redemptioner

American  

[ri-demp-shuh-ner] / rɪˈdɛmp ʃə nər /

noun

American History.

1. an emigrant from Europe to America who obtained passage by becoming an indentured servant for a specified period of time.

---

redemptioner British  

/ rɪˈdɛmpʃənə /

noun

1. history an emigrant to Colonial America who paid for his passage by becoming an indentured servant

---

Etymology

Origin of redemptioner

First recorded in 1765–75; redemption + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Perhaps the most noted of these was Matthew Lyon of Vermont, known as "the Hampden of Congress," who, on his arrival in New York in 1765, was sold as a "redemptioner" to pay his passage-money.

From The Glories of Ireland by Lennox, P. J.

Certainly he was not a very salable redemptioner with his three little motherless children about his knees.

From Strange True Stories of Louisiana by Cable, George Washington

One thing they certainly made plain—that Mr. Miller had never taken the Müller family or any part of them to Attakapas or knowingly bought a redemptioner.

From Strange True Stories of Louisiana by Cable, George Washington

But his fellow-passengers stole his books and everything he had, he was unable to pay for his transportation, and forced to sell his service for seven years as a redemptioner.

From The Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740 by Fries, Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta)

The redemptioner was still in demand in the Middle States.

From A Brief History of the United States by McMaster, John Bach