Enslavementto
freedom
A series of pages exploring various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Slave Sale Advertisements
Advertisements for Public Slave Auctions
Introduction
A popular location for the public sale of enslaved persons in Philadelphia was the London Coffee House. People sold by public auction at this location were less likely to be newly arrived Africans, but persons already owned by local slaveholders. Potential buyers seeking to purchase a slave would watch the local newspaper for published notices of public sales, also called "vendues," and either bid in person or designate someone to act as an agent and bid on their behalf. Several of the advertisements below are unusual in that fourteen and nineteen slaves were placed up for sale at a single auction. Most public slave sales at this location involved one or two enslaved persons at one time.
The image above, an engraving by T. H. (Thomas Howland) Mumford, is taken from an 1850 edition of John F. Watson's, Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania in the Olden Time, Vol. 1. It shows the London Coffee House, a gathering place for merchants, businessmen and citizens in general. It was also a center of commerce for the city and a prime location for the public auctions of real estate, goods, and enslaved people. Look closely at the right of the image and you will see a slave auction in progress, with six people exhibited for sale standing on a plank supported by barrels.
Compare the top, 1850 image with the original illustration above by lithographer William L. Breton, taken from the first edition of Watson's book. Breton created the lithographs, including this one of the London Coffee House, for the 1830 edition from sketches done by the author, John F. Watson, an artist himself. Breton used Watson's sketch of the London Coffee House, but it was Breton, an Englishman recently arrived in Philadelphia, who made the decision to add a slave auction to the scene. The artist for the later image at top, T. H. Mumford, recreated it as an engraving with a higher level of detail for the subsequent edition. Mumford also edited Breton's 1830 lithograph slightly. Mumford's newer image, on top, preserves almost all of the details of Breton's 1830 original, including nearly every bystander and person on the wooden sidewalks. But it leaves out the Black woman in the street, carrying a basket on her head, and it significantly minimizes the slave auction by allowing the details to blend with the background. Clearly, artist T. H. Mumford felt Philadelphians might be uncomfortable with this graphic reminder of their history of enslavment, given the heated national mood regarding slavery.
Source: Deborah Dependahl Water, Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum, "Philadelphia's Boswell: John Fanning Watson," Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, v. 98 (1974), pp. 3-52.
The Advertisements
ON Monday the 6th of August, at the Court-House in Philadelphia, will be exposed to Sale by Publick Vendue, A very good Negro Woman and her Child, A Boy about 2 Years old, and a Mulatto Boy about 9 Years of Age, for the Term of 22 Years: All lately taken in Execution, By Owen Roberts, Sheriff. (The American Weekly Mercury, 26 July 1722)
ON Saturday the 25th of this Instant August, precisely at Noon, will be sold by publick Vendue, to the highest Bidder, at Mr. Owen's, the Sign of the Indian-King in Market-Street, Philadelphia, a very likely young NEGRO MAN. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, 09 August 1739.)
To be sold next Wednesday, at Ten o'Clock in the Morning, at Peter Robeson's, at the Sign of the Indian King, in Market Street, A Likely Negro Woman, aged about 35 Years, and her Child 3 Years, which is a Female. She can do all Manner of Houshold Work. N.B. She is good condition'd and an honest Creature. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, 05 July 1744.)
On Wednesday the 11th Instant, at Mr. Hamilton's Wharff, will be sold, by publick Vendue, NINETEEN Negroe Men and Boys, brought in by the Privateers; several of them stout able bodied Seamen; as also a Parcel of Hides and Skins. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, 10 December 1745)
Philadelphia, March 24. 1746-7. To be SOLD, A Prime able young Negro man, fit for laborious work, in town or country, that has had the smallpox: As also a middle aged Negro man, that has likewise had the smallpox. Enquire of the printer hereof: Or otherwise they will be expos'd to sale by publick vendue, on Saturday the 11th of April next, at 12 o'clock, at the Indian-king, in Market-street. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, 02 April 1747.)
Philadelphia, May 7, 1747. To be sold at Publick Vendue, on Monday next, at Mr. Hamilton's wharff, TWO likely Negroes, a choice parcel of wearing apparel, houshold furniture, glasses, China, and other goods, with near 400 ounces of silver plate. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, 07 May 1747)
A Likely young new Negroe girl, to be sold at the sign of the Indian king, in Market-street, by publick vendue, on the 6th of April next. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, 19 March 1751)
To be SOLD, by publick Vendue, on Saturday next, the 25th of this instant June, at eleven a Clock in the Forenoon, at the Sign of the Indian King, in Market-street, A likely NEGROE LAD, about eighteen Years of Age. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, 23 June 1757)
ON Saturday next will be sold at publick Vendue, at the London Coffee house, about Noon, A very strong likely Negroe Boy, about 17 Years old, has had the small pox, understands taking Care of Horses perfectly, can lay Cloth, and wait on Table for a Gentleman Family, and can do every Part of hard Labour. He will be put up at Fifty Pounds, and not under. Enquire of Mr. JUDAH FOULKE. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 04, 1758)
A LIKELY NEGROE WENCH, that can cook and wash, and has had the Small Pox, to be sold at public Vendue, at the London Coffee House, on Saturday the 20th Instant, at Twelve o'Clock. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, December 11, 1760)
TO be sold by public Vendue, at the London Coffee House, on Saturday the 30th Instant, a likely Negroe Wench, fit for Town or Country Business. She has had the Smallpox and Measles. N.B. She is not sold for any Fault, but on Account of the Decease of her Master. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, January 28, 1762)
Philadelphia, April 27, 1762. ON the Tenth of next Month, between Twelve and One o'Clock, will be sold, at the London Coffee House, two likely Negroe Men, and a Negroe Woman; they are sold for no Fault. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 29, 1762). A similarly worded ad appeared in the Pennsylvania Journal of the same date.
TO BE SOLD, By public Vendue, at the London Coffee house, on Saturday the 8th Day of October at 11 o'Clock, if not sold before at private Sale, A Likely healthy Negroe Wench, about 24 Years of Age, this Country born, has had the Small Pox, and Measles, understands Town and Country Business well, can Wash, Iron, Cook very well. For further Particulars enquire of JOHN MERRIT, on Society hill, in Almond street, near the Blue bell. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, September 29, 1763)
TO be sold by public Vendue, at the London Coffee house, on Saturday, the 17th Instant, at Eleven o'Clock in the Forenoon, a lusty spry Negroe Man, about 30 Years of Age, is a Tanner and Currier by Trade, but is exceeding capable of learning any other Business. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, March 15, 1764)
TO be sold at the London Coffee house, at 12 o'Clock, on the 17th of March, a likely healthy Negroe Woman, about 25 Years of Age, has had the Small Pox and Measles, can Wash well, and is a good Cook; she can be well recommended for her Honesty. Any Person inclining to purchase the said Negroe before the Day of Sale, may apply to JOHN MERRIT, Caulker, in Almond street, Society hill, near the Blue Bell. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, March 8, 1764)
TO be sold by public Vendue, at the London Coffee house, on Saturday, the 24th of November inst. at Twelve o'Clock, A very likely healthy Negroe Girl, between 17 and 18 Years of Age, fit for Town or Country Service; she has been about five Years in the Country, has had the Smallpox, can cook, wash and iron. N.B. The Duty already paid. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, November 22, 1764)
TO be SOLD on Saturday next, at 12 o'Clock, at the London Coffee house, if not sold before by private Sale, a likely Negroe Woman and Child; she can cook, and do all Sorts of House Work, and is fit for either Town or Country Business. Enquire of SAMUEL SIMPSON, in Chestnut street, near the corner of Third street. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 09, 1765)
TO BE SOLD, On Saturday the 27th Instant, at the London Coffee House, TWELVE or Fourteen valuable NEGROES, consisting of young Men, Women, Boys and Girls; they have all had the Small Pox, can talk English, and are seasoned to the Country. The Sale to begin at Twelve o'Clock. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, July 18, 1765; The Pennsylvania Journal or Weekly Advertiser, 25 July 1765)
TO BE SOLD, By publick vendue, at the London Coffee House, the 15th day of April instant, A LIKELY Negroe man, about 18 or 19 years of age. Also a likely Negroe woman with a female child, who has had the small pox; can both be recommended for their honesty. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 02, 1767)
To be SOLD, by public VENDUE, At the London Coffee-House, on Saturday, the Ninth of July, at Twelve o'Clock, A LIKELY NEGROE WENCH, about 20 Years of Age, that can Cook, Wash, and Iron, and do all Manner of House work; she was brought up in the Country, and can likewise do Country-work. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, 07 July 1768.)
A likely NEGROE MAN, To be sold by public vendue, at the London Coffee House, on Saturday, the 19th instant May, if not sold before. HE understands all kinds of housework, can wait on table, and tend horses; he has also some knowledge of country work. Any Person inclined to buy him at private sale, is desired to apply to the PRINTERS. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 10, 1770)
TO BE SOLD, A STRONG healthy Negroe woman, fit for country business, about 24 or 25 years of age; she is old for no fault but want of employ. For further particulars, enquire of the printers hereof. If she should not be disposed of before Saturday, the 24th of July next, she will then be sold at the London Coffee house, at 12o. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, June 28, 1770)
To be SOLD by Public Vendue, On Wednesday the 30th, inst. at ten o'clock in the forenoon, at the Coffee-house, A HANDSOME young NEGRO MAN, named Louis, about eighteen years old, born in Martinico, five feet and six inches high, well shaped, very healthy, and has had the small-pox. The cash to be paid on delivering the same. (Pennsylvania Packet, 19 June 1779.)
On Saturday, the 12th Instant, At twelve o'clock at noon, will be sold at the Coffee-house, The Time of a Negroe Boy, Now twelve years old, till he is free according to law. Taken in execution by WILLIAM WILL, Sheriff. Philadelphia, April 5, 1783. (The Pennsylvania Gazette, 09 April 1783.)
Philadelphia, April 2, 1784. On SATURDAY the 10th instant, at 6 o'clock in the evening, will be sold at the Coffee-House, A Likely Negro man, about 21 years of age. Taken in execution and to be sold by T. PROCTOR, sheriff. (The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, 03 April 1784.)
Beyond Philadelphia
By the 1770s public sentiment in Philadelphia was slowly turning against slaveholding as an acceptable practice. Of those who no longer wished to enslave people, a few manumitted those they held in bondage but most looked to "dispose" of their slaves by selling them, often by anonymous notices in the newspaper. Public "vendues" of slaves became less frequent even as advertisements by brokers, seeking to purchase any and all slaves, increased. Slave brokers could easily find buyers for the enslaved in Maryland and Virginia.
The public auction of enslaved Black people, though fading in Philadelphia, continued elsewhere. Philadelphia businessman Charles Young partnered with Baltimore businessman Thomas Ewing to open a public auction house on Frederick Street in nearly Baltimore, "for the public sale of all estates, viz. Houses, lands, vessels, negroes, &c." The announcement of this new venture in Philadelphia newspapers, by a well-known Philadelphia merchant, meant that enslaved Blacks in the city would still have to fear the horrors of an auction block if their owners so desired.
BALTIMORE, January, 1772.
THOMAS EWING of BALTIMORE, and CHARLES YOUNG of PHILADELPHIA, takes this method to acquaint their friends, and the country in general, that they have opened a VENDUE in the town of Baltimore, and province of Maryland, for the public sale of all estates, viz. Houses, lands, vessels, negroes, &c. &c. and have erected a large and convenient store in Frederick-street, for the sale of all kinds of goods; and on Wednesday and Thursday, the 5th and 6th of February next, will be sold by Public Vendue, at their store in Frederick-street, a very large and neat assortment of Mechandize, which will be continued ont hose days weekly. Vendues at the Coffee-house, will be published in hand bills.
N.B. Goods are received by them at their respective dwellings in Gay-street, or at their Vendue-house.
EWING AND YOUNG.
Notes