1792-Apr.-21: The Royal Gazette published advertisements for runaway slaves who were suspected of attempting to board vessels in Kingston harbor to escape th…

1792-Apr.-21: The Royal Gazette published advertisements for runaway slaves who were suspected of attempting to board vessels in Kingston harbor to escape the island. These notices frequently warned ship captains against harboring fugitives, threatening them with heavy fines and legal prosecution. The frequency of these advertisements highlighted the persistent role of the sea as a pathway to freedom for the enslaved. Authorities recognized that the mobile “Jack Tars” and black seamen were often willing to assist runaways in exchange for labor or through shared social bonds. This maritime “underground railroad” was a constant drain on the human capital of the plantation elite.