New Beginnings - Moving to America

New Beginnings

Author’s Note

What you are about to read is fiction.  While there are some historical accuracies included, the vast majority is based on folklore, speculation, assumptions, or simply the creative thoughts of the writer.  Nothing you read here should be used for genealogical purposes!  It is simply intended to entertain and generate thought about what our forefathers endured, experienced, and achieved as they forged the path we currently find ourselves upon.

I have always been fascinated with the decisions in life that have long-term implications not only for ourselves, but for others and for the future.  In real life, at some moment in time, Joseph Roberts’ great-grandfather made the decision to leave his home in England and pursue a new life in America.  Did the circumstances in his life force him to make that decision?  Was he pursuing what he believed could be a better life for his new family?  Was it a spur-of-the-moment decision, or was it years in the making?  While we’ll never know for sure, I doubt very seriously he thought about how that decision would impact thousands of lives over the next 280 years.  Yet it did.  If nothing else, we owe our American citizenship, and all the blessings that come with it, to that courageous decision. 

I hope you’ll enjoy my story about that moment in time when Joseph’s great-grandfather made a decision with impacts he never could have dreamed.  The names Henry and Sarah are used in this story based on a “best guess” of who Joseph’s great-grandparents were.  For the record, their names are not known with 100% certainty at this point.

Chapter 1: The Decision, 1741

That was it.  Henry Roberts had made up his mind.  While he probably should have been scared to death, he found himself oddly relieved and at peace.  He hoped that perhaps making the decision was the hardest part, and yet he knew that was unlikely the case.  There were hundreds of things to consider, and hundreds more he hadn’t even thought of yet.  However, as he lay there in bed, the one thing he knew for sure was that his mind was set.  It was time to seek a new life in America.  A better life.

The moment occurred to him that evening while sitting at the table staring at his bowl of cabbage and potato soup. 

It wasn’t that he was ungrateful for the soup.  On the contrary, it had been a number of months since he’d actually gone to bed hungry, and for that he was incredibly grateful.  It was the knowing that those bowls of soup were about as good as it was ever going to get for him and his family unless he had the courage to make a change.  Perhaps they’d be blessed with an occasional chicken to put in the soup, but for the most part this was it.  This was his life.  Sitting there at that moment, he realized he was no longer satisfied simply hoping for something better.

Although he could point to that moment at the dinner table as the tipping point, in many ways it was a decision years in the making.  The struggle just to live was the central fabric of his life since as young as he could remember.  He’d been working the fields, alongside his father, since he was six years old.  His father was a hard-working laborer who gladly took any job he could get even when it meant incredibly meager wages.  Most of the time, those jobs came in the form of working the fields for the landowning elite.  At its best, it was a constant struggle to survive.  At its worst, you were a bad harvest or illness away from extreme poverty and possibly death. 

Henry and his newlywed wife, Sarah, had actually discussed the possibility of migrating to America before they got married.  While no specific plan was set in motion, there was general agreement that moving to American would happen “at some point.”  The question was not if but when.  At the time of their wedding in 1740, England was at war with Spain in what many were calling the War of Jenkins’ Ear.  Most of the conflict was centered in the Caribbean, well south of where they would land in America, however there was still some hesitation in taking a transatlantic journey while at war with a country with a significant naval force.  With Britain’s recent defeat at Cartagena in May 1741, there seemed to be a general sentiment in the country that the conflict would transition away from the Caribbean.  From Henry’s perspective, there appeared to be a window of opportunity opening.

Closer to home, news of the recent famine in Ireland had reached them in their town of Derby, England.  Understandably, it was all the talk amongst the laborers.  Rumors spread that nearly 1 in 5 Irishmen had died as a result of sustained cold weather killing their crops.  With every year that passed, it was just a matter of time until the same fate found Derby.  Henry was no longer willing to sit back and just wait to see what fate life had in store for him.  It was time to chart his own course and forge a new destiny.  America offered opportunity and hope, which were two things Henry rarely experienced in Derby.  Now, as a 26-year-old newlywed, Henry knew he’d rather die chasing the dream of a better life than living in his current one.  To him, it seemed like the time for action was now.

Where to even begin?  Did you leave from Liverpool, London, or somewhere else?  How much would it cost?  Where would they go in America?  How would he take care of his family once he arrived?  Where would he work?  Quite frankly, it was daunting and a bit overwhelming.  He’d heard stories of local folks who made the journey to America, but he had no first-hand experience and only knew stories from the local pub.  That said, Henry was never short on confidence, and he was convinced if they could do it then he certainly could make it happen!  He prided himself on being honest and hardworking, and he knew that would ultimately carry the day.

In the morning, he would tell his wife, Sarah.  That would be the first step.  He expected plenty of anxiousness and likely some initial reluctance.  Most of it driven by a fear of the unknown and a fear of leaving family.  However, he expected to win her over in fairly short order.  After all, Sarah was a practical woman, and she too wanted a better life for their new family.  She was a strong, hard-working woman and trusted Henry.  Her family had a similar background to Henry’s.  Generations of laborers stuck in the reality of the life they’d been born into.  Like most, Sarah was most likely to put her head down, work hard, and simply endure the constant struggles of her life.  Change was not in her nature.  However, based on their pre-marriage discussions and the recent global events, he was convinced Sarah would agree that the time was now.  He was getting excited.  Tomorrow was the start of a new beginning!

Chapter 2: The Preparations, 1741-1742

Henry’s life to this point had generally been one long, mundane day of survival after the next.  Not a lot of hope.  Not a lot to be excited about.  Mercifully, his marriage to Sarah had provided a break to this repetitive chain.  While the added responsibility of providing for another human being was not lost on Henry, that added purpose in life was also new and exciting.  His marriage had given him a purpose other than simply surviving.  Sarah brought with her laughter, beauty, and a sense of optimism about life.  Similarly, this pursuit of a new life in America had also served to brighten his days.  Since making the “America decision” he found the months flying by with new challenges, new decisions to be made, and plenty of lost hours filled with exciting daydreams.  This past year had quite frankly been the best of his life, and he was hopeful it was only the start.  Now, as the time for the actual voyage drew near, Henry found himself reflecting on all that he had accomplished to this stage.

It was hard to believe it had already been a year since he had shared his plans with Sarah.  Her initial reaction was neither hesitancy nor approval.  She had lots of questions.  Why now?  Where would they go?  How would they get there?  How would they survive?  Would family join them?  Henry was short on specific answers but laid out a vision of a better life with regular meals, land ownership, and better weather.  A place to raise a family without the constant threat of poverty.  A place where their dreams could become reality.  He wanted something better in life and he wanted to share it with her.  His calm, confident voice won her over in a matter of minutes.  They were in this life together now and she was ready to share his dream.

Thankfully, sharing the news with both sets of parents had gone surprisingly well.  While he needed neither their support nor their approval, he knew having their blessing would make the entire experience much easier, especially when it came to Sarah’s parents.  Henry’s mother had passed away in 1730 during the influenza pandemic.  Henry’s father had subsequently re-married and continued to scratch out a meager living working the fields around Derby.  It was a hard life and he was simply too consumed with his own survival to care too much about his adult son’s dreams.  He told Henry, “there’s nothing around here for you” and wished him well.  That was it.  Year after year of a life without hope had hardened his father.  It wasn’t a lack of love for his son.  On the contrary, he loved him enough to realize a fresh start was probably the only hope he had for a better life.  So as Henry walked away, his father accepted the reality he would probably never see his son again once he left Derby. 

While Sarah’s parents shared a similarly tough life, their willingness to let go of Sarah didn’t come as easy.  Henry suspected his in-laws were hopeful that Henry and Sarah would be able to provide them with a little support as the years went on.  Now as Henry and Sarah sat at their table and broke the news, they saw that possibility slipping away.  As a result, they tried everything they could think of to change the newlyweds’ minds, but Henry and Sarah were committed.  As each argument failed to make progress, Henry could see his in-laws becoming more and more desperate.  Perhaps that explained why they jumped on the idea of joining the newlyweds in America once Henry and Sarah were settled.  It was an appealing plan if not extremely naïve.  It would take years for Henry and Sarah to work off their work contract, not to mention the additional years it would take for them to save enough money to secure passage to America.  Very few people in England during those times lived beyond 40 years, so the chances of living long enough to make it to America were unlikely at best.  They didn’t like it, but they accepted it as the best they could hope for and reluctantly hugged their daughter while wishing them Godspeed.

As word spread in Derby of Henry and Sarah’s plan, they found a wide range of reactions from their community.  The older folks generally expressed doubt with some being so bold as to call Henry a fool.  Younger people had a very different perspective.  They were inquisitive and constantly asking questions.  It was as if they were trying to convince themselves to find the courage to take the same leap of faith.  For whatever reason, much of these discussions happened before and after church services.  While Henry had never been much of a church-goer, Sarah was dedicated to the Church of England.  So much so, that before agreeing to marry Henry she had insisted on regular service attendance from her new husband.  As a result, Henry now found himself physically in church while mentally thousands of miles away making a new life in America.  In the Church of England, Henry saw too much formality and an inability to connect with the common people.  If he was honest with himself, Henry had given up on the Church of England long ago.  While he wouldn’t make that declaration to Sarah until they arrived in America, he was hopeful the religious freedom offered in America would provide a “rebirth” he desperately wanted.

In terms of the actual voyage, Henry discovered early on that typical passage would cost as much as four pounds per person.  Since Henry was making roughly two pounds a year in wages in Derby, the thought of saving eight pounds so he and Sarah could travel together was immediately out of the question.  In fact, even saving four pounds so Henry could travel to America, establish himself, and then send for Sarah was equally out of the question.  Luckily, there was another solution.  Indentured servitude had been a well-established practice in England long before the colonization of America.  Now with the rapid growth in America there was a large demand for laborers of various kinds, and subsequently the practice of trading years of labor for passage to America had become quite common.  In fact, there were offices across England where men and women could sign such contracts.  When you have nothing and no way of making anything in the future, this opportunity seemed like an amazing deal!

In terms of where to go in America, Henry and Sarah quickly set their sights on the Carolinas.  Despite the increasing use of African slaves to work the tobacco, rice and wheat fields, there was still a large need for white indentured servants to fill other roles in the Carolinas.  Additionally, the thought of warmer weather was a big part of the allure of this new life.  As a result, Virginia and the middle colonies would be their second choice, and the New England colonies would be their last resort.  Better weather was a priority, and leaving behind the cold, wet English weather was, in their minds, reason enough for the voyage! 

As Spring was now approaching, more favorable weather conditions would soon open the transatlantic lanes to America.  The time was now.  Following months of anticipation and excitement, Henry and Sarah travelled to Birmingham to sign an indentured servant contract.  In exchange for four years of labor, they would receive passage to Charleston, South Carolina, accommodations in South Carolina, and a land grant for 50 acres of their own land upon completion of the contract.  Additionally, their contract would be registered with the government of England as required by law.  This was required in cases where families rather than individuals were entering into contracts and was intended to protect all parties, including these families who were known as “redemptioners.”  The terms of their contract were fairly common for the day, and Henry and Sarah were beside themselves with delight.  Four years seemed like absolutely nothing in their minds, and waking up each morning knowing they were one day closer to being actual landowners was almost beyond comprehension.  They would depart from the port of Bristol in one month’s time.  They were locked in.  No turning back now!

Chapter 3: The Voyage,  Spring 1742

For the first time since they boarded the ship five weeks earlier, Sarah was beginning to question their decision.  Best case they were halfway to America now, and she had serious doubts as to whether her or Henry would make it there alive.  While the crew insisted that the weather had been fair thus far, she found the constant rocking of the ship and the sounds of seasick people almost unbearable.  She couldn’t even imagine what it would be like in stormy seas.  Meanwhile, the constant fear of illness was palpable throughout the ship.  Every cough was met first with questioning eyes and then the inevitable round of corresponding rumors.  To pass the time and keep their minds off their situation, the passengers would often gather in the evening to share stories, sing their favorite songs, or hold impromptu church services.  While Sarah appreciated these opportunities to briefly escape, she still found herself frequently daydreaming about Derby and her family. 

The burning question she couldn’t get out of her mind was whether or not she would be pregnant if they had stayed in Derby?  She desperately wanted to start a family, but now wondered if God had kept her from getting pregnant so that she could make this journey.  After all, it was hard enough for a healthy person to survive this voyage, she couldn’t imagine trying to do it while pregnant or with a newborn.  While it was still too early to judge their overall decision to leave for America, the one thing they had certainly gotten right since committing to the trip was waiting to start a family.  So while it was possible the dream of greener American pastures had clouded their judgment, not being pregnant was the one silver lining at the moment and a definite blessing from God.

The first few weeks of the voyage had flown by with excitement, meeting fellow travelers, and the workload from their on-board duties.  Sarah had been assigned to the galley where she helped prepare meals for the crew and passengers. 

Typical meals consisted of heavily-salted meat, rice, beans, and unleavened biscuits that had been baked multiple times before the voyage to make them rock hard and less susceptible to mold.  While the work itself was generally monotonous, Sarah loved meeting and talking with everyone on the ship.  She had met people from all over England and Wales, and even had a few interactions with the ship’s Captain.  While very few of the passengers had ever been to America, the crew members were full of exciting stories about life in the colonies and Sarah never missed an opportunity to ask questions.  Now five weeks into the trip, the newness and excitement had definitely faded away.  People moved with less purpose and many kept their eyes focused on the ground just a few feet in front of them.  Additionally, she could see the quality of the food slowly degrading and people’s morale seemed to be slipping with it.  It wasn’t hard to imagine what it might look like in a few more weeks.  Even to Sarah’s untrained eyes, the ship was obviously settling into the dark days of the trip and she wondered how dark it would eventually get.

At the age of 27, Henry was one of the older passengers on board.  Perhaps for that reason he had been assigned duties helping the crew keep “watch.”  While keeping the watch entailed many responsibilities (steering the ship, watching for dangers, etc.), arguably the most meticulous duty was the tracking of time.  The ship had an hourglass with 30 minutes of sand in it.  When all the sand dropped to the bottom of the glass, marking the completion of 30 minutes, the watch would flip the glass over and start the next 30 minute session.  Each session was then marked with the sounding of a bell, and based on the number of bells the crew would know what time it was on board.  Henry had explained to Sarah that by knowing their speed and how much time had elapsed at that speed the crew could then roughly estimate where they were on the map.  Henry took his responsibility very seriously and he thoroughly enjoyed the insight of listening to the crew, as well as seeing the ship’s progress as it moved across the maps.  He joked some nights that he was thinking about becoming a sailor, only to get reminded quickly by Sarah that taking his new family to a new home across the ocean was probably enough change in their lives at the moment.  She wasn’t interested in her husband pursuing a new career too! 

In the past week, roughly two dozen passengers and crew members, including Henry, had fallen ill.  Like most of the others, Henry was struck with a severe case of dysentery.  Luckily there were no reports or rumors of fever on board.  Fever likely meant typhus, and typhus likely meant death for many souls.  Henry was no longer able to perform his watch duties, had already lost a significant amount of weight, and was currently isolated with the rest of the sick in the “sick bay” on the lowest level of the ship. 

She hadn’t seen him in days and had no idea if he was improving or edging closer to death.  She was convinced every time she saw the Captain that he was coming to notify her of Henry’s death.  It was an awful existence but mercifully hours passed into days and the notification never came.

While the galley was her primary duty, like everyone else on board, her secondary duty was cleaning and sanitation.  Since the moment they stepped foot on board, the Captain rarely missed an opportunity to talk about cleanliness.  Idle hands resulted in dirty ships, dirty ships resulted in illness, and illness resulted in death.  It was a message that certainly resonated with Sarah given Henry’s illness, so with an increased passion Sarah had thrown herself into cleaning.  Keeping the galley clean was a tough enough job as it was given the constant presence of rotting food and a substantial population of rats on the ship.  Additionally, it wasn’t lost on Sarah that being in the galley meant she was exposed to virtually everybody on board on a daily basis.  As a result, she took it upon herself to talk with the other passengers working in the galley and they had collectively agreed to double their efforts at keeping things as clean as possible.   These people didn’t have much in terms of material things, but what they all did possess was a tremendous work ethic.  If nothing else, staying busy also helped pass the time and everyone was grateful for that.

As another day came to an end and the evening session of singing/stories was beginning to break up, Sarah once again made her way to the cramped sleeping quarters well below the main deck and crawled into her straw-stuffed mattress. 

Despite the presence of eight other passengers within a few feet of her, Sarah enjoyed this time of day where she could lay in bed alone with her thoughts or silently in prayer.  Tonight she was consumed with one memory.  She remembered being in Bristol in the days right before the voyage watching the busy port as ships came and went.  She had noticed many of the merchant ships were named for geographical locations.  For example, one of the largest ships she had seen was the Merchant Vessel (MV) Scarborough, named for the northern English town not terribly far from her hometown of Derby.   Ships not named for locations often had religious or virtuous names.  She didn’t think much of it at the time, but now as she lay here alone with the state of her husband unknown, she was convinced God was speaking directly to her.  Another day complete on the MV Perseverance.

Chapter 4: The First Year, 1742 - 1743

Sitting under the low-hanging branches of the large live oak tree just down the road from their quarters, Henry’s mind was racing.  One moment all he could think about was Sarah and the pain she was currently enduring going through labor back in the confines of their tiny home.  The next moment his mind wandered back to the moment they stepped off the Perseverance and stepped into their new life in Charles Town (Historical Note: Charles Town’s name was changed to Charleston in 1783 following the American Revolution).  So much had transpired in the year since, and Henry found himself reliving the various blessings and tribulations as he sat under the tree waiting for the arrival of his first child.

The first day in America had been a mix of chaos, excitement and relief.  Just being off the ship after two months was a huge relief, but then they’d been plunged into this chaotic new world with no real time to get their bearings.  Henry and Sarah were a part of a group of seven indentured servants on the Perseverance who were under contract with a Master James Moore of Charles Town.  The ship’s Captain had told them that Master Moore was one of Charles Town’s most prominent merchants, and it was likely someone would be waiting for them on the dock.  Luckily that was the case, and the seven, along with their meager belongings, were quickly escorted to their new quarters located not far from the dock where they had arrived.  It was a whirlwind of new sights, sounds, and smells, and it felt as if excitement had built with each step.  Unsure of what lied ahead, they were somehow confident it wouldn’t be any worse than the two months on the Perseverance!

In the first few weeks, Henry and Sarah had quickly learned how blessed they were to be under contract with Master Moore.  The treatment of slaves and indentured servants was not well-regulated, and your conditions were predominantly determined by your Master.  By contract, Master Moore had provided for their passage to South Carolina, and was now required to provide food, clothing and shelter in exchange for four years of their labor.  For most indentured servants, the quality of their provisions was minimal, and living conditions were barely a step above those of slaves.  As it turned out, Master Moore was a very wealthy merchant profiting from the busiest port in the Southern colonies, so he had the resources to provide a quality of life for his servants well above the local average.  More importantly, Master Moore appeared to be a man of God and had strong convictions about taking good care of his indentured servants and African slaves.  As a result, Henry and Sarah found themselves in conditions not too different from what they had left in Derby.  Additionally, they felt like everything was more secure and stable under Master Moore’s protection.  They no longer lived under the constant fear of losing their home or starving to death.  Life’s basics were being reliably provided.  They both felt strongly that God was at work and was blessing their new life!

Henry had been assigned duties on the docks.  Initially it involved loading and unloading ships, as well as hauling cargo throughout Charles Town.  The work was strenuous and seemingly never-ending, and the first days proved difficult as Henry was still not 100% recovered from his illness on the ship.  However, as he gained his strength and leaned into the work, Henry quickly found himself thriving.  Perhaps it was due to his age (Henry was a bit older than the average indentured servant) or his work ethic, but within a few months Henry had been assigned duties overseeing other servants and slaves.  He also was given responsibilities assisting with storage and inventory of Master Moore’s large operation.  He felt like he had earned Master Moore’s trust and perhaps that would be of assistance in the years ahead.

Sarah, on the other hand, found herself to be a bit of an oddity.  The vast majority of jobs in South Carolina were done by African slaves, and most of the rest of the jobs were done by male indentured servants, like Henry.  Although more common in the northern colonies, a female indentured servant in South Carolina was fairly rare.  Sarah quickly learned that Mistress Moore and been the driving force behind acquiring female servants for the Moore household.  She was adamantly opposed to slavery and refused to have African slaves in her home.  Somehow in her mind there was a distinct and moral difference between indentured servitude and slavery.  As she boldly stated, “what my husband choses to do with slaves in his business is his decision, but who works in this home will be up to me.”  As a result, Mistress Moore had her husband acquire a small group of female indentured servants from England and Ireland to assist with the children and to do the household work.  It was a perfect match for Sarah who got along well with her fellow servants, had no difficulties with the work, and quickly became a favorite of the Moore children.

Perhaps it had been her time with the Moore children, but it hadn’t taken Sarah long to start inquiring about when they could start their own family.  It was common for female indentured servants who became pregnant to face an extension to their contract due to time lost during the pregnancy and childbirth.  Commonly this extension was two or three years and was definitely intended to discourage marriage and children amongst the servants.  Even if Henry and Sarah had been willing to accept an extension they would still be required to get Master Moore’s permission.  Like Sarah, Henry was ready to start a family and the thought of waiting four years just didn’t seem viable.  So, at Sarah’s recommendation, she had broached the subject with Mistress Moore who was quite fond of Sarah and they suspected would quickly become an ally for them.  As it turned out, they played it perfectly.  Mistress Moore seemed as anxious as Henry and Sarah for them to start a family, and informed her husband that she not only supported Henry and Sarah but that a two to three year extension was ridiculous.  In another string of blessings, Master Moore had agreed.  Collectively they agreed that Henry and Sarah would both only be extended by a single year (4 years to 5 years).  Perhaps for any other master they’d have been unwilling to extend for any amount of time, but for the Moores this seemed like a great deal and Henry and Sarah had been more than happy to accept the additional year.  

While they’d been blessed with their work arrangements, the time-consuming nature of their jobs hadn’t allowed much time for anything else.  As it was for many at that time, church was the primary source of socializing for Henry and Sarah.  Both of the Moores were English by birth and long been members of the Church of England (Anglican).  Since Sarah had to attend church with the family to help with the children, she required Henry to attend as well.  Anglican was the predominant religion in Charles Town at that time, and Anglicans had generally long-held the most political and social power.  However, that was beginning to change.  Numerous other congregations were beginning to establish themselves in Charles Town and throughout the colonies.  A “Great Awakening” was occurring which was emphasizing religious individualism and challenging established authorities.  In fact, Charles Town had earned the nickname of “The Holy City” due to its diversity in congregations.  While Henry was happy to attend the church with Sarah and enjoy a temporary reprieve from the docks, from what he’d heard he liked how these new congregations were pushing back on the established norms.  The Anglican church had always felt like the church for the powerful, and now new alternatives were forming and Henry secretly found himself very interested.

What a year it had been!  One life-changing event after the next.  From the near-death experience of the transatlantic crossing to the many blessings associated with the Moores, Henry and Sarah had no regrets about their decision to leave Derby.  While they still weren’t fully where they wanted to be, they were well on their way and could even start to see the desired end state.  Step one, getting to America, had been accomplished.  Step two, the start of a family of their own, was now moments away.  In four years they’d fulfill their indentured contract and, as a result, earn a land grant for 50 acres to call their own.  The dream was becoming a reality, and now Henry anxiously sat in the shade waiting to be called back to Sarah and his first child.  In that moment, he couldn’t imagine life being any better.

Chapter 5: The American Dream, 1748

Seven years!  It had now been seven years since that night in Derby when Henry made up his mind to move to America.  Seven years of leaving family, crossing an ocean, indentured servitude, raising a family, and now a fresh start in their own home on their own land in the South Carolina frontier.  Even when he and Sarah allowed themselves to dream about being land owners, the idea still seemed so far-fetched as to be unbelievable.  The idea of common men owning land in England was completely foreign, and yet here was Henry sitting outside his new home on his own 100 acres.  All because he had the courage to chase the dream of a better life in America and the perseverance to see the dream through to reality. 

While there had been plenty of blessings along the way, the journey was not without its share of hardships too.  The ocean crossing had nearly taken Henry’s life, and years of indentured servitude had hardly been good for his health.  Additionally, Sarah had suffered a miscarriage a year after the birth of their first child, and had come very close to losing her own life during the birth of their second child.  That said, they both now found themselves with a renewed energy and desire to attack each day with an increased vigor.  Henry was still getting used to being on his own schedule and working his own priorities, but Sarah, as always, had been a great source of motivation and purpose.  She never ceased to amaze Henry with her practical outlook on life and her ability to keep him focused on the things that matter most.  Sarah had earned this moment just as much as Henry, and he was grateful to be able to share it with her.

Looking back now Henry couldn’t help but feel the providence of God was written all over their last seven years.  The favorable terms in their initial contract, the safe passage to America, and placement under Master and Mistress Moore had given them hope and put them on a sustainable path.  The Moores, in particular, had easily been the biggest contributors to Henry and Sarah’s success.  Over the years, Henry had watched many of his fellow servants simply flee and abandon their contractual obligations.  Here one day and gone the next, they would simply disappear into the countryside never to be seen again.  Whatever their reasons for fleeing, Henry recognized that perhaps under different circumstances, particularly with a less favorable master, he and Sarah might too have fled.  Instead, they were allowed to flourish, grow their family, work under manageable conditions, and rightfully earn the land they so desperately sought from the very beginning.

They had left Derby feeling very good about the terms of their contract: four years of servitude in exchange for passage to America and 50 acres of land.  As good as that was, Master Moore had then graciously allowed them to grow their family, and Henry and Sarah both jumped at the opportunity to build a family.  As it turned out, that decision had a much larger impact than originally imagined.  In an effort to encourage growth in the colonies, the British government had steadily increased the amount of land being offered to entice people to move inland and settle the American frontier.  As Henry and Sarah’s contract came to end, the current offer was 50 acres for each member of the household.  As a result, the Roberts family was eligible for 200 acres of land!  It was an absolute dream and it was beyond life-changing!  With the help and guidance of Master Moore, Henry had submitted his petition for 200 acres with a request for the land to be located on the edge of the South Carolina frontier approximately 125 miles to the North-Northwest of Charles Town.  Once the petition had been accepted, a surveyor was hired to define the boundaries, ensure no other land owners held claim to the same land, and produce a map of the new Roberts family farm!

In a life full of fateful decisions (marrying Sarah, immigrating to America, growing their family while indentured servants, etc.), Henry then made yet another huge decision which would impact Roberts’ generations for years to come.  Henry decided to sell 100 of his 200 acres to bankroll the transition to the new homestead.  He wanted to succeed with 100 acres, rather than run the risk of failing with 200.  With the colonies in the midst of a “great migration,” Master Moore and many of his wealthy peers were busy buying up thousands of acres from poor landowners with more need for money than land.  As a result, land that took Henry and Sarah seven years of blood, sweat, and tears to acquire was sold in a matter of days.  Now with a deed for 100 acres and some money in his pocket, Henry and Sarah had made final preparations to leave Charles Town.   Like many others, they’d left in early spring allowing them to complete their new home well before arrival of any cold weather.  It had been important for Henry to realize that he must once again focus on the basics of life…food and shelter…two things he’d been able to take for granted under the protection of Master Moore.

As was typical for indentured servants who completed their contractual terms, Henry and Sarah were given “Freedom Dues” from Master Moore in addition to the land from the British government.  While many servants were given new clothes and perhaps a little money, Henry negotiated with Master Moore for two horses, a wagon and the tools necessary to get the new homestead established.  While the Moores had been sad to see Henry and Sarah depart, they had been genuinely happy for their earned freedom and were excited to see the young family realizing their dream.  Master Moore left them with the names of contacts in the area of their new land and encouraged Henry to touch base with these people to help get established.  More importantly, Master Moore agreed to contact Henry’s brother in Derby and help facilitate his brother’s own journey to America.  Henry provided enough money to cover his brother’s passage and left instructions on how to find him on the South Carolina frontier.  With any luck, Henry hoped his brother would join him in a year’s time and help establish the Roberts foothold in America.

While the trip to the new land had been quite miserable, it was luckily uneventful for the most part.  It had taken the family a full two weeks to travel by road to their new farm.  The road had been rough and the weather had not cooperated, but they had managed to complete roughly 10 miles a day.   Henry smiled now at the thought of those two weeks, but he had hardly found any enjoyment during the actual experience.  Caring for the horses, keeping the children occupied, and the bumpy ride itself had been a constant challenge to his patience.  Additionally, Sarah was expecting their third child and getting sick throughout the day was a regular occurrence.  However, in the context of a seven-year journey it was practically the blink of an eye in time, and laying their eyes on their own land for the first time had made it all worthwhile.

Upon arrival, Henry used some of the money from the selling of the 100 acres to purchase supplies for the building of the new home.  Additionally, when absolutely necessary, he would hire local help to aid in clearing land and constructing the log home.  It was hard work, in many ways harder than working on the docks, but the motivation to shelter his family before winter was a strong motivator.  As a result, in a couple of months, a basic structure was in place that would safely get them through any cold weather. 

Improvements and additions to the home would come with time, but now the priority turned to feeding the family throughout the winter, stockpiling enough firewood, and getting the farm ready to plant in the spring by clearing acres of land.  When times got tough, it only took Henry a moment to think of his life in England and then count his many blessings.  This had been his dream and he certainly had no complaints.

Sarah now joined him outside as another day came to a close.  The Roberts boys were asleep, and Henry and Sarah would often take this moment at night to gather their thoughts for the coming day.  Tonight though was different.  Henry wanted to spend this night talking about the past rather than the future.  Sitting there under the South Carolina stars, a husband and wife held hands and recounted their many blessing and hardships along the way.  It had hardly been easy, but it was certainly worth it.  Their dream had been realized…their American dream!

REMINDER: This is fiction!  Nothing here should be used for genealogical purposes!