St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Servants
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones, August 30, 2019
1. The Servants Marker
Inscription.
The Servants. . For most of the 17th century, indentured servants provided the labor in Maryland. Enslaved Africans became a major part of the labor force in the colony during the late 1600s. The dutch dominated the West African slave trade for much of the 17th century and Garrett Van Sweringen owned enslaved Africans before he came to Maryland. In the late 1690s, Van Sweringen had four enslaved Africans, two indentured female servants, and a servant boy. These workers cooked and served the inn's customers, cared for the large garden and livestock, did laundry, collected firewood, and repaired fences and buildings: The slaves probably also labored on the family plantation nearby. . This historical marker was erected by Historic St. Mary's City. It is in St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County Maryland
For most of the 17th century, indentured servants provided the labor in Maryland. Enslaved Africans became a major part of the labor force in the colony during the late 1600s. The dutch dominated the West African slave trade for much of the 17th century and Garrett Van Sweringen owned enslaved Africans before he came to Maryland. In the late 1690s, Van Sweringen had four enslaved Africans, two indentured female servants, and a servant boy. These workers cooked and served the inn's customers, cared for the large garden and livestock, did laundry, collected firewood, and repaired fences and buildings: The slaves probably also labored on the family plantation nearby.
Location. 38° 11.116′ N, 76° 26.042′ W. Marker is in St. Mary's City, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. Marker is on Old State House Road. The marker is inside the open-air Council Chamber on the
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Van Sweringen site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 47414 Old State House Road, Saint Marys City MD 20686, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 175 times since then and 25 times this year. Photo1. submitted on September 3, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.