Candace,

It is my understanding that iron collars were not regularly used on 
indentured servants in the 17th - 18th centuries, unless such a restraining device was 
necessary due to violent or criminal transgressions. Although such devices 
(along with shackles) were used on slaves in the middle passage, the vast 
majority of native born and acculturated slaves in the colonial period were not 
collared, shackled, or otherwise restrained on the plantations, towns, and 
factories of the South. Only if the person proved problematic to the owner and social 
order - either by being a runaway or committing crimes - were they placed in 
restraints. They're definition of "problematic" was, of course, highly 
subjective, and punishment or restraint could be liberally applied or not - according 
to the whim of the owners.

Most of the surviving iron collars, shackles, etc.that I have seen appear to 
be from the 19th century, when the fear of slaves and slave revolt lead to 
much more common use of these things. And such collars were also used on dogs - 
so it would be useful to get photos of your object sent to a knowledgeable 
person for comparison.

Indentured servants and slaves were given identity "papers" if they were 
traveling or loaned-out. Read the indentured servant, apprentice, and slave 
runaway ads in period gazettes - they're a great source of information.

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator
Los Angeles, California

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