The sad history of the first Asian Indians in America

We feel free when we escape – even if it be but from the frying pan into the fire. ~Eric Hoffer

In the early days of America, migrants from India were commonly called as ‘East Indians’, ‘Asian Indians’ or ‘Asiatic Indians’. These terms were used to distinguish Indian Americans – those from India – from the American natives ‘Indians’.

The first ‘East Indians’ arrived in American in early 17th century. A historical study by Martha W. McCartney confirms the presence of ‘East Indians’ in America as early as 1624. But how and why they came to America is not a pretty tale or a proud story- nothing to write home about!

Most of the Indians came to America via England as servants or helpers of Englishmen. They traveled in British trading ships, arriving in the newly established British Colony in America. Some Indians also came to America – ‘the new world’ as they called it – as lascars or helpers aboard the trading ships of the British East India Company from the Indian ports directly.

Once in America, the Indian migrants were no longer simple helpers or workers, but more like slaves. Yes, it is true; the social status of earlier East Indians who settled in America was that of slaves and servants. Their rights were very limited; they did not have the freedom to leave their masters – the ‘owners’. Their names were often changed to the English names and surnames of their masters or ‘owners’.

Some of the earliest documented presence of East Indians in America comes from the newspapers of those days. For example, in case a servant or a slave would run away, the owner used the newspapers to advertise the ‘run-away slave’, describing his looks and offering rewards for his recovery.

Here are some samples of the actual advertisements from the local newspapers, as archived by the historians:

Virginia Gazette

Williamsburg ,

August 4, 1768.

Richmond county, July 14. RUN away about the 20th of May last, an East-India Indian, named Thomas Greenwich; he is a well made fellow, about 5 feet 4 inches high, wears his own hair, which is long and black, has a thin visage, a very sly look, and a remarkable set of fine white teeth. A reward of 40s will be paid to the person who delivers him to the subscriber, besides what the law allows. WILLIAM COLSTON.



And here is another one: The Virginia Gazette newspaper reported the run away of a ‘Servant Man’. The advertisement is posted by ‘the master’ William Brown from the town of Prince William, in an effort to track down and bring back his servant. The ad, in parts, describes the run away slave and the reward as below:

Virginia Gazette

Williamsburg

13 July, 1776

“..about 20 Years of Age, 5 feet 5 or 6 Inches high, slender made, is an Asiatic Indian by Birth, has been about twelve Months in Virginia, but lived ten Years (as he says) in England, in the Service of Sir Charles Whitworth. He wears long black Hair, which inclines to curl, tied behind, and pinned up…..

.. He left his Master on the Road from Williamsburg, between King William Courthouse and Todd’s Bridge, where he was left behind to come on slowly with a tired Horse…..

…Whoever takes up the said Servant, and secures him in Gaol, giving me information thereof, so that I may get him again, shall have eight dollars Reward; and if delivered to me at Westwood, in Prince William, further reasonable Charges, paid by William Brown.”

The ad below describes and Asian Indian, who ran away in the company of a black servant. The reward is two pistols for finding and returning him to his ‘master’:

Virginia Gazette

Williamsburg ,

From April 15 to April 27, 1737.

RAN away…..an East-Indian, belonging to Mr. Heylin, Merchant, in Gloucester : He is a well-made, small young Fellow, wore his own Hair (which he may have cut off in order to disguise himself:)…. He went away on a strong well-made Grey Stallion, branded with a Dott, belonging to his Master. They ( a black slave and the East Indian Slave) went from Col. Lewis’s to Gloucester Town, where they robb’d a House, and took a Pair of Pistols, a Horse Whip, and ’tis supposed some other Things. They were seen on Monday going up King and Queen County. Whoever secures either of the fore-mentioned Servants, shall receive as a Reward, Two Pistoles ; for both of them, Four Pistoles, and for the Grey Stallion Two Pistoles; to be paid by John Lewis, and John Heylyn.

There are quite a few documented records of East Indians in early America, settled as servants or slaves in different counties in Maryland and Virginia. In some cases, they came to America with a documented agreement with their masters. For example, there is this one record of an East Indian woman in Virginia:

Martha Gamby, born say 1675, was an (East) Indian woman living in England on 5 January 1701/2 when Henry Conyers made an agreement with her that she would serve him in Virginia on condition that he would pay her passage back to England if she wished to return within the following four years. The agreement was recorded in Stafford County court about 1704 [WB, Liber Z:194].

There are court evidences, from early 18th century, of many Asian Indians petitioning for freedom and in some cases, the court granting them freedom after they had completed their service to their masters. They were called the ‘indentured servant’, required to labour for their masters for a long period of time, before they could be ‘considered’ for freedom.

Today, there are more than 2.5 millions of Indian Americans living in USA, one of the most prosperous immigrant communities in America. However, their first passage to America during early days is a sad story of old times.

Sources of information:

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