When it is said that a person belongs to another person and that she will be sold if no one pays to have her released, is not that person a slave by any rational definition?
Furthermore, the goaler says “her master, if any she has,” indicating that he harbors some, perhaps hopeful doubts that she is currently owned and, if it turns out she is not owned, she will be sold.
April 24, 1766
The Pennsylvania Gazette
Lancaster, April 15, 1766.
WAS committed to my Custody, on the 11th of this Inst. on Suspicion of a Runaway Servant, a Girl, who calls herself Isabel Beard, she was born in Ireland, and came in the Snow Pitt above two Years ago;
she is about 4 Feet 8 Inches high, very thickset;
had on, when committed, a blue Stuff Gown, striped Linsey Petticoat and Bed Gown, old Shoes and Stockings;
she says she belongs to a certain William Grimes, a Jobber, and late of York County, where she says she left him. Her Master therefore, if any she has, is hereby desired to come, pay her Charges, and take her away, otherwise she will be sold for her Fees, by MATTHIAS BOOGH, Goaler.
A Bright Shining Lie at Dusk
A Partial Exhumation of the American Dream
link › jameslafond.blogspot.com
