Maryland and Virginia Convict Runaways, 1725-1800. a Survey of English Sources

Based on newspaper advertisements placed in the Virginia Gazette and the Maryland Gazette this fascinating account of over 1,000 runaway convicts contains personal information not likely to be found in any other record, and includes colorful descriptions of the runaways themselves and details of their original offenses. Information furnished in the advertisements was meant to identify the runaway so he could be apprehended and returned, and it runs the gamut from physical descriptions to assessments of personal behavior.