WHITE SERVANTS AND OVERSEERS In colonial Virginia, as in most other new countries, one of the greatest problems that confronted the settlers was that of labor.

It took human muscle to clear away the forest and tend the crops, and the quantity of human muscle available was small.

One solution of the problem was the importation of black slaves, and of this solution as it concerned Washington something will be said in a separate chapter.
Another solution was the white indentured servant.
Some of these white servants were political offenders, such as the followers of Monmouth, who were punished by transportation for a term of years or for life to the plantations.

Others were criminals or unfortunate debtors who were sold in America instead of being sent to jail.

Others were persons who had been kidnapped and carried across the sea into servitude.