J. Romanoo was first enslaved by John Charles, Jr. of Brimfield, Massachusetts. On February 13, 1755, he sold a teen-aged Romanoo to Ephraim Williams of Hatfield, Massachusetts, for £53, 5 shillings, and 8 pence. The bill of sale said in part that Romanoo was:
to be the sole Property of sd Ephraim his hiers and assigns to his and their use, Benefit and Behoof, as his & their Slave, during the natural life of the sd Jromanoo... I am the Rightful and Lawful owner of the sd slave, and have good and Lawful Right to sell and Dispose of him in manner as aforesaid, and...shall always be held to warrant and secure the sd Negro from this Day, During his Natural Life as aforesaid as the sole property of the sd Ephraim, his hiers & assigns, to his and their use & Behoof, against the claim and chalange of any other person, and all Rightful Prententions of his own, to Freedom, by any Law or right whatsoever.