Description:

Connecticut Newspaper Advertises Sale of African American Boy

Both of these partial issues of The New-Haven Gazette, and the Connecticut Magazine from April 1787 include an advertisement for the sale of an African American boy in Connecticut.

[SLAVERY]. The New-Haven Gazette, and the Connecticut Magazine, April 19, 1787, and April 26, 1787 (partial issues). New Haven, CT: Josiah Meigs. 12 pp. (67-72, 75-80), 8.75" x 10.375". Disbound; first two pages of each issue missing; extensive staining covers most of page but still very legible; some edge loss not affecting text.

Excerpt
"TO BE SOLD, a healthy, strong and Active NEGRO BOY, about 11 Years of Age.
"Enquire of the Printers." (p7/c2 in each issue)

Historical Background
Slavery began in Connecticut in the mid-seventeenth century. By the time of the American Revolution, Connecticut had more enslaved African Americans than any other state in New England. In 1774, Connecticut banned the importation of slaves to the state, and a decade later, the state legislature passed an act for gradual abolition. It provided that those children born into slavery after March 1, 1784, would be freed by age 25 for men and age 21 for women. In 1790, there were 2,764 slaves in Connecticut.

In response to the actions of Prudence Crandall in opening a school for young black women in Canterbury, the Connecticut legislature passed a Black Law in 1834 that prohibited African Americans from coming to Connecticut to get an education and prohibited anyone from opening a school for educating African Americans without the local town's permission.

In 1838, abolitionists founded the Connecticut Anti-Slavery Society to work for the end of slavery in the state, but it persisted for another decade before gradual emancipation was complete.

Additional Content
These issues also include reports from Massachusetts on the aftermath of Shays' Rebellion ("Though the present appearance is that the opposition to government is crushed in this county beyond the probability of a revival, there are still many who are far from being penitent for their past offences; who still continue to threaten what they will do when the weather becomes a little warmer.") (p69/c1); a report from Philadelphia by a committee including Robert Morris that evaluated a bridge design by Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense and Rights of Man (p70/c3); and several notices and advertisements, including an illustrated one for Windsor chairs (p72/c1, p80/c1).

The New Haven Gazette, and the Connecticut Magazine (1784-1789) was a weekly newspaper in New Haven, Connecticut. It began as the New Haven Gazette, published by Josiah Meigs (1757-1822), Daniel Bowen, and Eleutheros Dana (1761-1788). In April 1786, Bowen left the partnership to publish the New Haven Chronicle. Dana left the partnership in August 1787, and Meigs continued to edit the newspaper alone.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000