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PA Enslavement FAQs

A series of pages exploring
various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County Slavery Advertisements

Slave Sale and Runaway Advertisements

• 1738
  • June 8: Two women are advertised for sale, one white, one Black
• 1746
  • July 10: The Privateer Marlborough is up for public auction, including three slaves
• 1786
  • July 8: Two ads for adult male house servants
• 1794
  • January 25: Jerry the professional cook has escaped
  • November 19: Crispin makes his escape
• 1797
  • September 19: Runaways Gifford Dally and Allan Hellons
  • November 11: Mulatto boy for sale
• 1798
  • February 8: Twelve-year-old mulatto girl for sale
  • February 17: Escape of Mentor
  • February 20: Zelime has run away
  • April 28: Negro boy with three years to serve
  • May 16: Suicide of a captured fugitive slave girl
• 1800
  • January 17: Negro woman offered for sale
• 1817
  • June 13: William Irving, a jeweller, escapes with a gold watch
• 1734-1811
• A Sampling of Anonymous Slave Sale Advertisements
• 1745-1757
• A Sampling of Public Slave Auction Advertisements