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PA Enslavement FAQs

A series of pages exploring various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Slave Sale Advertisements

Advertisements for Public Slave Auctions

Introduction

The spectacle of a public auction of enslaved people was less frequent in rural Cumberland County than in the big city of Philadelphpia, but it did occur from time to time. Unlike Philadelphia, where enslaved people were sold like livestock at public auctions, often in "lots" directly from slave ships, by slave merchants, the public auction of enslaved people in the rural counties of Pennsylvania typically occurred during a liquidation sale by the executors of an estate, or by the local sheriff to settle a legal action.

Regardless of circumstances, the experience of being placed on display in a highly public location before an assembled crowd, to be bid upon by strangers, would have been humiliating and terrifying. Any change from one enslaver to another represented uncertainty and confusion at a minimum, and when the new enslaver was a complete stranger, certainly stress and fear of an unknown future. When the humiliation of being sold at "public sale" was added, this was a horrendous solution to disposing of human property.

The Advertisements

• To be sold by public vendue,
  On FRIDAY the 24th instant, at Shippensburgh,
  TWO Houses in the street, with necessary stabling and the Lots containing them, the property of the subscriber; at the same time and place will be disposed of 150 acres of land within three quarters of a mile of the town; 70 acres of the above is cleared and under good fence; likewise 9 Negro MEN and WOMEN. Twelve months credit will be given on approved security, to the purchaser, or a longer time if required, on their paying interest.
  JAMES CISSNE,
  November 8, 1786. (The Carlisle Gazette and the Western Repository of Knowledge, 08 November 1786.)
  

• BY Virtue of sundry Writs of Venditioni Exponas to me directied, will be exposed to public sale on TUESDAY the 20th day of February, instant, in the Borough of Carlisle, a certain Negroe Wench, named DOLL, and other personal property of John Davis, now deceased. Seized and taken in execution, and to be sold by
  JOHN BOGGS, Late Sheriff.
  Carlisle, 31, Jan. 1787. (The Carlisle Gazette and the Western Repository of Knowledge, 07 February 1787.)
  

• Also to be sold by public vendue on the premises on Tuesday the 27th instant a likely Negro Boy, 13 years of age, duly registered; also horses, cows, a waggon and gears, a wind-mill, and sundry other articles of houshold and farming utinsils. Twelve months credit will be given on good security, if required. Attendance will be given by CATHERINE THOMPSON, ROBERT MAGAW., Exers.
  Carlisle, March 1787. (The Carlisle Gazette and the Western Repository of Knowledge, 14 March 1787.)
  

• BY virtue of sundry writs of Fieri Facias to me directed, will be exposed to public sale on Friday the 20th of this instant April, at the Court-House in the Borough of Carlisle, one Negroe Wench, and Horses. Seized and taken in execution as the property of James Irwin, and to be sold by
  CHARLES LEEPER, Sheriff.
  April 10, 1787. (The Carlisle Gazette and the Western Repository of Knowledge, 18 April 1787.)
  

• BY Virtue of a Writ of Fieri Facias to me directed, will be exposed to public sale, at the Court-House, in the borough of Carlisle, on Saturday the 26th insant; -- One NEGRO MAN; Seized and taken in execution, and to be sold by CHARLES LEEPER, Sheriff.
  Carlisle, April 7, 1788. (The Carlisle Gazette and the Western Repository of Knowledge, 09 April 1788.)
  
  

• TO be sold by public sale at three o'clock on SATURDAY the 16th of May next, at the Court-house in the borough of Carlisle: -- A NEGRO WENCH. Seized and taken in execution as the property of Mathew Taylor, by
  CHARLES LEEPER, Sheriff.
  Carlisle, April 28th, 1789. (The Carlisle Gazette and the Western Repository of Knowledge, 13 May 1789.)
  

• To be Sold BY PUBLIC VENDUE,
  At the subscribers house in Shippensburgh, on Tuesday the 25th day of May next.
  ONE copper still, with head and worm, containing 230 gallons; -- one complete good waggon, nearly new; a light family carriage, with harness complete for two horses; -- a likely negro wench, about 23 or 24 years old; -- some good horses; -- a quantity of store goods; and many other articles too tedious to mention. The vendue to begin at 9 o'clock, in the forenoon, when due attendance and a reasonable credit will be given, by
  JOHN COPLEY.
  Shippensburgh, April 23, 1790. (The Carlisle Gazette and the Western Repository of Knowledge, 23 April 1790.)
  

• To be Sold, By Public Vendue,
  ON the third day of March next, at the late Dwelling House of Daniel Duncan, in the Town of Shippensburgh, a quantity of household and kitchen furniture, farming utensils consisting of two wagons and harness compleat, four ploughs and three harrows, a great number of hogs, sheep, and horses, and a large stock of black cattle. An excellent house wench will be disposed of at the same time, and five young negro children duly registered, who have to serve until they arrive at the age of twenty-eight years. [additional items listed]
  JAMES DUNLOP,
  THOMAS DUNCAN,
  ROBERT COLWELL,} Admrs.
  February 1st, 1791. (The Carlisle Gazette and the Western Repository of Knowledge, 02 March 1791.)
  Details on the six enslaved persons auctioned here may be found with the listings of Daniel Duncan of Shippensburg.

• SALE THIS DAY.
  NOTICE IS HERERBY GIVEN, that whereas no master has yet appeared to claim BILL, the Negro boy, who has for sometime past been advertised as a Runaway, he will be SOLD THIS DAY, to discharge his fees and expences.
  ROBERT GRAYSON, Jailer.
  Carlisle, Cumberland county, October 30, 1793. (The Carlisle Gazette and the Western Repository of Knowledge, 30 October 1793.)
  More information on this person may be found here.