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James Kahale, or Cahalin as a YEOMAN indentured servant?

In 1761 James Cahalin married Rachel Howel (sic) in Salem, New Jersey. On the marriage document, it listed James as a YEOMAN.

We always thought he was a Yeoman on the ships going back and forth to work off his passage- at least that was the lore we heard over the years.

Recently we discovered a YEOMAN in America was an indentured servant working on a farm. These lasted 3 to seven years, I'm told.

QUESTION: Are there any records that show who, when and where the Irish signed up for indentured servitude?

So James may have been in Salem, New Jersey from about 1750's through his marriage in 1761. 

Yeomen were sometimes given land to farm at the end of their contract, and my information shows he may have lived in Pennsneck, New Jersey.

If anyone can shed some light on this, please let me know. This has been a thorn in my side for MANY years, preventing me from moving ahead.

A cousin, by DNA, came from Roscommon. There could be many areas he could have come from, but this YEOMAN revelation may help.

dcahala

3 replies

The definition of a yeoman in Ireland, and probably more commonly in England, was someone who had a small estate, normally used for cultivating crops, and normally large enough for him to qualify to vote. They would generally have been the estate owner rather than a servant on it.  Yeoman can also mean a royal servant eg “Yeomen of the Guard” who traditionally were the King or Queen's personal bodyguards in battle. I have never heard of it in connection with anything nautical, eg as a seaman. It certainly doesn’t have that meaning in Ireland.

I have never come across any comprehensive records of folk who signed up in Ireland for indentured service overseas. Indeed records of any sort for the 1700s are very scarce.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you, Elwyn. That gave me a thought: Land records from that time period. Perhaps I could find out more that way, at least for his N.J. home.

I'll look to see it that leads anywhere.

Best regards,

Don Cahala

dcahala

Here are more things for me to consider, and perhaps others who read this:

In nautical terms, a yeoman in 1760 was a ship's clerk or administrative officer. Their duties included:

  • Keeping records: This included maintaining logs, journals, and other ship documents.
  • Handling finances: They were responsible for managing the ship's finances, including payroll and supplies.
  • Correspondence: Yeomen handled correspondence between the ship and other vessels, ports, or naval headquarters.
  • Disciplinary actions: In some cases, they might be involved in enforcing ship discipline.

    ---

  • In colonial New Jersey in 1760, a yeoman was a free farmer who owned and cultivated his own land. This was a significant social and economic position, as it allowed them to be independent and self-sufficient.

    Yeomen in New Jersey typically owned a modest amount of land, often enough to support their families and perhaps a few slaves. They worked their land themselves, often with the help of their families, and may have also owned livestock or engaged in small-scale trade.

    Key characteristics of a yeoman in colonial New Jersey included:

  • Independence: They owned their own land and were not dependent on a landlord or employer.
  • Self-sufficiency: They produced much of their own food and other necessities.
  • Modest wealth: They were not wealthy landowners, but they were financially secure and independent.
  • Civic engagement: Yeomen were often involved in local politics and community affairs.

  • Yeomen were a vital part of colonial society, and their hard work and independence contributed to the growth and prosperity of the colonies.

dcahala

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