Runaways of Colonial New Jersey: Indentured Servants, Slaves, Deserters, and Prisoners, 1720-1781

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A majority of white immigrants to the American Colonies south of New England—and nearly all the Africans—arrived in some form of servitude, either as indentured servants or slaves. Colonial newspapers often published notices seeking the return of runaway servants or slaves, as well as deserters from the military, escapees from jail and even runaway Native American slaves and servants. The notices of runaways provide clues for genealogists and food for thought for those curious as to how the citizens of America's first century lived. Typically, the notice contained such information about the runaway as to give us a snapshot of him or her. Runaways of Colonial New Jersey condenses nearly 1,500 such New Jersey related advertisements spanning well over sixty years, from 1715 to 1781. Not only do these notices list the names of the runaways and their masters, as well as others of colonial New Jersey, they also provide answers to a variety of other queries. Where was the fugitive's place of origin? What names were in vogue among them? What were their occupations? Were they healthy? What did they look like? Were they tall or short, thin or fat? Age? Did they have any personality quirks? Were they drinkers? Even the ratio of left-handed to right-handed is included. The index contains the names of the 4,280 runaways, masters, sheriffs, commanding officers and others. Richard B. Marrin, a New York City lawyer, is the author of several Heritage Books including Passage Point and A Glance Back in Time; a number of magazine and newspaper articles on the history of New York and New Jersey; as well as articles on the history of business in America. Richard B. Marrin 2007, 5.5" x 8.5", paper, 372 pp.ISBN: 9780788440014 101-M4001 Show more