Comments on: Transported Convicts in the New World: On the Plantations http://www.earlyamericancrime.com/convict-transportation/in-the-new-world/on-the-plantations An exploration of crime, criminals, and punishments from America’s past Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:11:46 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anthony Vaverhttp://www.earlyamericancrime.com/convict-transportation/in-the-new-world/on-the-plantations/comment-page-1#comment-623 Anthony Vaver Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:04:14 +0000 http://www.earlyamericancrime.com/?p=1239#comment-623 According to his autobiography, "The Sufferings of William Green," Green moved to London at the age of seven with his parents. They enrolled him in a free school for seven years more, after which he was bound as an apprentice to a weaver in Old Cock-Lane, near Shoreditch. He says that he soon fell in with "idle company," who convinced him to run away from his master and join them in committing unspecified crimes in Sherwood Forest, most likely highway robbery. One of the gang members was eventually caught, and he impeached all of the other members of the gang to save himself.Green probably wasn't purchased for the purpose of performing specialized labor, especially since Green didn't last very long in his apprenticed role. Not that he would have learned much if he had remained an apprentice: weaver apprentices were basically taken on as an easy source of cheap labor. Upon arrival in America, the man who purchased Green asked him his name, his trade, and the crime he committed. After questioning Green, the man immediately went to the captain and bought him. Perhaps the man was motivated to purchase Green because the two grew up in the same vicinity back in England.Thanks for asking the questions, Chris. According to his autobiography, “The Sufferings of William Green,” Green moved to London at the age of seven with his parents. They enrolled him in a free school for seven years more, after which he was bound as an apprentice to a weaver in Old Cock-Lane, near Shoreditch. He says that he soon fell in with “idle company,” who convinced him to run away from his master and join them in committing unspecified crimes in Sherwood Forest, most likely highway robbery. One of the gang members was eventually caught, and he impeached all of the other members of the gang to save himself.

Green probably wasn’t purchased for the purpose of performing specialized labor, especially since Green didn’t last very long in his apprenticed role. Not that he would have learned much if he had remained an apprentice: weaver apprentices were basically taken on as an easy source of cheap labor. Upon arrival in America, the man who purchased Green asked him his name, his trade, and the crime he committed. After questioning Green, the man immediately went to the captain and bought him. Perhaps the man was motivated to purchase Green because the two grew up in the same vicinity back in England.

Thanks for asking the questions, Chris.

]]> By: Chris Juanshttp://www.earlyamericancrime.com/convict-transportation/in-the-new-world/on-the-plantations/comment-page-1#comment-619 Chris Juans Sat, 01 Aug 2009 06:42:11 +0000 http://www.earlyamericancrime.com/?p=1239#comment-619 Convicts who possessed valuable skills, however, more than likely enjoyed a status equivalent to indentured servants, who were generally purchased to perform specialized labor...Just wondering... Do you know what William Green's job / status was in England? Was he a sailor or an apprentice of some sort or just a common thief? In addition, was he purchased to perform specialized labor in America? Convicts who possessed valuable skills, however, more than likely enjoyed a status equivalent to indentured servants, who were generally purchased to perform specialized labor…

Just wondering… Do you know what William Green’s job / status was in England? Was he a sailor or an apprentice of some sort or just a common thief? In addition, was he purchased to perform specialized labor in America?

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