Indentured servitude
Indentured people were important mainly in the region between  Virginia to north of New Jersey. In total, about  500,000 Europeans immigrated to the American colonies before 1775. About 55,000 of these were prisoners.  The remaining 450,000 came voluntarily.  Tomlins estimates that 48% were indentured. About 75% of these were under the age of 25. The age of adulthood for men was 24 years (not 21); those over 24 generally came on contracts lasting about three years.