Enslavement in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Anonymous Slave Sale Advertisements

For Sale, AN active Negro BOY, seven years old -- fourteen years to serve -- Likewise a handsome COACHEE with HARNESS. Enquire of the Printer. October 19, 1799. (Oracle of Dauphin and Harrisburgh Advertiser, 21 October 1791.)

To be sold, A healthy, stout NEGRO WENCH, about thirty-three years of age. She is excellent for cooking, washing, and any kind of house or kitchen work, and understands feeding cattle, and any work necessary on a farm. For terms apply to the printer. April 20. (Oracle of Dauphin and Harrisburgh Advertiser, 20 April 1795.)

To be Sold, A Negro Wench and her Child. She is a very good Cook, and a good House-Keeper. Inquire of the printer hereof. Harrisburgh, July 25. (Oracle of Dauphin and Harrisburgh Advertiser, 25 July 1796.)

A Negro Wench, TO be sold cheap, Enquire of the printer. Harrisburgh, July 11, 1797. (Oracle of Dauphin and Harrisburgh Advertiser, 19 July 1797.)

For Sale, An active Negro Boy, a Servant till twenty eight; he is now thirteen years old. Enquire of the Printer. July 11. (Oracle of Dauphin and Harrisburgh Advertiser, 11 July 1798.)


For Sale, A NEGRO WOMAN, who is well acquainted with housework -- is honest and industrious and will be sold low for cash. Enquire of the Printer. August 13, 1798. (Oracle of Dauphin and Harrisburgh Advertiser, 15 August 1798.)

FOR SALE, A stout healthy Negro Woman, a slave for life -- a most excellent Cook, and acquainted with all kinds of house work -- very suitable for the Country. Apply to the Printer for further particulars. April 24, 1799. (Oracle of Dauphin and Harrisburgh Advertiser, 24 April 1799.)

FOR SALE, -- a healthy NEGRO WENCH, slave for life. She is an excellent washer, baker and cook -- and well acquainted with all kinds of house work. For terms apply to the printer hereof. Feb. 21, 1803. (Oracle of Dauphin and Harrisburgh Advertiser, 21 February 1803.)

For Sale, A NEGRO WENCH, Slave for life, about 26 years of age-- very suitable on a farm. Enquire of the printer. May 4, 1805. (Oracle of Dauphin and Harrisburgh Advertiser, 04 May 1805.)


FOR SALE. The time of a stout, healthy NEGRO WENCH, who has about 5 years to serve. she is well calculated for a farmer. For terms, enquire of the printers. October 30, 1809. (Dauphin Guardian, 19 December 1809.)

FOR SALE. THE time of a young Mulatto GIRL, who has about ten years to serve -- Enquire of the Printer. Oct. 29, 1816. (Oracle of Dauphin, 14 December 1816.)

A LIKELY MULATTO GIRL, who has eight years to serve, for sale. For terms apply to the Printer. (Oracle of Dauphin, 19 September 1818.)


TO SELL, The time of a healthy negro girl, about 17 or 18 years of age, who is an excellent cook and kitchen maid. Also, the time of a negro Boy of the same age, who has been brought up to farming, is an excellent ploughman, and can do any kind of work on a farm. They have both to serve till the age of 28 years. For terms apply to the Printer. March 27. (Harrisburg Chronicle, 27 March 1820.)


A BLACK MAN. I WISH to dispose of the time of a stout healthy black man, who has between seven and eight years to serve. He would be valuable on a farm, he is fond of taking care of horses, and is a very good house servant, and handy at any work. Enquire at the office of the Oracle. June 24, 1820. (Oracle of Dauphin, 01 July 1820.)

FOR SALE. SEVENTEEN YEARS of the unexpired time of a MULATTO BOY, who has to serve until he is twenty eight; he has been raised on a farm, is healthy and stout, and will be sold for no other reason, than that, the owner has no use for him. -- Inquire of the printer. (Oracle of Dauphin, 16 March 1822.)

FOR SALE. The Time of a healthy NEGRO GIRL, Aged 8 years, and having to serve till 18. Enquire THE PRINTER. October 3, 1823. (Oracle of Dauphin, 11 December 1823.)