enslavementto
freedom
A series of pages exploring various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Slave Advertisements
July 17 1760, Aaron, a "Black East Indian" escaped two months ago
RUN-away about two months ago, from a gentleman in this city, a black East Indian, named Aaron, is an indented servant, has long streight hair, and is much pock'd in the face. Any person sending intelligence to the London Coffee-House, where he is, so that his master may get him again, shall receive Forty Shillings reward and all reasonable charges paid.
Source
The Pennsylvania Journal or Weekly Advertiser, 17 July 1760.
Notes
Aaron, who escaped in April of 1760, is described as a "Black East Indian" man, referring to enslaved people either from islands in the Indian Ocean or directly from the Indian subcontinent. His type of enslavement is specified as indentured servitude, which may mean a few years or as many as twenty or twenty-five years. He was probably initially enslaved through the British East India Company and came to Philadelphia via the numerous merchant ships that docked in the city. His enslaver has preferred to remain anonymous, taking information at the London Coffee House, a hub for businessmen, merchants and traders.