Browse Items (38 total)
Run away from Philip Livingston [unnamed African man]
1752-11-06
Livingston, Philip
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…
Eight Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Sam]
1792-05-01
Stevenson, James
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]
1792-05-01
Bloomfield, John
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
1792-05-01
Obart, George
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]
1792-05-01
Robinson, Alexander
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…
Ten Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Will]
1792-10-17
Fleming, James
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.
Sixteen Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Minn]
1792-11-07
Abel, Jacob
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…
STOP THE RUNAWAY! [Will Rigg]
1793-01-23
Dunant, Edward
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]
1793-05-22
Wescoat, Richard
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.
Three Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Hannah and her daughter Peggy]
1794-06-18
Law, James
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…
THREE POUNDS REWARD [runaway ad for Cato]
1794-07-03
M'Kissick, William
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…
Ten Dollars Reward [runaway ad for unnamed man]
1798-05-24
Trimmer, John
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…
Thirty Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Tom]
1799-12-10
Throckmorton, William
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…
TAKEN UP [pickup notice for John]
1799-12-31
Drake, Henry
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…
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…
TWO NEGROMEN [pickup notice for Matthew Fairfax and Levi Brown]
1801-03-27
Keenon, Peter
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…
Ten Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Lenor Dunnam]
1802-01-19
Brown, David
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…
Eight Dollars Reward [jailbreak notice for Jack]
1802-01-19
Wrighter, David
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.
Fifteen Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Nell, alias Bets]
1810-05-31
Poillon, John P.
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.
One Cent Reward [runaway ad for apprentice Dennis Oglesby]
1810-05-31
Coon, William
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…
Twenty-five Dollars Rward [runaway ad for Nance]
1810-05-31
Rue, William
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…
Twenty Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Peat]
1814-01-20
Vanderveer, Garret G.
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…
100 DOLLAS REWARD [runaway ad for Joe]
1814-10-27
Duncan, John
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…
100 Dolls. Reward [runaway ad for Cato]
1815-03-16
Farmer, George
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…
Ten Dollars Reward [jailbreak notice for Rachel]
1815-03-16
Farmer, George
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…
SIX CENTS REWARD [runaway ad for apprentice James Smock]
1815-03-16
Downs, Robert
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…
100 DOLLARS REWARD [runaway ad for Joe]
1815-04-13
Duncan, John
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…
Fifty Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Elisha]
1816-02-08
Farmer, George
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…
Twenty Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Cornelius Sinco aka Cornelius Bloomfield]
1816-02-08
Crow, Benjamin
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…
Twenty Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Elsy Murray]
1818-05-14
Bogart, Peter
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…
Seventy Dollars Reward [runaway ad for Dick and John]
1822-10-24
Woodmansee, Daniel
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…
Six Cents Reward [runaway ad for apprentice Samuel Myers]
1822-11-14
Conover, William
An apprentice named Samuel Myers, aged 19, ran away from his master William Conover at Raritan Landing on November 2, 1822.
$1 Dollar Reward [runaway ad for apprentice James Halfpenny]
1823-04-10
Van Dorn, Cornelius
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.
Notice [runaway ad and warning not to extend credit for Betty]
1823-07-15
Day, Amos
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]
1824-06-24
Day, Amos
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,…
$20 REWARD [runaway ad for Peter Cuff]
1824-11-24
Field, Benjamin
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…
Notice [pickup notice for Tom and Frank]
1825-10-26
Bonnington, Joseph
Two black men, Tom and Frank, were captured as suspected runaways on October 10, 1825, and confined to the Perth Amboy jail.