Runaway Advertisements, Colonial Newspapers (1747-1770)



America’s Most Wanted: Runaway Slaves and Indentured Servants in Colonial America

Basic Information: Despite stiff penalties for running away from one’s master (if found, an indentured servant could be fined up to one year of labor for every day he/she was gone), many slaves and indentured servants took great risks to obtain their freedom. Their owners, anxious not to lose their investments, often placed advertisements in newspapers that described the runaway and offered a reward to anyone who helped bring about his/her return.

Examine the 10 runaway advertisements provided. Then complete the chart and answer the question that follows. Note: A reward of 5 pounds in the mid-1700s was equal to about $500 today.

|Doc # |Where? |# of Runaways |Ethnicity/ |Gender |1 Fascinating Fact |

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BIG QUESTION: What do these advertisements teach us about slavery in colonial America?

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