Runaway Slave Ads
The enslavement of African descended people was an important source of capital accumulation throughout the Americas, from the late 15th to late 19th centuries. Multitudes of enslaved people rejected their bondage and fled into mountain ranges, swamps, caves, and other geographically desolate areas that could protect them from capture. Some runaways made their way to urban areas with sizable populations of free blacks into which they attempted to pass as free. Others yet reconnected with family members or fictive kinsfolk, and romantic partners. Many stole money, weapons, clothing, and forged free papers in preparation for the treacherous journey.
Slave owners had vested interest in capturing and returning these 'fugitives' to maintain labor forces and productivity levels. Therefore, it was common for planters, or plantation managers, to place advertisements for the missing individual(s) in local newspapers.
Many of these advertisements have survived the 18th and 19th centuries, and several sets have been scanned and digitized for public usage.
Source: Eddins, Crystal. "On the lives of fugitives: Runaway slave advertisement databases." 2017
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