Runaway Slave Advertisements

From 18th-century Virginia newspapers.
Compiled by Thomas Costa, Professor of History
University of Virginia's College at Wise

This database can be either searched or browsed.

There are two main types of ads, those for runaways and ads for captured runaways or persons suspected of running away. The former, usually placed by the owner or overseer, contain the fullest descriptions. Captured ads, placed by sheriffs or other county officials, usually contain much less specific information but can be very informative, particularly about the fates of runaways.

The runaway and captive ads have also been tagged according to whether single, group, family, or mixed. Single ads describe one runaway or captive; group ads describe two or more runaways or captives, usually, but not always acting in concert. Family ads describe groups of runaways or captives in which there is a family relationship of some kind: mother- or father-children, husband-wife, brothers, etc. Finally, mixed ads describe groups in which blacks and whites or servants and slaves are associated or have run away together.

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