Escaping Bondage: A Documentary History of Runaway Slaves in Eighteenth-Century New England, 17001789 [Paperback]

Escaping Bondage: A Documentary History of Runaway Slaves in Eighteenth-Century New England, 17001789 is an edited collection of runaway slave advertisements that appeared in newspapers in eighteenth-century Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. In addition to documenting the New England fugitive, it compliments similar runaway notice compilations. This compilation provides valuable insights into an important chapter in the history of slavery.Antonio T. Bly is assistant professor of history at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.

Edited by Bly (Appalachian State Univ.), this collection of 18th-century runaway slave advertisements appeared in newspapers from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Selections from the newspapers (variant titles are listed in a Note on the Newspapers section) are arranged alphabetically and chronologically. The editor endeavors to maintain the original wording of the notices, with reprints and supplementary, related materials listed at the end of the entries. Bly's introduction guides readers through the use of the 800-plus notices as history and biography. The illustrations include nine images from the original sources. The book concludes with Thomas Jefferson's argument on behalf of a mulatto runaway; a glossary of the local language used to describe clothing and other items; a comprehensive subject index; and a name index listed by the runaways and subscribers. As a compilation of runaway slave notices in early New England, this resource will be most valuable to students and scholars. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty. Choice Reviews

Escaping Bondage is an excellent addition to a growing number of transcribed and published eighteenth-century newspaper notices concerning runaway slaves. As the author points out, the advertisements are an invaluable source for understanding African American history.lc