I think the following helps explain the entries about Peter Wallover. From "A History of Delaware County and Its People, Volume 1," p. 189.
“Labor in Pennsylvania was, at this period, of three kinds: free hired labor, bought servants for a term of years, and slaves for life. The wages of the first class for a year, with food and lodging, in the country, was about L16 for a man, and form L8 to L10 for females. The second class consisted of such persons as annually came from different countries of Europe to settle. Real or supposed oppression brought many of them here, but most of them were very poor, and came to better their fortunes. Being without means to pay their passage, which was not more than from six to eight pounds sterling for each, they, by agreement with the captain of the ship in which they arrived, were sold for a term of years to pay this small amount.
The usual term of service was four years, and the price advanced for that term, appears at this period to have been about L14, which would leave a surplus for the redemptioner, unless it was used in the payment of charges by the government. Children were frequently sold for a longer period to pay the passage-money of their parents. At the expiration of their terms of service, each was supplied with a new suit of clothes, as was then the usual case with apprentices. Some of these foreigners who were possessed of sufficient means to pay their passage, preferred being sold, as the period of service afforded them time to learn our language and the ways of the country, and at the end of that period, the funds they brought with them were invested in the purchase of a permanent home. This kind of labor being the cheapest, and within the means of a majority of the settlers, it appears to have been substituted for that of the African slave, and at this period had nearly put an end to the importation of slaves into the Province.”[1] (Having read this…. What about the idea of Peter Wallover coming on a ship? It seems to fit.
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