was an unstated Probationary Period that the prospective "freeman" needed to go through, and if he did pass this probationary period of time – usually one to two years – he was allowed his Freedom . A Freeman was said to be free of all debt, owing nothing to anyone except God Himself – which "debt" the churches of the times made certain was paid on a daily basis. Free planter Oath of a freeman Initially, all persons seeking to be free needed to take an oath, which essentially avowed the fact that they would defend the Commonwealth and not conspire to overthrow the Government. The first printing of the "Freeman's Oath" was printed by Stephen Daye in 1639 in the form of a Broadside or single sheet of paper intended for posting in public places. References
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