The first indentured servant, based on documents recovered, was Robert Coopy in 1619. The details of his contract, like many others, included the term of his servitude of three years, room and board, paid passage to America, and thirty acres of land upon completion of his contract term. For undocumented reasons, Robert decided not to venture to America and complete his contract. Instead, a relative named Thomas entered into a similar contract with additional provisions to have his wife receive payment while he was in America. Thomas later had his contract term extended for an undetermined number of years in order to bring his family (wife and two children) to the New World for servitude. Unfortunately, after eighteen months of bondage, all but one member of the Coopy family would remain.
