What is the term for a person who agrees to work for another for a limited time, often in exchange for travel and sustenance?

The term for a person who agrees to work for another for a limited time, often in exchange for travel and sustenance, is an indentured servant. This practice was common during the colonial period, particularly in Virginia and other parts of the American colonies. Indentured servants entered into a contract agreeing to work for a specific number of years—typically four to seven—after which they would gain their freedom and sometimes receive a small plot of land or tools to help them start their own lives.

The arrangement offered a solution to labor shortages in the colonies and allowed individuals, often from Europe, to come to America when they could not afford the passage themselves. In exchange for their labor, they received food, shelter, and the opportunity for a new start after their servitude ended. The concept of indentured servitude contrasts with other terms like laborer, who would work for wages without a commitment to a set period, or apprentice, who learns a trade under a skilled master generally for a longer and more structured training period. An employee works for compensation but has an ongoing relationship with the employer rather than a pre-defined period of servitude.