Source of Labor

Slaves were, of course, the chief source of labor in Saint Johns Parish. There was a slave market at Sunbury where plantation owners in Saint Johns Parish bought and sold slaves. Ships brought the slaves to Bermuda Island where they were unloaded and walked to Sunbury.

Plantation owners in Saint Johns Parish offered for sale from time to time, white convicts and immigrants herded through the colonies like cattle by what was known as “soul drivers.” It is more than likely that this, too, was a source of labor for the Saint Johns Parish plantations. ”

There were “indentured” persons on Saint Johns Parish plantations long before the Revolutionary War. These were people who wanted to leave England and Europe and lacked the necessary passage fare. A plantation owner would put up the passage fare for an individual, who became indentured to the planter and worked for him until he had repaid the money.