Note 180 — Chapter IV · DOMESTIC SERVICE SINCE THE COLONIAL PERIOD

This is indicated by the various definitions given in early dictionaries. It is a curious fact that The New World of Words or General English Dictionary, large quarto, third edition, London, 1671, does not contain the word “servant.” Phillips’ Universal English Dictionary, London, 1720, has “servant, a man or woman who serves another.” Bailey’s Dictionary, London, 1721, 1737, and 1770, defines servant as “one who serves another.” The Royal Standard English Dictionary, first American edition, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1788, “being the first work of the kind printed in America,” defines servant as “one who serves.” The second edition, Brookfield, 1804, has “servant, one who serves for wages.”

Some interesting illustrations of this early use of the word are found in colonial literature. Thus Thomas Morton in his New English Canaan, p. 179, says, “In the month of June Anno Salutis, 1622, it was my chance to arrive in the parts of New England with thirty servants and provisions of all sorts fit for a plantation.”

Governor Bradford in his History of Plymouth, pp. 235-236, speaks of “Captaine Wolastone and with him 3. or 4. more of some eminencie, who brought with them a great many servants, with provisions & other implments fit for to begine a plantation.”

A “Narrative concerning the settlement of New England,” 1630, says,

“This yeare there went hence 6 shippes with 1000 people in them to the Massachusetts having sent two yeares before betweene 3 & 400 servants to provide howses and Corne against theire coming, to the charge of (at least) 10,000l., these Servants through Idlenes & ill Government neglected both theire building & plantinge of Corne, soe that if those 6 Shippes had not arived the plantation had ben broke & dissolved.”—Mass. Hist. Soc. Proc., 1860-1862, pp. 130-131.

The same use of the word is found a number of times in the list of the Mayflower passengers.