Slaves were in high demand in New England as the economy developed and prospered. One black slave would sell for 20-50 English pounds. In 1704 newspapers began to allow slave merchants to advertise their sales, and individual owners also advertised when they wanted to sell one of their slaves. By 1774, Connecticut had the largest number of slaves in New England (6,464), with the largest slaveholding population in New London County (2,036). Bills of sale, like this one for "Jeffrey," document such sales of slaves in Connecticut.

Image: Bill of Sale for "Negro Boy Named Jeffrey", 1801. Courtesy Fairfield Historical Society, Fairfield, Connecticut.