Legal Definitions - bondman

A bondman is an archaic legal term referring to an individual who was legally bound to serve another person, often without pay, for a specific period or for life. This status typically involved a significant loss of personal freedom and was a form of involuntary servitude, akin to a serf or slave in historical legal systems. The individual's labor and sometimes even their person were considered the property of their master or lord.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a bondman:

• Medieval Feudal System: In 12th-century England, a peasant farmer was born into a family that was legally tied to the land of a particular baron. This farmer, and his descendants, were obligated to work the baron's fields, pay taxes in goods or labor, and could not leave the estate without the baron's permission.

  Explanation: This farmer was a bondman because his legal status compelled him to serve the baron, restricting his freedom and dictating his labor without the ability to choose his employment or move freely.

• Colonial Indentured Servitude: A young man from Scotland in the 17th century, unable to afford passage to the American colonies, signed a contract agreeing to work for a planter in Maryland for five years. During this period, he received no wages, and his labor was entirely at the planter's disposal to repay the cost of his journey.

  Explanation: Although temporary, this individual functioned as a bondman for the duration of his indenture. He was legally bound by contract to serve the planter, losing control over his labor and personal freedom until the debt was repaid.

• Ancient Roman Debt Servitude: In the early Roman Republic, a citizen who incurred overwhelming debt could enter into *nexum*, a legal agreement where they became bound to their creditor. They had to work for the creditor, often for years, to pay off their debt, effectively becoming a bondman until their obligations were fulfilled.

  Explanation: This person was a bondman because the legal system compelled them into a state of servitude to their creditor, where their labor and freedom were forfeited until the debt was satisfied, illustrating a form of involuntary binding.