Frederick Sturlach and his wife (name unidentified) were a white, German couple who immigrated to the United States in 1810. To pay for their travel from Europe to North America, they indentured themselves with the Baltimore Glass Works. This factory, located near Federal Hill in Baltimore City, employed German-speaking glassmakers and specialized in producing clear, blue, and green bottles and windowpanes. During their multi-year contract, Sturlach and his wife slept on the site and ate food provided by the management. They did not receive wages and were granted limited free time. In 1817, the Sturlachs secretly fled the factory. On November 3, 1817, their contract owner, F. Landgraff, published a runaway advertisement with a $25 reward for their return. It is unknown if they were caught or if the Sturlachs successfully began a new life.