United States History
The American Weekly Mercury ads
The following are slavery ads that were exclusively advertised in The American Weekly Mercury. These ads were popularly known as Runaway Slave Ads.
In a Runaway Slave Ad run on The American Weekly and dated November 15, 1722, it ran a story of a runaway black slave called Fransh Manuel. The slave was said to be mostly known by the name Manuel. The attractive rangy slave and speaking uncorncerned English, was reported to have escaped from William Yard, Trenton, New Jersey on November 5, 1722. Indifferent On the day of his escapade, he was clad in the following outfits: a black homemade coat, Ozenbrig parka and slacks, auburn sheep socks, new-fangled footwear and a timeworn Beveret cap. With a pretense of being an independent slave, he had been granted go by. Conversely, he formerly belonged to John Raymond from Fairfield, New England from whom he was purchased. The runaway slave has been telling a lie of discovering a mass of ore for his slave owner that bought his freedom. A plea is hereby made that whoever assists William Yard in catching the runaway slave or takes him to either William Bradford, New York or William Burge will have awarded forty shillings plus other logical payment.
Dated August 1,1723, carried an ad about Jack, a black runaway short slave. Jack, originally from Madagscar, was said to have escaped around June 15, 1723 from the custody of Gabriel Stelle, a Shresbury resident. Jack was clad in two shirtings, one ozenbrig and another made of wool, a pair of slacks made of leather, a homemade jacket, a black body-fitting stylish coat together with Kersey Great-Coat, a timeworn Beaver cap and squared footwear made of timber heels. Assistance by anyone that will lead to the handling of Jack to the owner, Isaac Stelle of Allens Town will be awarded a couple of pistols and other logical payment.
Dated July 9, 1724, the American Weekly Mercury runaway slave ad was of Richard Boon. The eighteen-year-old runaway slave was an attendant. He escaped from Alexander Morgan Pensawkin Creek, Glouster County, West New Jersey, on June 9, 1724. The runaway slave has little auburn hair. The slave was in the company of another ten-year-old slave called Caesar. With the non-negro escapee clad in a homemade auburn Kersey Coat, a fedora and a pelt cagoule; they escaped on a double-sailed boat. Anyone’s assistance that will lead to the capture of the escapees will be awarded by the owner forty shillings plus other logical payment.
Dated September 17, 1724, the runaway slave ad by The American Weekly Mercury was about Tom, an escapee. Tom, a slave originally from Malisgasco, escaped from Cornelius Van Horne’s agricultural estate which is located on River Rariton. His features are possibly-black, of considerably big stature and has a murderous glance. He is clad in a homemade tan cagoule which has both lines and brass fasteners. Anyone’s assistance that will lead to the delivery of the escapee to his owner, Cornelius Van Horne, either in New York or Amboy, will be appreciated by being paid £3 and other sensible payments.
Dated July, 14, 1726, the slave ad by The American Weekly Mercury was about a black slave, PoPaw, who was compelled by hunger to John Leonards’ home, in River Bridge close to Amboy; found in Eastern Division, New Jersey. He has an average height, and is either English illiterate or pretends he can’t speak. PoPaw’s teeth appear to be filled modified and he’s reluctant to disclose his owner’s name. The owner of PoPaw is hereby requested to get his slave from Leonard or summon for after awarding Leonard, in case there’s a reward, or by adhering to the rules governing the Province; and after also sensibly settling his diet expenses incurred up to the time that he will be taken.
Dated April 6, 1726, the runaway slave ad by The American Weekly Mercury was about a possibly black twenty-four-year-old youth. James, as the slave claims to be called, has slight English command and is unable to point out where he hails from or his master’s name. The slave, in the care of William Nichols, Esq. Monmouth County’s High Sheriff, will be handled over to the owner upon settling the payment.
The runaway slave ad by The American Weekly Mercury is dated June 1, 1727. A twenty-six-year-old black slave, Will, escaped on May 21, 1727 from James Leonard’s custody, New Jersey. He was clad in a timeworn bright watch-coat and pelt knickerbockers, a couple of shirts and uncolored support tights; he’s purportedly armed with a gun and he has fluent English (America). Anyone’s assistance in helping the slave’s owner get him back will be awarded by James Leonard.
The slave ad by The American Weekly Mercury dated May 1, 1729, was of a captured black slave on May, 1729. The slave, around 43 years old, was caught in Burlington for pilfering assorted people’s items. The slave claimed that he was owned by a person called Roger Mathews from Baltimore County, Maryland who was related to Edward Hall by marriage. Note carefully that the slave was before owned by Governeur Markham; Mr. Reneir, an attorney, traded him in Maryland.
Dated October 16, 1729, The American Weekly Mercury ad; a couple of slaves, Aristobus Christopher and Mulato John, escaped from Burlington on the 20th of October, 1729. Christopher, aged about thirty, is dark-skinned, has a huge mass of tanned hair, has a height of about 5’8” and is sold as a ship repairer ship. John, is aged around forty, has a height of around 6’2”, rotund, and has an unctuous face and little tanned hair. The slave acts as if he deals with carpentry. Thomas Hunlock shall award forty shillings to anyone who assists in capturing one of them or the two by taking them to Burlington.
Dated 24th of October, 1734, in Philadelphia, The American Weekly Mercury; Wan, an Indian-Africa, rotund, mono-eyed black slave, escaped from the custody of Samuel Leonard, Perth Amboy, New Jersey on June 26, 1734. He was clad in an azure coat. He’s good on the fiddle instrument and fluent English and Indian. Anyone’s assistance in helping Samuel Leonard get him back, will be awarded £3 plus other sensible payments by the above owner.

Reference
America, Radford University African. Homepage. 28 November 2011 <http://www.radford.edu/~shepburn/web/hist330.htm>.