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Enslaved persons, chained together in a coffle, are paraded through the streets of Washington D.C. on their way to the slave market. Detail from a larger print in the Library of Congress.

 

 

Franklin County Anonymous Private Slave Sales

Anonymous Advertisements

Inhabitants of the rural counties of Pennsylvania that wished to purchase an enslaved Black person in the 18th century typically had to either visit Philadelphia or Baltimore to patronize an established dealer in slaves, or find someone, either in the city or locally, willing to sell. Newspapers of the day published advertisements from persons selling their enslaved people. Such ads typically included a brief description of the person enslaved, selling points, and after 1780, their state of servitude, whether a "slave for life" or for a term of years.

Newspaper advertisements of the 18th century usually included the name of the person offering an enslaved person for sale. But after the 1780 Gradual Abolition Act, and as the 19th century dawned, more and more of these ads kept the seller's name private, instructing interested parties to "Enquire of the printer." While advertisements for other things occasionally used the same device to hide a seller's identity, instructions to contact the printer, an agent or another intermediary became the norm in ads for enslaved persons after 1800, likely reflecting a growing stigma on slaveholding.

The selection of anonymous slave advertisements below are all examples collected from Franklin County newspapers.

  • Anonymous 1802 Chambersburg advertisement to sell an enslaved Black woman and her baby. FOR SALE
    THE time of a Negro Woman, aged 25 years, who has 6 years to serve, with her son 18 months old. Apply to the Printer hereof. Chambersburg, Oct. 27.

    Source: Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, PA), 24 November 1802, page 4.

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  • Anonymous 1806 Chambersburg advertisement to sell a young enslaved Black woman. FOR SALE,
    A Healthy Young Negro Wench.
    well aquainted with all kind of house work, about 25 or 26 years of age, a slave for life.
    Inquire of the
    PRINTER.
    July 1st, 1806.

    Source: Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, PA), 15 July 1806, page 4.

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  • Anonymous 1806 Chambersburg advertisement to sell an enslaved 9-year-old boy. FOR SALE,
    A HEALTHY
    Negro Boy,
    about 9 years old. For information inquire of
    The PRINTER.
    August 4, 1806.

    Source: Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, PA), 26 August 1806, page 4.

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  • Anonymous 1814 Chambersburg advertisement to sell an enslaved 13-year-old boy. For Sale,
    THE time of a NEGRO BOY, who is about 13 years of age and has better than 6 years to serve. He is healthy, strong an active for his age, -- is accustomed to working on a farm, and has no fault that the owner knows of, but he wishes to part with him merely because he has no employ for him.
    Enquire of the Printer.
    November 9, 1814.

    Source: Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, PA), 22 November 1814, page 4.

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  • Anonymous 1815 Chambersburg advertisement to sell an enslaved Black girl. For Sale,
    THE time of a NEGRO GIRL, who has nearly eight years to serve. Healthy, active and well acquainted with house-work.
    Enquire of the Printer.
    October 2d, 1815

    Source: Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, PA), 03 October 1815, page 3.

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  • Anonymous 1817 Chambersburg advertisement to sell an enslaved Black child. FOR SALE,
    THE time of a NEGRO BOY, who has between 4 & 5 years to serve.
    Inquire of the Printer. March 25.

    Source: Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, PA), 01 April 1817, page 4.