When Wellfleet Thrived on Child Labor – The Provincetown Independent

Report on Bound-Out Children Labor in Colonial Wellfleet and Its Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

This report examines the historical practice of binding out pauper children as indentured laborers in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, during the pre-Revolutionary War period. The analysis highlights the social and economic context of this labor system and emphasizes its implications in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning child welfare, decent work, and reduced inequalities.

Background of Bound-Out Children Labor

In colonial America, a significant labor class was formed by “bound-out” children—pauper apprentices contracted to work without pay in exchange for food, housing, and vocational training. Wellfleet was a notable recipient of such children, with records indicating 14 indentured children between 1763 and 1772.

Characteristics of Bound-Out Children

1. Average age: 7 years old, with some as young as five months.
2. Work duration: Until age 21 for boys and 18 for girls.
3. Trades learned included coopering (barrel making), navigation, shoemaking (cordwaining), and housewifery.
4. Children were unpaid laborers, working in exchange for basic sustenance and training.

Wellfleet’s Dependency on Bound-Out Children

• Wellfleet received a disproportionate number of indentured children compared to neighboring towns.
• Key families, such as the Holbrooks and Newcombs, were prominent users of bound-out child labor to support maritime and whaling industries.
• Indenture contracts were certified by local authorities to ensure the suitability of masters.

Case Study: Henry Welch and Reuben Newcomb

On April 7, 1772, seven-year-old Henry Welch was bound to Reuben Newcomb, a respected mariner, to learn shoemaking and navigation. The contract stipulated strict behavioral rules and a service term until Henry’s 21st birthday in 1785. This arrangement exemplifies the binding-out system’s structure and social controls.

Impact of Historical Events

• The Revolutionary War and British blockade severely disrupted Wellfleet’s economy, which was heavily reliant on whaling and shellfishing.
• Post-war economic hardship led to a decline in the use of bound-out child labor in Wellfleet.
• Only one recorded indentured child was sent to Wellfleet after 1772, indicating a shift away from this labor practice.

Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 1: No Poverty

The binding-out system was a response to poverty, aiming to provide poor children with shelter and vocational skills. However, it also perpetuated economic inequalities by exploiting child labor without remuneration.

SDG 4: Quality Education

While children learned trades, the system lacked formal education and prioritized labor over holistic development, limiting lifelong opportunities.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The practice involved child labor under conditions that would not meet modern standards of decent work.
• It reflects early labor systems preceding modern labor rights and protections.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Binding out children from poor families institutionalized social inequalities by restricting their freedom and economic prospects.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Local governance played a role in regulating indenture contracts, but the system raises questions about child rights and justice under historical legal frameworks.

Conclusion

The historical practice of binding out pauper children in Wellfleet illustrates early labor systems that addressed poverty but compromised child welfare and rights. The decline of this practice aligns with evolving social values and legal reforms culminating in the abolition of indentured servitude and child labor protections. Understanding this history is essential for appreciating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty alleviation, education, decent work, and social justice.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The article discusses indentured child labor as a form of poverty alleviation for poor children, highlighting the social and economic conditions that led to binding out children for labor.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Children learned trades such as coopering, navigation, and shoemaking, which can be related to vocational education and skills development.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article addresses child labor practices, the nature of unpaid labor, and the historical context of labor rights and protections.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The role of legal contracts, oversight by town selectmen, and evolving labor laws relate to institutions and justice systems.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
   • Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, particularly women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 1 Indicators
   • Proportion of population living below the national poverty line (implied by the discussion of pauper apprentices and poor children).
2. SDG 4 Indicators
   • Percentage of youth and adults with vocational skills (implied by the trades learned by the children).
3. SDG 8 Indicators
   • Proportion and number of children engaged in child labor (implied by the records of bound-out children and indenture contracts).
   • Existence and enforcement of labor laws protecting children (implied by the historical evolution of laws such as the 13th Amendment and Fair Labor Standards Act).
4. SDG 16 Indicators
   • Number of institutions with transparent and accountable practices (implied by the role of selectmen and overseers certifying indenture contracts).
   • Access to legal documentation and contracts (implied by the preservation and study of indenture contracts).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: provincetownindependent.org