Advertisements offering rewards for runaway slaves were a common feature in colonial Connecticut newspapers. Beyond documenting African Americans' attempts to gain freedom, these ads offer intriguing clues to the everyday life and characteristics of enslaved people during this time period. The detailed descriptions of the slaves' clothing and physical features (included by the slave holder so his readers could easily identify the escaped slaves) evoke powerful although incomplete images of these early black residents of Connecticut colony.

All images on this page are from America's Historical Newspapers, an Archive of Americana collection, published by Readex, a division of NewsBank, in cooperation with the American Antiquarian Society.

Ishmael Runaway Advertisement
The New-London Summary or The Weekly Advertiser
January 9, 1761

Jorden Runaway Advertisement
The New-London Summary or The Weekly Advertiser
July 24, 1761
Courtesy, American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA

Bilhah Runaway Advertisement
The New-London Summary or The Weekly Advertiser
March 30, 1764

Ralph Isaacs Runaway Advertisement
The New-London Summary or The Weekly Advertiser
April 6, 1764

Pharaoh Runaway Advertisement
The New-London Gazette
November 2, 1764