[SLAVERY & ABOLITION]. Advertisements for the return of freedom seekers published in 7 issues of The National Intelligencer. Washington, DC: 1831-1858.

Dates include 11 Aug. 1831; 18 Sept. 1837; 7, 10, 12 Oct. 1837; 10 May 1849; and 18 Sept. 1858.

Contains 12 ads with reward offers for the return of freedom seeking enslaved persons as well as a variety of other ads: 4 offers of "Cash for Negroes;" one "Negro Man for Sale;" one ad for the purchase of 4 young people to train as house servants; one ad stating that a Negro man was captured and jailed, he claimed to be a free man, the authorities are requesting someone to come and "claim" him. The 1849 issue includes an announcement of a temperance meeting. The 1858 issue contains a report on an uprising on a slave ship (the Regina coeli) near the harbor of Monrovia, Liberia.

While the focus of the earlier issues is recovery of freedom seekers, in later issues other concerns begin to emerge, especially temperance. The Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850 and possibly some thought this was taken care of. Many states were beginning to outlaw various aspects of the institution: some did not allow the importation of people for enslavement; some did not allow the sale of enslaved persons; others outlawed slavery altogether.

By issue: [all 1830s are18 x 20-1/2”]
Aug. 11, 1831 – p.1, col. 2 - $100 for Jim Hagan; p.1, col. 2 - $100 for Davy; p.1, Col. 5 – Cash for Negroes; p.2, col. 6 - $100 for David; p.4, col. 1 $100 for Henry and Jerry; p.4, col. 2 – Cash for Negroes; p.4, col. 3 - $100 for Edmund; p.4, col. 5 - $20 for Sam; p.4, col.6 - $50 for Jeffrus Griffith (plus the horse he took to escape)

Sept. 18, 1837 – p.1, col.2 – Cash for Negroes; p.1, col. 6 - Cash for Negroes (different advertiser); p.4, col. 5 – Negro man committed to jail says he is free, requesting someone to come forward and “claim” him.

Oct. 7, 1837 – p.3, col. 5 – want to purchase 4 servants, between 10 – 14 years of age (for house servants); p.3, col. 6 – Reward for Davy (David Marshall), $20 or more depending on where he is taken

Oct. 10, 1837 – p.3, col. 6 Negro man for sale

Oct. 12, 1837 – none found (very few classified ads at all in this issue)

May 10, 1849 – p.1, col. 4 - $200 for Joe; $100 for John (calls himself John Tasset) p.3, notice of temperance meeting – the focus is shifting [18 x 23”]

Sept. 18, 1858 - Two ads for freedom seeking enslaved people; plus an article on uprising on the Regina coeli, near Monrovia, Liberia; also scattered mentions of Kansas as a free state [21-1/2 x 26”]

[SLAVERY & ABOLITION]. Advertisements for the return of freedom seekers published in 7 issues of The National Intelligencer. Washington, DC: 1831-1858.

[SLAVERY & ABOLITION]. Advertisements for the return of freedom seekers published in 7 issues of The National Intelligencer. Washington, DC: 1831-1858.