In the 18th and 19th centuries, newspapers-- especially big-city newspapers-- carried ads from the local post office, listing area residents that had letters in need of retrieval. While the ads don't offer any solid genealogical information, the fact that someone was believed to be living in a certain place at a certain time may be helpful in tracking down more meaningful records.
List of letters remaining in the Post-Office, Philadelphia, January 10, 1791.
Cornelius Slaven
Federal Gazette and Philadelphia Evening Post (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) January 11, 1791.
List of letters remaining in the Post-Office, Philadelphia , November 7, 1797.
Terence Slaven
Philadelphia Gazette & Universal Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) November 11, 1797.
List of Letters remaining in the Post-Office in Carlisle, October 10, 1792.
Michael Slavin.
The Carlisle (Pennsylvania) Gazette, and the Western Repository of Knowledge, October 24, 1792.
List of letters remaining the post-office New York, Sept. 7, 1801.
Cornelius Slevin (2)
New York (New York) Daily Advertiser, September 10, 1801
List of letters remaining in the Philadelphia Post Office, December 1st, 1801.
John Slevin
Poulson's American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) December 9, 1801.
List of letters remaining the post-office New York, August 1, 1802.
Dr. John Slevin
American Citizen, (New York, New York) August 7, 1802.
List of Letters Remaining in the Post-Office, New York City, 7th January 1805.
James Slevin.
New York (New York) American Citizen, January 14, 1805.
List of letters remaining the post-office New York, April 28, 1806.
James Slevin
American Citizen, (New York, New York) May 3, 1806.
A list of letters remaining the Post-Office at Carthage on the 1st of October, 1813.
William Slavens.
Carthage (Pennsylvania) Gazette and Friend of the People October 30, 1813.
A List of Letters Remaining at the Post Office at Chillicothe, Ohio, on the 31st
day of March, 1817, which, if not taken out before the first of July next, they
will be sent to the General Post Office as dead letters.
Slavens, Reuben
The Supporter, (Chillicothe, Ohio), April 01, 1817
List of Letters Remaining in the Post Office, Baltimore, the 18th of December, 1818.
Mrs. Slaven.
Baltimore (Maryland) Patriot & Mercantile Advertiser, December 16, 1818,
A List of letters remaining at the Post Office in Greencastle, on the 1st of January, 1829, which if not
taken out wihin three months, will be forwarded to the General Post Office as dead letters.
Hiram Slavens
Hiram B. Slavens
Indiana Journal, (Indianapolis, Indiana) Wednesday, January 21, 1829.
A List of letters remaining at the Post Office in Greencastle, on the first of April, 1830, which if not taken
out wihin three months, will be forwarded to the General Post Office as dead letters.
Ruben Slavens
Indiana Journal, (Indianapolis, Indiana) Wednesday, April 14, 1830.
List of letters remaining at the post office at Little Rock, A.T.,on the 30h day of June, 1831, which if not
taken out by the first of October next will be sent to the General Post Office as dead letters.
Daniel Slavins
The Arkansas Gazette, (Little Rock, Arkansas) Wednesday, July 06, 1831.
List of letters remaining at the post office at Jackson, A.T.,on the 1st January, 1835, which if not taken
out in three months will be sent to the General Post Office as dead letters.
Doct. H. Slavens.
The Arkansas Gazette, (Little Rock, Arkansas) Wednesday, January 13, 1835.
A List of Letters Remaining in the Post Office at Natchez, Mississippi, on the 31st January, 1836
Slavin, John
Mississippi Free Trader and Natchez Gazette, (Natchez, Mississippi) February 05, 1836.
List of letters remaining in the Post Office, Charleston (S.C.). November 1.
Patrick Slaven.
Southern Patriot (Charleston, SC) November 1, 1839.
List of Letters remaining at the Baltimore post office August 16, 1844. Persons
calling for these letters will please say they are advertised, otherwise, they
may not receive them.
Felix Slevin.
Baltimore (Maryland) Sun, August 19, 1844.
LIST OF LETTERS REMAINING IN THE NEW YORK Post Office, July 8, 1848.
Slavin, John
New York (New York) Herald, Monday, July 10, 1848
List of Letters remaining at the Baltimore post office November 29, 1848.
Officially published in the paper having the largest circulation.
Slevin, Sgt. J.
Baltimore (Maryland) Sun, November 30, 1848.
List of letters remaining in the New York post office, April 21, 1849.
Sleavin, Margaret
Slavan, James
New York (New York) Herald, April 23, 1849
List of Letters Remaining in the Post-Office at New Orleans, December 6, 1850.
Patrick Slevin.
Daily Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), December 6, 1850.
List of Letters Remaining in the Post-Office at New Orleans, November 29, 1851.
Miss Anne Slevin.
Daily Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), November 29, 1851.
List of Letters Remaining in the Post-Office at New Orleans, October 10, 1852.
Francis Slevin
Daily Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), October 10, 1852.
List of Letters Remaining in the Post-Office at New Orleans, June 18, 1853.
Robert Slevin
Daily Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), June 18, 1853.
A List of Letters remaining in the Post Office, Columbia, S.C., January 1, 1855.
Persons calling for letters on this list will please say, "they are advertised."
Sleavin, Pat. (2)
Daily South Carolinian, (Columbia, South Carolina) January 10, 1855
List of Letters Remaining in the New York City Post Office, Friday, July 18, 1856.
Daniel Slevin.
New York (New York) Herald, July 18, 1856.
List of letters remaining in the New York post office, Friday, Oct. 10, 1856.
Sleavin, Elizabeth
New York (New York) Herald, October 10, 1856
List of Letters Remaining in the New York City Post Office, Saturday, October 10, 1857
Sleavin, Thos.
New York (New York) Herald, October 10, 1857
List of Letters remaining in Salt Lake City Post Office, Sept. 20, 1860, which if
not taken out before Dec. 31, will be sent to the Dead Letter Office.
Slavin, David K.
Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah) October 3, 1860.
Letters remaining unclaimed in the post office at Cleveland, State of Ohio, 5th day of July, 1864.
Ladies List.
Slovens, T.N.
Daily Cleveland Herald (Cleveland, Ohio), March 21, 1865
List of Letters Remaining in the Post-Office at New Orleans, November 22, 1867.
L.C. Slevin, miss
Daily Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), November 22, 1867.
List of Letters remaining unclaimed in the Post Office at San Francisco, State of
California, on the 4th day of April 1871.
Patrick Slevin
San Francisco (California) Bulletin, April 4, 1871.