The Collaborative International Dictionary
Redemptioner \Re*demp"tion*er\ (-?r), n.
One who redeems himself, as from debt or servitude.
Formerly, one who, wishing to emigrate from Europe to America, sold his services for a stipulated time to pay the expenses of his passage.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"indentured servant," 1775, from redemption + -er (1).\n\nREDEMPTIONER. One who redeems himself or purchases his release from debt or obligation to the master of a ship by his services; or one whose services are sold to pay the expenses of his passage to America.
[Webster, 1830]
Wiktionary
n. 1 An immigrant, generally from the 18th or 19th century, that gained passage to America by selling themselves as an indentured servant. 2 Someone who redeems oneself, such as from debt or servitude.
Wikipedia
Redemptioners were European immigrants, generally in the 18th or early 19th century, who gained passage to American Colonies (most often Pennsylvania) by selling themselves into indentured servitude to pay back the shipping company which had advanced the cost of the transatlantic voyage. British indentured servants generally did not arrive as redemptioners after the early colonial period due to certain protections afforded them by law. Redemptioners were at a disadvantage because they negotiated their indentures upon arrival after a long and difficult voyage with no prospect to return to their homelands.
Usage examples of "redemptioner".
On their arrival in Pennsylvania the captain sold them to the colonists to pay the passage, and the redemptioner had to work for his owner for a period varying from five to ten years.
He must have been an escaped redemptioner, for he wore jauntily a swanskin three-cornered hat and stained breeches of a fine cloth.