Joined: Aug 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 39 Location: Bozeman
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #480 on Oct 29, 2009, 12:24pm »
does it give you the feeling, he had that happen before some slave catcher show up w/ half dead/dead slave and expecting payment...... such a BIZZARE buisness...
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 1,704 Location: Ohio Country
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #482 on Oct 29, 2009, 9:48pm »
A YELLOW hunting shirt in this one !!
Virginia Gazette (Purdie), Williamsburg, June 5, 1778.
RUN away from the subscriber, living in the lower end of Rockingham, on the 10th of April last, Dennis Connolly, a convict servant man, about 25 years of age, five feet five or six inches high, is thin visaged, has yellowish hair, a large nose, and a bold impudent look; had on, and took with him, a yellow dyed country linen hunting shirt, two shirts of country tow linen, old country made shoes, yarn stockings, and an old hat bound with white. Whoever secures the said servant, so that I get him again, or delivers him to Mr. Robert Slaughter of Culpeper, shall have ten pounds reward, and be allowed all reasonable expenses. MICHAEL COAGAR
Joined: Aug 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 39 Location: Bozeman
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #483 on Oct 30, 2009, 9:31am »
Physical scars and deformities are still used to identify people, I really like the descriptions of 'looks' and 'demeanor', or how the person 'acts'... Those are items not used today to describe a criminal or 'wanted' person, but, it is how we describe people 'in person' ..
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 1,704 Location: Ohio Country
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #484 on Oct 30, 2009, 8:51pm »
Good clothing descriptions here. Also interesting that when religion is mentioned, runaways always seem to "pretend" to be religious. Perhaps that word had a different meaning then.
Virginia Gazette (Purdie), Williamsburg, June 19, 1778.
FORTY DOLLARS REWARD, FOR apprehending the following slaves, and securing them so that I get them again, or twenty dollars for each, viz. Sam, a negro fellow about thirty five years old, five feet six or seven inches high, his complexion a little yellowish, has thick lips, and a scar from his under lip down his chin, occasioned by the cut of a whipsaw, is fond of liquor, and when drunk talks loud and pert, but the contrary when sober. He had on an old pale blue cloth coat, buckskin breeches, patched in several places, and shoes and stockings; he also carried with him a Dutch blanket, a jacket of Virginia cloth, white filled with black wool, and kersey wove, with red cuffs, and several other clothes. Tom, a white mulatto lad, about eighteen or nineteen years of age, five feet six or seven inches high, his lips thick, and has a surly look, has bad fore teeth, gray eyes, his hair cut on the crown of his head, and of a rusty brown colour, has a clumsey lounging walk, and pretends to be religious. He has with him sundry clothes, a white Virginia cloth jeans coat, a green cloth coat with a blue narrow cape, blue button holes, and metal buttons, an old mixed Wilton coat, two narrow striped Virginia cloth jackets, white breeches, and good shoes and stockings. He is a simple fellow, and I am persuaded was enticed away by Sam. They ran away from me the 19th instant, were seen at Williamsburg the 21st, and at York on the 23d. I suppose they intended to get on board some vessel, as they said they were watermen, or on board the men of war. Sam is an artful cunning fellow, and if not put in irons when taking will make his escape. JAMES BELSCHES. CABIN POINT, May 21, 1778
Joined: Nov 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 65 Location: Virginia
Re: "Pretended religiousity" « Reply #485 on Oct 31, 2009, 9:43am »
Perhaps the advertisers are looking at things from the point of view that a truly religious person would obey the commandment not to "steal" themselves from their owner/the person who bought their indenture? Remember, too, that there are any number of biblical texts telling people to mind their masters, be industrious workers, etc., etc.....
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 1,704 Location: Ohio Country
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #487 on Nov 1, 2009, 5:28pm »
Virginia Gazette (Dixon & Hunter), Williamsburg, July 17, 1778.
FAUQUIER, July 1, 1778. RUN away from the subscriber WILL CRAWLEY, a well set mulatto man slave, about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, has a thick bushy beard, a small scar on his left cheek, which is scarcely perceivable, and is about 36 years old. He had on, and took with him, two shirts, one of cotton, and the other of tow, a pair of tow linen trousers, a striped Virginia cloth jacket, a felt hat with a large brim, and a blanket coat. I imagine he has been seduced away by one Thomas Miles, a weaver, who ran from this county for hog stealing, and may probably change his name. Whoever will apprehend the said slave, and deliver him to the subscriber, shall receive a reward of TEN POUNDS if taken within forty miles of home, and the same, and reasonable charges, if taken at a greater distance. JAMES SCOTT, Jun
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 1,704 Location: Ohio Country
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #488 on Nov 2, 2009, 6:38pm »
Another "rackoon" cap.
Virginia Gazette (Purdie), Williamsburg, August 21, 1778.
RUN away last May from the subscriber in Chesterfield, a likely negro fellow named Sam, five feet nine or ten inches high, twenty seven years old, of a yellowish complexion, a very bold and sensible fellow, and I expect will endeavour to pass for a freeman. He has a good many scars upon his back, having been an old offender, is a little bow legged, and bends in his knees as he walks. He took with him, when he went away, an old pea green coat, black lasting breeches, a thread and cotton shirt, and a rackoon skin cap, besides other clothes. Whoever delivers the said fellow to me shall have twenty dollars reward, besides what the law allows, and ten dollars to secure him in any jail, so that I get him again. RICHARD ELAM
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 1,704 Location: Ohio Country
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #489 on Nov 4, 2009, 1:04pm »
Well, if he loved his wife, it seems to me a good reason to run away....
Virginia Gazette (Purdie), Williamsburg, August 21, 1778.
ESSEX, July 17, 1778. RUN away from the subscriber, the 16th instant, a stout well made mulatto fellow named TOM, twenty three years of age, five feet ten or eleven inches high, has a bushy head of hair, bends a little in his knees, and of a sour countenance; had on when he went away a Virginia cloth waistcoat, shirt, and breeches. I have reason to believe, from what he told my overseer a little before he went off, that he intends for South Carolina, as his wife was sold to a gentleman there a few months ago; and my refusing to sell him is the only occasion of running away. Perhaps he may go to Mr. John Wiatt's, Amherst county, where he has several acquaintances. Whoever will secure the said fellow in any jail, and inform me thereof, or bring him to my house, shall receive thirty dollars reward. JOHN EDMONDSON
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 1,704 Location: Ohio Country
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #490 on Nov 6, 2009, 9:49am »
Virginia Gazette (Purdie), Williamsburg, August 21, 1778.
RUN away from the subscriber, in Hanover county, a negro man named Cupid. He has a very black skin and good countenance, about five and thirty years of age, and of the middle size, is bow-legged, and has some impediment in his speech. He has with him a cotton waistcoat and breeches and osnabrug shirts, besides other clothes he has stolen and carried away. Whoever apprehends the above slave should secure him with irons, otherwise he will make his escape, as he is a great rogue, and not easily kept confined. A handsome reward will be paid in proportion to the distance he is carried by Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Norton in Williamsburg, or by RO. C. NICHOLAS
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 1,704 Location: Ohio Country
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #491 on Nov 8, 2009, 12:41pm »
Virginia Gazette (Purdie), Williamsburg, August 21, 1778.
WILLIAMSBURG, August 10, 1778. RUN away from a waggon at Ruffin's ferry about the 1st of July last, a negro wench named Nanny, middle sized, and well shaped. She had on when she left the waggon a blue plains waistcoat and petticoat, and some other clothing with her. She is about 35 years of age, and formerly belonged to Mr. Page of Gloucester, but was lately purchased of Mr. William Finnie of this city. She has a husband at Dixon and Hunter's printing office, and I have been informed has been seen there since her elopement. Whoever apprehends the wench, and delivers her to me in Williamsburg, shall have forty shillings reward. PATRICK ROBERTSON
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 1,704 Location: Ohio Country
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #492 on Nov 11, 2009, 10:26am »
OK, detective crew, what does "much burstened" mean ? Any guesses ?
Virginia Gazette (Dixon & Hunter), Williamsburg, October 16, 1778.
FIFTY DOLLARS REWARD. RUN away from the subscriber, on the 4th of May last, a mulatto slave named JAMES, born in Culpeper county, about 5 feet 8 inches high, well made, about 20 years of age, and much burstened. Any person that will bring home the said slave, or secure him in any jail so that I get him again, shall receive the above reward. EDWIN YOUNG. SHENANDO county, October 6, 1778
Joined: Nov 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 65 Location: Virginia
Re: Runaway ads from the 1770s « Reply #493 on Nov 12, 2009, 10:05am »
My best guess, in those days before Noah Webster standardized spelling, is that "burstened" is probably a variant of "burthened," implying that the runaway had made off with a large amount of assorted goods, not just a few items of identifiable clothing.....
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some slave catcher show up w/ half dead/dead slave and expecting payment...... such a BIZZARE buisness...
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