Debt and Indentured Servitude—By the late 17th and 18th centuries, many Southern New England Indians were forced into indentured servitude due to increasing debts to English merchants. These debts often stemmed from reliance on store credit for necessities like food, clothing, and supplies. Colonists used these debts to legally bind Native Americans into long-term labor contracts, effectively controlling their economic and social mobility.  

Cultural and Linguistic Erosion – Due to prolonged indentured servitude, many Native American children were raised in English households, leading to the loss of their indigenous languages and traditions. Some, like Tobit Potter, were unable to speak their native Wampanoag language after years of servitude, making it difficult for them to reintegrate into their communities.