Patrick Joyce is not stated to be an ‘indented’ servant man, but just a servant man. Many runaways are not listed as ‘indented’ or ‘on redemption’ but simply servants and they are declared as such in a manner that bespeaks an expectation that servitude for them is a life time condition. Here is yet another military veteran who is thought to be willing to enlist as a seaman, one of the single most dangerous occupations of the era. What must he be running from?

November 8, 1764

The Pennsylvania Gazette

THREE POUNDS Reward.

RUN away from the Subscriber, on the 29th of October last, a Servant Man, named Patrick Joyce, aged 40 Years, about 5 Feet 3 Inches high, born in Ireland, round faced, of a ruddy Complexion, light brown Hair tied behind;

had on, when he went away, a blue Coat, Jacket and Breeches and the Coat bound round the Edges;

has served his Majesty, in Col. Stuart Regiment, in Germany; has a few Scars on his Head and is very apt to get drunk, being a Taylor by Trade. [1]

Whoever takes up said Servant and secures him, or bring him home to my House in Front street, next Door but one to John Wood, Watch maker, shall have the above Reward, and all other Charges, paid by JOHN GRANT.

N.B. All Masters of Vessels are forbid to carry him off at their Peril. [2]

1. Apparently tailoring was a condition that tended to drive its practitioners to drink.

2. After an earlier war in Main and Canada notices forbidding captains from taking on passengers or sailors discharged from military service began [in the 1740s] and the threat, backed by the Admiralty, seems to be coming back into increased use by masters in search of runaway property.