S137
The Charleston Courier
Fugitive Slave Ads
October 25, 1834
The Charleston Courier (Now The Charleston Post and Courier, founded in 1803 it brands itself as the oldest daily newspaper in the South and one of the oldest continuously operating newspapers in the United States. This copy features editor's marks which were what the ad office used to show how many more times an ad would run.
Fugitive slave ads are an ironic source of details about the lives of slaves who might otherwise be lost to history. When slaves managed to escape their captors, slave owners would often publish ads in the classifieds sections of newspapers all throughout the country offering a reward for the runaway’s recapture and return. Even George Washington took out an advertisment to recapture one of his slaves. Ironically, these ads have become an important resource for historians trying to learn more about the lives of slaves who they would otherwise know nothing about.
Slave Auction Ad: Likely young Mulatto fellow named John, 20 years of age, servant. Sold by Thomas N. Gadsden of Charleston.
Slave Auction ad: Negroes: Ned, prime fellow and coachman aged 34, Robert, elderly man good gardener, aged 55. Joseph - very intelligent servant and waiter, aged 20. Judeth, young girl aged 18 years. Sarah, aged 16 years. Hager, aged 6 years. Robert, a child aged 2. Mary Anne, a good washer, 23 years old. Maria, a prime wench, good cook and washer, aged 35 years. Hagar ,a washer, infirm and in delicate health, 35 years with 4 children - Catharine, Edwin, Susan, Henry. Sold by Jervey, Waring and White of Charleston.
Slave Auction Ad: Garney, a good Plantation carpenter, Emma, with her infant, a good seamstress and cook, Peter, accustomed to the house - age 12, Sylvy and her child, 6 years old, plain cook and washer. Sold by Jervey, Waring & White of Charleston.
Slave Auction Ad: Negro boy, 15 years old and a house servant, Negro girl, 18 years old formerly a field hand, lately a house servant, Negro Girl, 17 years old and a Ladies maid. Sold by Lance & Berney of Charleston.
Illustrated Slave runaway ad: $50 Reward for Runaway Slave "Ben", 22 or 23 years old, with the ability to "write with a tolerable hand", so he will likely pass himself off as a freeman. Ad placed by owner James Beal.
Illustrated Slave runaway ad: $100 Reward for Runaway Slaves "Penny, 35-40 years old, "James", her son that is 14-15 years old, and "Milly" her daughter that is 2 years old. The Negroes were taken from the house of David Jordon in Horry County and are believed to be in Georgetown area. Ad placed by owner Solomon Owens.
Illustrated Slave runaway ad: $10 Reward for Runaway Slave Hercules, about 19 years old, a Cooner by trade. Caution is advised harboring or carrying off the said slave, as the law will be rigidly enforced.
Slave in Jail ad: Darlington County Jail - runaway Negro man known as "Cade", belongs to Jordan Sanders of Darlington district. Ad placed by Sheriff William Wingate.
Negroes Wanted to Buy! Cash will be paid for likely Negroes of both sexes, from the age of 10 to 20 years. Persons having such Negroes to dispose of would do well to call at the City Hotel or at the store of Alexander Mcdonald at the corner of King and George streets.
For more information on Fugitive Slave Ads please visit:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archive-fugitive-slave-ads-could-shed-new-light-lost-histories-180959194/
Fugitive slave ads are an ironic source of details about the lives of slaves who might otherwise be lost to history. When slaves managed to escape their captors, slave owners would often publish ads in the classifieds sections of newspapers all throughout the country offering a reward for the runaway’s recapture and return. Even George Washington took out an advertisment to recapture one of his slaves. Ironically, these ads have become an important resource for historians trying to learn more about the lives of slaves who they would otherwise know nothing about.
Slave Auction Ad: Likely young Mulatto fellow named John, 20 years of age, servant. Sold by Thomas N. Gadsden of Charleston.
Slave Auction ad: Negroes: Ned, prime fellow and coachman aged 34, Robert, elderly man good gardener, aged 55. Joseph - very intelligent servant and waiter, aged 20. Judeth, young girl aged 18 years. Sarah, aged 16 years. Hager, aged 6 years. Robert, a child aged 2. Mary Anne, a good washer, 23 years old. Maria, a prime wench, good cook and washer, aged 35 years. Hagar ,a washer, infirm and in delicate health, 35 years with 4 children - Catharine, Edwin, Susan, Henry. Sold by Jervey, Waring and White of Charleston.
Slave Auction Ad: Garney, a good Plantation carpenter, Emma, with her infant, a good seamstress and cook, Peter, accustomed to the house - age 12, Sylvy and her child, 6 years old, plain cook and washer. Sold by Jervey, Waring & White of Charleston.
Slave Auction Ad: Negro boy, 15 years old and a house servant, Negro girl, 18 years old formerly a field hand, lately a house servant, Negro Girl, 17 years old and a Ladies maid. Sold by Lance & Berney of Charleston.
Illustrated Slave runaway ad: $50 Reward for Runaway Slave "Ben", 22 or 23 years old, with the ability to "write with a tolerable hand", so he will likely pass himself off as a freeman. Ad placed by owner James Beal.
Illustrated Slave runaway ad: $100 Reward for Runaway Slaves "Penny, 35-40 years old, "James", her son that is 14-15 years old, and "Milly" her daughter that is 2 years old. The Negroes were taken from the house of David Jordon in Horry County and are believed to be in Georgetown area. Ad placed by owner Solomon Owens.
Illustrated Slave runaway ad: $10 Reward for Runaway Slave Hercules, about 19 years old, a Cooner by trade. Caution is advised harboring or carrying off the said slave, as the law will be rigidly enforced.
Slave in Jail ad: Darlington County Jail - runaway Negro man known as "Cade", belongs to Jordan Sanders of Darlington district. Ad placed by Sheriff William Wingate.
Negroes Wanted to Buy! Cash will be paid for likely Negroes of both sexes, from the age of 10 to 20 years. Persons having such Negroes to dispose of would do well to call at the City Hotel or at the store of Alexander Mcdonald at the corner of King and George streets.
For more information on Fugitive Slave Ads please visit:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archive-fugitive-slave-ads-could-shed-new-light-lost-histories-180959194/
