Slave Trade in American, British and French Colonies: Patterns and Changes over Time

History
Patterns and Changes over Time

Sixteenth and Eighteenth-Century records from the American, British and French
colonies highlight the popularity of slave trade (Hunt, 2015). In the European commerce, Asian
and African slaves supported trading leading to the development of commercial centers, export,
and import of good. In a Virginia Gazette, records of slaves captured and servants featured
between 18th and 19th Century indicate that slavery featured throughout the colonial and Civil
war period. For example between September 17 and September 24 of 1736, a Gazette notice in
Parks Williamsburg highlighted a story about a convicted servant who escaped from his master.
Thomas Rennolds a male shoemaker ran away with tools, a horse and clothing items. To conceal
his identity, he covered himself under a white wig and fine clothes. Posted by Anne Smith, this
advert highlights that the slave was a young adult of 20 years. From the advert, it is evident that
the law allowed rewards in form of goods such as a pistol (Smith, 1736). More adverts in the
same year include an escape from a plantation in which a Negro by the name Will from
Lancaster county of Virginia features. From the advert, this servant had a yellow complexion and
had an injury on his finger with a scar on his feet. This is evidence of the harsh working
conditions experienced by the workers. The mode of escape for slaves reveals that male servant
escaped in the company of another man and a boy. This is an indication of the use of male slave
males. It is also an indication that hereditary slavery included children of slaves.
According to the National Geographic, the Triangle Trade was profitable and popular
between 1562 and 1807 (Sue, 2018). Human cargo moved from Africa to the US and slaves were
used in the sugar, tobacco and cotton plantations. The legalization of the slave trade in the
colonies popularized its practice and slaves had to have a good stature. In February 1737
Baltimore City of Hanover County, Chiswell Charles reported a runaway by a servant man called
William Marr. This was an Irishman in his 30 with a brown complexion (Chiswell, 1737).

Spotted in Maryland, the slave’s description showed that he was of a middle stature, young and
able bodied. This inspired his master’s interest hence many adverts showed the desire to have the
slave back again. A cash reward with twenty shillings as the offer showed the emergence of
monetary modes of exchange in the period. This shows the value of slaves and the risks of losing
them. Reports reveal that the disappearance of slaves in the 1700s was an attempt to gain
independence through the acquisition of new skills for higher profits (Law, Schwarz, &
Strickrodt, 2013). Adverts in the Gazettes also show that some slaves changed names and the
identity of horses that they used to escape. Those who escaped from the northern parts traveled
towards the south.
Black (1780) puts up a notice in the Virginia Gazette with a $700 reward. The runaway is
a male slave called Caesar, an African Negro of 50 years. From this advert, it is clear that some
slaves were of a mature age and had served more than one masters. Descriptions of slaves
included physical attributes such as the scars on their bodies developed from whips received.
Some male slaves left in the company of women. Indian and black slaves later intermarried after
escaping from their master's injustices. There is an indication of some slaves being freed,
especially those who proved to be knowledgeable or gifted. Freed slaves underwent a
naturalization process and slaves embraced new religion and practices in order to overcome
discrimination challenges. Underage slaves such as 16-year-old Berkley and 12-year-old Philip
from Henrico County who traveled overseas via vessels in order to escape from
slavery (Pleasants, 1780). These grew up as slaves from their childhood under their master's
house. Servants were in abject poverty as seen in their poor clothing and if they had any money,
it was often stolen from their masters. This shows that they worked without pay, owned nothing
but their reward was high.