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.

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redemptioner British  

/ rɪˈdɛmpʃənə /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of redemptioner

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

redemptioner

I remembered Ringan's tale of the Scots redemptioner that had escaped from Norfolk county, and the various strange writings which had descended from the hills.

From Salute to Adventurers by Buchan, John

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)

One redemptioner is described as running off in "sliders and buskins."

From Two Centuries of Costume in America, Volume 1 (1620-1820) by Earle, Alice Morse

Like them he came an emigrant under the Dutch flag, and like them his passage was paid in New Orleans by his sale as a redemptioner.

From Strange True Stories of Louisiana by Cable, George Washington

Though Clate Wellford and the other coal miners never heard the word redemptioner and indent, they were not unlike those pioneer victims of unscrupulous subordinates.

From Blue Ridge Country by Caldwell, Erskine