Browse Items (38 total)
SIX CENTS REWARD [runaway ad for apprentice James Smock]
Downs, Robert
1815-03-16
Indented apprentice James Smock, aged 16, ran away from his master Robert Downs in New Brunswick on August 20, 1814. Robert Downs offers a reward of 6 cents for Smock's capture and warns others not to harbor or trust the runaway.
This notice was…
This notice was…
Twenty Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Peat]
Vanderveer, Garret G.
1814-01-20
Peat, a 25-year-old black man, ran away from slaveholder Garret G. Vanderveer, living within 6 miles of Monmouth Court House (in present-day Freehold, Monmouth County). Peat escaped on December 8, 1813. Garret G. Vanderveer offers a reward of $20 for…
One Cent Reward [runaway ad for apprentice Dennis Oglesby]
Coon, William
1810-05-31
Apprentice Dennis Oglesby ran away from his master William Coon near Middlebrook on April 4, 1810. Coon offers a nominal reward of one cent for Dennis Oglesby's capture. The runaway notice does not mention Oglesby's race or color or any identifying…
In custody in Middlesex gaol, the following negro men [pickup notice for Adam Hill, Henry Hall, and Isaac Harmone]
1800-01-07
Three black men, Adam Hill, Henry Hall, and Isaac Harmone, were captured and committed to jail in New Brunswick as suspected runaways. The keeper of the Middlesex county jail publishes a notice stating that the three men will be sold by the jailer if…
THREE POUNDS REWARD [runaway ad for Cato]
M'Kissick, William
1794-07-03
A black man named Cato, aged 33, ran away from slaveholder William M'Kissick near Pluckemin, Somerset County. William M'Kissick offers a reward of 3 pounds for Cato's capture and mentions that Cato formerly belonged to Col. Philip Van Horne near…
Eight Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Sam]
Stevenson, James
1792-05-01
Sam, an 18-year-old black man, ran away from slaveholder James Stevenson (Queen's College graduate, class of 1789). Sam escaped from Amwell, Hunterdon County, on April 24, 1792. James Stevenson offers a reward of $8 for Sam's capture.
THREE DOLLARS REWARD [runaway ad for apprentice James Gilman]
Bloomfield, John
1792-05-01
A 16-year-old apprentice named James Gilman ran away from his master John Bloomfield at Woodbridge on January 30, 1792. Gilman was seen leaving Boye's tavern in the village of Quibbletown (present-day New Market area in Piscataway) and going toward…
WHEREAS Deborah Obart, my wife has frequently eloped
Obart, George
1792-05-01
George Obart issues a public notice that his wife Deborah Obart frequently runs away from home; he warns people in Middlesex County not to extend credit to his wife. This notice was published in a New Brunswick newspaper, but the location of Obart's…
Ten Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Robin and Sam]
Robinson, Alexander
1792-05-01
Two black men, Robin and Sam, ran away from slaveholder Alexander Robinson at Belment Farm, near Morristown, on April 9, 1792. Robin was 50 years old and Sam was younger, but his precise age is not mentioned in the newspaper notice. Alexander…
100 DOLLARS REWARD [runaway ad for Joe]
Duncan, John
1815-04-13
A black man named Joe, aged 32, ran away from slaveholder John Duncan on July 4, 1814, in the vicinity of Cranbury Neck in Cranbury Township, Middlesex County. John Duncan offers a reward of $100 for Joe's capture.
This notice was first issued on…
This notice was first issued on…
Ten Dollars Reward [jailbreak notice for Rachel]
Farmer, George
1815-03-16
Rachel, a 20-year-old black woman, escaped from the Middlesex County jail in New Brunswick on the night of January 15, 1814. George Farmer, owner of the Belle Vue estate across the river from New Brunswick (in present-day Highland Park) offers a…
100 Dolls. Reward [runaway ad for Cato]
Farmer, George
1815-03-16
Two black men, named Leven and Cato, both aged approximately 23 years, ran away from slaveholder George Farmer on November 22, 1814. George Farmer offers a reward of $100 for their capture and describes the men's clothing and physical features in…
100 DOLLAS REWARD [runaway ad for Joe]
Duncan, John
1814-10-27
A black man named Joe, aged 32, ran away from slaveholder John Duncan on July 4, 1814, in the vicinity of Cranbury Neck in Cranbury Township, Middlesex County. John Duncan offers a reward of $100 for Joe's capture.
This notice was first issued on…
This notice was first issued on…
Twenty-five Dollars Rward [runaway ad for Nance]
Rue, William
1810-05-31
Nance, a 20-year-old black woman, ran away from slaveholder William Rue on May 12, 1810, in the vicinity of Spotswood, Middlesex County (approximately 8 miles south of New Brunswick). Nance is literate and her master suspects that she forged a pass…
Fifteen Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Nell, alias Bets]
Poillon, John P.
1810-05-31
Nell, also known as Bets, a 32-year-old black woman, ran away from slaveholder John P. Poillon of Staten Island in May of 1810. John P. Poillon offers a reward of $15 for Nell's return.
This notice was issued on May 28, 1810.
This notice was issued on May 28, 1810.
TWO NEGROMEN [pickup notice for Matthew Fairfax and Levi Brown]
Keenon, Peter
1801-03-27
Two black men, Matthew Fairfax and Levi Brown, were captured and committed to jail in New Brunswick as suspected runaways on January 1, 1801. Peter Keenon, the keeper of the prison of Middlesex county, publishes a notice stating that the two men will…
$1 Dollar Reward [runaway ad for apprentice James Halfpenny]
Van Dorn, Cornelius
1823-04-10
A 17-year-old apprentice named James Halfpenny ran away from his master Cornelius Van Dorn of South Amboy. His master offers a reward of $1 for James Halfpenny's capture.
Fifty Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Elisha]
Farmer, George
1816-02-08
Elisha, a black man, ran away from slaveholder George Farmer on January 27, 1816. Elisha was 21 years old. George Farmer had purchased Elisha on September 9, 1815, from John Tucker of Rahway, while Elisha was in jail. George Farmer offers a reward of…
Eight Dollars Reward [jailbreak notice for Jack]
Wrighter, David
1802-01-19
On January 2, 1802, Jack, an enslaved black man, escaped from the jail in Trenton where he was held on charges of theft from his master Amos Moore. Jack was about 20 years old. Jail keeper David Wrighter offers a reward of $8 for Jack's return.
Ten Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Lenor Dunnam]
Brown, David
1802-01-19
Lenor Dunnam, a black woman aged 22, ran away from slaveholder David Brown in Gloucester County on November 14, 1801. The slaveholder offers a reward of $10 for her capture. This notice was published recurrently in the Trenton Federalist newspaper at…
Twenty Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Cornelius Sinco aka Cornelius Bloomfield]
Crow, Benjamin
1816-02-08
Cornelius Sinco, alias Cornelius Bloomfield, a black indented apprentice aged 19, ran away from his master Benjamin Crow in Woodbridge on October 15, 1815. His master offers a reward of $20 for Cornelius's return or confinement in the New Brunswick…
Thirty Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Tom]
Throckmorton, William
1799-12-10
Tom, a black man, ran away from slaveholder William Throckmorton in South Amboy on August 25, 1799. Tom is about 25 years old. His master offers a reward of 30 dollars for Tom's return and notes that Tom was seen on the road to Trenton, possibly on…
Ten Dollars Reward [runaway ad for unnamed man]
Trimmer, John
1798-05-24
Slaveholder John Trimmer issues a notice that an enslaved man ran away from him on April 22, 1798, in Dutch Valley (present-day Long Valley area, Morris County). Trimmer describes the fugitive as a "mulatto man" but does not mention his name. Trimmer…
TAKEN UP [pickup notice for John]
Drake, Henry
1799-12-31
John, a 16-year-old black boy, was captured and held at the state penitentiary in Trenton in December of 1799 as a runaway. Henry Drake, the marshall of the prison, posts a pickup notice about John's capture and requests John's master to pick him up…
Notice [runaway ad and warning not to extend credit for Betty]
Day, Amos
1823-07-15
A black woman named Betty ran away from the house of her master Amos Day. The slaveholder does not offer a reward for Betty's return, but notifies his neighbors not to extend credit to Betty on his account as he does not intend to pay Betty's debts.…
NOTICE [runaway ad and sale proposition for Betty]
Day, Amos
1824-06-24
A black woman named Betty ran away from the house of her master Amos Day at Connecticut Farms in Union County. The slaveholder did not offer a reward for Betty's return, but warned his neighbors not to harbor or employ her. Despite Betty's absence,…
Twenty Dollar Rewards [runaway ad for Elsy Murray]
Bogart, Peter
1818-05-14
Elsy Murray, a 20-year-old black woman, ran away from slaveholder Peter Bogart in Princeton on February 13, 1818. Elsy Murray could read well and had a pass for 2 days. She had a brother near Piscataway, and the slaveholder supposed that someone…
Six Cents Reward [runaway ad for apprentice Samuel Myers]
Conover, William
1822-11-14
An apprentice named Samuel Myers, aged 19, ran away from his master William Conover at Raritan Landing on November 2, 1822.
Seventy Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Dick and John]
Woodmansee, Daniel
1822-10-24
Dick, a 16-year-old enslaved boy, left the house of his master Daniel Woodmansee, near Princeton, on September 1, 1822. Woodmansee posts a notice that Dick was "stolen away" by a man named John. The notice describes Dick as a "mulatto boy" and John…
Notice [pickup notice for Tom and Frank]
Bonnington, Joseph
1825-10-26
Two black men, Tom and Frank, were captured as suspected runaways on October 10, 1825, and confined to the Perth Amboy jail.
$20 REWARD [runaway ad for Peter Cuff]
Field, Benjamin
1824-11-24
Peter Cuff, a black man, ran away from his master Benjamin Field in April 1824. In June, the slaveholder posted a reward of $20 for Peter Cuff's return. As of November 24, 1824, the Fredonian newspaper in New Brunswick continued to run the runaway…
Three Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Hannah and her daughter Peggy]
Law, James
1794-06-18
Hannah an enslaved black woman, aged 22, ran away with her 2-year-old daughter Peggy and took a large bundle of clothing. Her master James Law (from Delaware Works) offered a 3 dollar reward for Hannah's capture.
Delaware Works was a mill property…
Delaware Works was a mill property…
STOP THE RUNAWAY! [Will Rigg]
Dunant, Edward
1793-01-23
Will Rigg, an indented black man, ran away from his master Edward Dunant of Philadelphia on January 12, 1793. In the following week, Will Rigg has been seen at Trenton, Princeton, and Flemington, where he is well known to residents. Edward Dunant…
SIXTEEN DOLLARS REWARD [runaway ad for Stephen]
Wescoat, Richard
1793-05-22
Stephen, a 20-year-old enslaved man, ran away from his master Richard Wescoat, of Great Egg-Harbour, Gloucester County, in May of 1793. Richard Wescoat describes Stephen as a "mulatto slave" and offers a reward of $16 for Stephen's capture.
Sixteen Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Minn]
Abel, Jacob
1792-11-07
Minn, a 30-year-old black man, ran away from his master Jacob Abel of Easton (Northampton County, Pennsylvania) on October 15, 1792. Minn may have gone to his father's home in Trenton. Jacob Abel posts a reward of $16 for Minn's capture in the…
Ten Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Will]
Fleming, James
1792-10-17
Will, an enslaved black man, aged 28 years, ran away from Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, NJ. His master James Fleming offers a reward of 10 dollars for his capture.
Run away from Philip Livingston [unnamed African man]
Livingston, Philip
1752-11-06
Slaveholder and slave trader Philip Livingston offers a reward of three dollars for the capture of an African man who escaped from Livingston in New York City. The man does not speak any Dutch or English, suggesting that he was only recently brought…
Featured Item
Letter to Robert Finley regarding the sale of an enslaved man named Jef
Neilson, John
1794-02-25
Colonel John Neilson (1745-1833) writes to Robert Finley asking him about the possible purchase of an enslaved man owned by a Mr. Mattison in…