1773-Sep.-30: The Virginia Gazette reported on instances of resistance and flight by the enslaved that reflected a growing trend of organized defiance in Bri…

1773-Sep.-30: The Virginia Gazette reported on instances of resistance and flight by the enslaved that reflected a growing trend of organized defiance in Britain’s North American colonies. Enslavers’ advertisements for runaways often described individuals with maritime skills or those who could speak multiple languages, indicating their potential for long-distance escape. These reports suggested that the networks of communication among the enslaved were becoming increasingly regional. The ability of those who escaped to disappear into port cities or board vessels was a source of constant anxiety for enslavers. This period of unrest in the mid-1770s set the stage for the massive disruptions of the American Revolution.