Slavery in Colonial America: Patterns, Changes, and Records

This essay examines the history of slavery in Colonial America, focusing on the 16th to 18th centuries. The analysis draws on historical records, including the Virginia Gazette, to illustrate the prevalence and evolution of the slave trade. The essay highlights the experiences of enslaved people, including their modes of escape, the harsh working conditions, and the legal framework surrounding slavery. It discusses the profitability of the Triangle Trade, the role of indentured servants, and the social structures that emerged from the slave trade. The essay also explores the efforts of slaves to gain independence, the challenges they faced, and the changes in slavery over time, emphasizing the impact of industrialization, imperialism, and commercialization on enslaved people. The essay references historical documents such as advertisements for runaway slaves and laws related to the treatment of slaves. The essay concludes by emphasizing the value of slaves and the legal context in which they were viewed.

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.

Bagchi (2012) identifies the emergence of industrialization, imperialism, and the
commercialization process. Slaves paid the price in this process because many faced
mistreatment and exploitation for economic activities. As a result, many ended up with scars on
forehead, around the eyes, mouth, and body. Slaves longed to become free men and many
learned their master's language in order to fit into society. When escaping these slaves would
wear suits and fine coats in order to appear as freedmen. Posing as their master’s property,
arrested slaves who found during a failed escape were sent back to their masters. Newspapers in
Maryland in the 1800s explain how indentured servants were captured and dealt with in
accordance with the law (Jones, 1803). The transportation of slaves was similar to goods in a
container vessel and the importation of some of them was in coffins (Hunt, 2015). In order to
pass as free men, the runaway slaves had to change their identity. The quest for social justice saw
a number of male slaves elope with their female counterparts. Captured slaves would be sent to
jail or back to their masters.
Social structures formed from slave trade include human rights societies that opposed the
arrest of slaves. Slavery laws in territories contained information on how to treat slaves and
descendants. The prosecution of runaway slaves in 1800 was acceptable by law and was meant to
discourage slaves from escaping (Herbert, 1802). Owners were not at liberty to grant freedom to
the slaves and adverts carried warnings forbidding people from employing or hosting runaway
slaves. Slaves were skilled in labor, business, and trade. This made them valuable goods that
brought profits to their master. Active slaves had higher value and this explains why many
masters preferred to purchase young men as slaves. Quality slaves bore higher rewards and it
was illegal for anyone to move them to a new colony. Therefore, changes in slavery came about
progressively (Fede, 2012).

References
Bagchi, A. K. (2012). Nineteenth century imperialism and structural transformation in colonized
countries. Peasants and Globalization, 95-122.
Black, W. (1780, October 11). Richmond. Retrieved from Virginia Gazette:
http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/search/relatedAd.php?
adFile=vg1780.xml&adId=v1780100036
Chiswell, C. (1737, February 18). Virginia Gazette. Retrieved from Geography of Slavery:
http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/search/relatedAd.php?
adFile=sg37.xml&adId=v1737021292
Fede, A. (2012). People without rights: An interpretation of the fundamentals of the law of
slavery in the US South . Routledge.
Herbert, W. (1802, August 13). Stop the Runaway. Alexandria Advertiser and Commercial
Intelligencer. Retrieved from http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/search/relatedAd.php?
adFile=vg1802.xml&adId=v1802080034
Hunt, P. (2015). Slavery. In P. Hunt, Global Histories (pp. 76-100). Michigan: Grand State
University . Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139059251.006
Jones, W. (1803, February 22). Jailor of Norfolk Borough. Virginia Gazette. Retrieved from
http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/search/relatedAd.php?
adFile=vg1803.xml&adId=v1803020065
Law, R., Schwarz, S., & Strickrodt, S. (2013). Commercial agriculture, the slave trade and
slavery in Atlantic Africa. Boydell & Brewer Ltd.

Pleasants, T. (1780, October 18). Richmond. Retrieved from Virginia Gazette:
http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/search/relatedAd.php?
adFile=vg1780.xml&adId=v1780100042
Smith, A. (1736, September 17-24). Virginia Gazette ( Parks), Williamsburg, . Retrieved from
Geography of slavery: http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/search/relatedAd.php?
adFile=sg36.xml&adId=v1736091282
Sue, C. (2018). A history of slavery in the United States: browse through a timeline of America's
peculiar institution. National Geographics. Retrieved from
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/slavery-united-states/