Indentured Servants in my Ancestry

According to Nathan Murphy MA, AG, of FamilySearch International, "The gateway to Europe are the indentured servants". In Colonial America, indentured servants were those who agreed to act as servants, without pay, to an owner for a set period of time. The indentured servant often entered to receive a specific benefit, for example, free passage to America, or to meet legal obligations. Once their contract was complete, they received their freedom, and occasionally some land. 

The institution of indentured servitude was brutal- many servants died before their contracts expire. The practice is outlawed by the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as a form of Slavery. 

The practice, however, was very common in the British Colonies of North America. Between one-half and two-thirds of all Europeans who came to the Colonies between the 1630s and the American Revolutionary War, were indentured servants. Because of this, many Americans with Colonial ancestry can trace at least a couple of lines back to indentured servants. So far, I have found three, two in the South and one in New England: 

• John Blandford, Massachusetts- Came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638 on the "Confidence", as a 27 year old servant of Walter Hayne. Hayne was a linen weaver of Sutton Mansfield, county Wiltshire, and that is probably where the English roots of Blandford are. The details of his life as a servant are unknown, but he ended up settling in Sudbury, Massachusetts where he lived out his life until his death in 1687. 
• Alexander Mountney, Virginia- Came to the Colony of Virginia in 1610 on the "Mary James", as a servant, around the age of 19, “at company charges”, on the company lands of the Virginia Company. Servants on the company lands were the lowest social class in old Virginia, and their mortality rate was the highest of any group. Eventually however, he earned the title of Ancient Planter, and received 100 acres of land. On the strength of his character, he built his life, and rose from a mere servant to a prominent citizen of Accomack/Northampton County, Virginia. He served on the vestry, was referred to as Mr., and was Keeper of the Community Store. 
• Richard Tydings, Maryland- Although his origins are obscure, it is clear that he was an indentured servant, as on June 20, 1659, he claimed 50 acres from William Blay on completion of his indentured service in Maryland. It is possible that Tydings was contracted with Blay back in England, but his roots are unknown. While he didn't become as prominent as Mountney did, he certainly raised his social status- he served on the jury in Anne Arundel County and witnessed wills. 

I also have a couple of ancestors who owned indentured servants: 

• Thomas Brigham- In his estate inventory, the Puritan of Cambridge is listed as owning a "Daniel Mykene" as an asset of the estate worth £15. He is also listed as owning a female indentured servant. 

Other ancestors, such as Andrew Warner, are referred to as having servants in their biographies, but there is very little information. This is to be differentiated between my many ancestors who owned african slaves. A few others, such as Thomas Welles of Evesham, Worcestershire, apparently had servants who helped them. And of course, my many Royal and Noble ancestors also had servants. 

A source for some of my information: 

https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/ancestor-colonial-america-indentured-servant/   My Ancestor Came to Colonial America as an Indentured Servant