In 16 forty, an african indentured servant by the name of john punch runs away from his servitude. He doesn't run away alone but with a dutchman and a scotsman who are all endentured servants. The judge tells john punch that he will labor for his master for the rest of his days. What have we written down? Slavery. Some africans were already effectively enslaved in virginia by 1640. But the punch case seems to be the first explicit approval of lifelong servitude.