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Runaway Slaves of the Eastern Shore |
The Virginia Center for Digital History of the University of Virginia promotes the teaching and learning of history. The web site is located at http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/ is well worth the time exploring, and we encourage you to visit.
The VCDH project on the geography of slavery displays transcriptions and images of ads for runaway slaves in Virginia papers from 1736 to 1790, as well as an assortment of additional documents. The project is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. You can search the ads from http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/explore.html.
Click on the link to search for ads related to Northampton County, Virginia (16 records).
For Accomack County, Virginia, use the links below. Additional searches may commence from the VCDH page at http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/search/search.php
Accomack County, Accomack, VA (25 records, plus additional documents)
Pungoteague, Accomack, VA (3 records)
Below on this page, we have assembled a sample of ads for Eastern
Shore runaway slaves. Also accessible from http://people.uvawise.edu/runaways//
A
VCDH Project, part of Virtual Jamestown
Virginia Gazette or, Norfolk
Intelligencer
(Duncan), Norfolk,
July 21, 1775.
NORTHAMPTON
County, Eastern shore, July 3, 1775. FIVE POUNDS REWARD. RUN away from the
subscriber, living in Northampton County, on Sunday the 25th of June, a negro
lad named LADUS, a down looking fellow about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high: Had on
an oznabrig shirt and trowsers, a pair of claret coloured knit breeches and a
fine hat much worn. 'Tis imagined he went off in a canoe (25 feet long and fresh
tarred) with a Negro belonging to Mr. John Blair named SOLOMON; a large stout
fellow, about 5 feet 11 inches high, Whoever takes up said fellow and secures
him so that the subscriber may get him again shall receive if take in the colony
FORTY SHILLINGS, and if out of the colony the above reward.
GEORGE
DEWEY. * * All masters of vessels and others are forbid carrying him off at *
their peril.
Virginia Gazette
(Hunter),
Williamsburg,
October 31, 1751.
Northampton County, October
28. 1751. RAN away from York Town about the 1st of last Month, a Virginia-born
Negroe Slave named Tom, belonging to the Subscriber; he is about 28 Years of
Age, near 6 feet high, and has had the Small-pox: It is suppos'd that he took
with him a black Mare, near York Town, and is gone either to Goochland County
after his Wife, who was lately purchased and carried to the said County by John
Carlisle Merchant, residing there, or towards North-Carolina. He took with him a
Pair of blue Cloth Breeches, a black Cloth Vest, two close-bodied Cloth Coats,
one of them of an Orange Colour, a dark colour's great Coat with Brass Buttons,
Worsted Stockings, and English Shoes pretty much worn, a fine Castor [?] Hat
Rat-eaten at the Brim, and other Cloaths; also several fine and coarse Shirts.
Whoever apprehends and brings him to Mr. Gibbons, at York, shall have Five
Pistoles if taken in Virginia, and Ten Pistoles Reward if taken out of Virginia,
besides what the Law allows, paid by
Griffin
Stith.
Virginia Gazette
(Purdie & Dixon),
Williamsburg,
January 2, 1772.
RUN away from the Subscriber,
in Northampton, about the 27th of November last, a Negro Fellow named JACOB,
about twenty four Years of Age, middle sized, very black, and smooth faced, with
little or no Beard, has a Stoppage in his Speech, and if strictly examined, or
suddenly asked a Question, cannot directly give an Answer. He is supposed to be
carried across the Bay by a certain Person who frequently passes and repasses
from the eastern Shore to Norfolk and Portsmouth. Whoever secures him so that he
may be restored to me shall have FIVE POUNDS for his Trouble, and all reasonable
Expenses allowed, if he is taken on the western Shore, I will give TWENTY
PISTOLES on Conviction of the Person who took him away.
JOHN
STRATTON.
Virginia Gazette
(Purdie & Dixon),
Williamsburg,
January 23, 1772.
NORTHAMPTON, January 15, 1772.
RUN away, or STOLEN, from the Subscriber, a Negro Fellow named JACK, about five
Feet seven or eight Inches high. I am afraid a certain Peter Goffigon, formerly
a Skipper from this Shore, but lately served on Board a Man of War's Tender, may
have carried him to the Western Shore; the following are my Reasons for
suspecting him: My Slaves inform me he has been endeavouring to persuade them to
go with him and he will free them; that the said Fellow went off with him; that
he requested them to advise him how to rob me, and even told them he would make
away with me if they should be detected. Add to this, that on my detecting him
in a Matter where he was about to defraud me, he vowed he was determined to have
Satisfaction. As I have these Reasons to suspect him, and lost another Negro
Fellow some Time ago, whom I imagine he has also inveigled away, I do hereby
caution the Publick to be aware of buying any Slaves of this Man; and I do
hereby promise !
to repay the Purchase Money to any Person who shall convict
him of selling this, or any other Slave he may have carried away clandestinely.
I will give TEN POUNDS Reward for apprehending JACK, and the like Sum for the
other, whose Name is JACOB, or upon their being secured in such a Manner as to
enable me to get them again. And I do also promise to pay a Reward of FIFTY
PISTOLES if the Fellow is convicted of stealing either of them.
JOHN
STRATTON.
Virginia Gazette
(Purdie & Dixon),
Williamsburg,
May 13, 1773.
NORTHAMPTON, May 8, 1773. RUN away
from the Subscriber's Plantation in Brunswick, last December, two Negro Men,
DAVID and SAM, about twenty five Years of Age, of the middle Stature, and had on
Cotton Clothes, new Felt Hats, Osnabrug Shirts, &c. David is likely, strong,
and full faced; Sam is thin visaged, with a wide Mouth, and a higher Nose than
common. They were carried from York, where they had Wives; but as no Advice can
be had of their returning thither, I suppose they have taken some other Course,
and perhaps may depart the Country. All Masters of Vessels are hereby forewarned
from carrying them away. Whoever conveys them to me shall have FIFTY SHILLINGS
Reward for each, and if taken out of the Country FIVE POUNDS besides the
Allowance by Law.
GRIFFIN STITH.
Virginia
Gazette
(Purdie & Dixon), Williamsburg,
May 13,
1773.
RUN away from the Subscriber, about the first of April last, a
Negro Man named ISAAC, the property of Mrs. Catharine Justice. He has been used
to go by Water, and probably may endeavour to pass for a Freeman. He is of a
yellow Complexion, about twenty five Years old, well made, of the middle
Stature, and his Hair is intermixed with Wool. I will give a Reward of TWENTY
SHILLINGS if he is taken upon the Eastern Shore, and FORTY SHILLINGS if in any
other Part, besides all reasonable Charges for conveying him to me, in
Northampton.
JOHN HARMANSON.
Virginia Gazette
(Purdie
& Dixon), Williamsburg,
February 3, 1774.
COMMITTED to the
Jail of Middlesex, a Mulatto Man Slave, who says he belongs to Mr. John Bowdoin
of Northampton; he is about 29 Years of Age, and five Feet six Inches high. The
Owner is desired to take him away, and pay Charges.
ELIZABETH DANIEL,
Jailer.
Virginia Gazette
(Rind), Williamsburg,
January 13,
1774.
COMMITTED to the gaol of Prince George two Negro men, one of whom
calls himself DAVY; he appears to be about 25 years of age, is about 5 feet 7
inches and a half high, and had on a broadcloth coat, red waistcoat, duffil
breeches, cotton gambadoes, shoes and stockings, and a hat. The other calls
himself SAM; he appears to be about 20 years of age, is about 5 feet 3 inches
and a half high, and has on an old blue Newmarket coat, cotton waistcoat and
breeches, a red under waistcoat, shoes and stockings, and a striped Holland
shirt. They say they belong to Griffin Stith, in Northampton. The owner is
desired to take them away, and pay charges to
HENRY
BATTE.
Virginia Gazette
(Dixon & Hunter),
Williamsburg,
March 14, 1777.
TEN DOLLARS REWARD. RUN away
from the Subscriber, in Northampton, about the 25th of January last, a likely
Virginia born, Negro named SAM, about 30 Years old, 5 Feet 4 or 5 Inches high,
and pitted with the Smallpox; had on a striped Virginia Cloth Jacket and
Breeches, and common Yarn Stockings and Shoes. He is supposed to be lurking
about York Town, or Mr. Benjamin Waberton's Quarter, near Morton's Mill, in
James City, where he has a Wife. Whoever delivers the said Slave to me, or
secures him so that I get him again, shall have the above Reward.
JOHN
STRINGER.
Virginia Gazette
(Purdie & Dixon),
Williamsburg,
April 16, 1772.
Twenty Pounds Reward. CARRIED
off by a certain Lynde Valentine, who sailed from Pungoteague the 27th of last
Month, an Apprentice named JAMES WATERS, about nineteen Years old, has been bred
to the Sea, was born in Scotland, wears his own Hair, which is thin and short,
he is well set, but rather under the middle Size. Also a Negro Man Slave named
ISAAC, the Property of Mrs. Catherine Justice, and hired to me; he is about
twenty four Years old, of a yellowish Complexion, well made, of the middle
Stature, and his Hair is intermixed with Wool. This Lynde Valentine, by an
Extract from the Customhouse Books, appears to be Master and Owner of the Sloop
Sally, which was build in Massachusetts in 1767; she is square sterned, Burthen,
according to Register, thirty Tuns, registered in Rhode Island the 19th of May,
1767, and cleared out at Port Accomack the 19th of March, 1772, for Antigua. Her
Cargo is as follows, namely, two Hundred Bushels of Corn, ten Thousand five
Hundred Feet of S!
cantling, seven Thousand two Hundred Hogshead Staves, one
thousand Hogshead Heading, four Thousand five Hundred Hoops, and one Thousand
Feet of Plank. It is supposed he will make for some Dutch or Danish Port,
particularly Santa Croix, and there offer the Negro for Sale. His Sloop has a
new Mainsail, which is the only new Sail she has, a patched Squaresail,
Boot-topped with Lime, and a new Topmast, which is remarkably short; her Name is
painted in Capital Letters on her Stern. I will give the above Reward if the
Negro and Servant be properly secured, so that I may get them again, and on
Conviction of the Thief; or TEN POUNDS, besides reasonable Charges, on Delivery
of the Negro only.
EDWARD KER. ACCOMACK, April 4,
1772.
Virginia Gazette
(Rind), Williamsburg,
April 23,
1772.
TWENTY POUNDS REWARD. ACCOMACK, April 4, 1772. CARRIED off by a
certain Lynde Valentine, who sailed from Pungoteague the 27th of last month, an
apprentice named JAMES WATERS, about 19 years old, has been bred to the sea, was
born in Scotland, wears his own hair, which is thin and short, he is well set,
but rather under the middle size. Also a Negro man slave named ISAAC, the
property of Mrs. Catharine Justice, and hired to me; he is about 24 years old,
of a yellowish complexion, well made, of the middle stature, and his hair is
intermixed with wool. This Lynde Valentine, by an extract from the custom house
books, appears to be master and owner of the sloop Sally, which was built in
Massachusetts in 1767; she is square sterned, burthen, according to register, 30
ton, registered in Rhode Island the 19th of May, 1767, and cleared out at Port
Accomack the 19th of March,1772, for Antigua. Her cargo is as follows, viz. 200
bushels of corn, 10,500 feet of scantling, 7200 hogshead s!
taves, 1000
hogshead heading, 4500 hoops, and 1000 feet of plank. It is supposed he will
make for some Dutch or Danish port, particularly Santa Croix, and there offer
the Negro for sale. His sloop has a new mainsail, which is the only new sail she
has, a patched squaresail, boot topt with lime, has a new top mast, which is
remarkably short; her name is painted in capital letters on her stern. I will
give the above reward on the Negro and servant being properly secured, so that I
may get them again, and on conviction of the theif, or TEN POUNDS, besides
reasonable charges, on delivery of the Negro only.
EDWARD
KER.
Virginia Gazette
(Purdie), Williamsburg,
July 7,
1775. Supplement
COMMITTED to York jail, the 28th ult. a MULATTO LAD 5
feet 4 inches high, thin made, who says his name is Peter Weeks, and that he
belongs to John Parker of Accomack county; has on an old duffil jacket, striped
Virginia-cloth breeches, and an old ragged shirt.--Likewise, on the 1st of this
instant (July) a BLACK LAD, 5 feet 3 inches and a quarter high, thin made, has
the wool on his crown cut close, says his name is John Thompson, and that he
belongs to William Hack of Accomack county; has on a new osnabrug shirt, old
purple coloured breeches, and a fustian or jeans coat with metal buttons. The
owners are desired to prove their properties, and pay charges
to
WILLIAM MITCHELL.
Virginia Gazette
(Parks),
Williamsburg,
>From September 9 to September 16
1737.
WHEREAS Two Prisoners broke Gaol, and escaped from the
Subscriber, High-Sheriff of Accomack County, on the 2d of this Instant
September, viz. John Wyat, a West-country Man born, but pretends he lived at
Piscataway, in New-England, a tall, slender Man, with Black Hair, a Mole on one
side of his Face; and had on a Pea Jacket, a Seersucker Wastecoat, old Ticking
Trowsers, old Shoes, and a Cap; and is suppos'd to be gone down the Bay, towards
Hampton: The other, nam'd Isaac Wallner, a Wheel wright, and pretends also to be
a Comb maker, is of a middle Stature, a pale Complexion, and very much
pockfretten. Whoever apprehends them, or either of them, so as they may be
return'd to me, shall have a Reward of Twenty Shillings for John Wyat, and Ten
Shillings for Isaac Wallner, paid by
William Beavans.
Virginia
Gazette
(Hunter), Williamsburg,
May 24, 1751.
May 18, 1751.
RAN away on the 14th Instant, from Pocomoke River, in Accomack County, Two
Negroe Men, belonging to Robert King, of the said County, one named Dollar,
about 21 Years old; had on when he went away, a Grey Fearnaught Wastecoat,
Virginia-Cloth Breeches, Stockings, Shoes and Hat; the other a short well-set
Fellow, named Greenock, about 23 Years old; had a grey Frize Coat, Breeches of
the same Cloth of the other Fellow's, with Shoes, Stockings and Hat: They are
Brothers. Whoever apprehends and conveys them to their said Master, shall have
Two Pistoles Reward for each, if taken in Virginia, and Three if in Carolina,
besides what the Law allows. Also ran away from the said Place, at the same
Time, and suspected to be in Company with them, a Mulatto Man and Woman,
belonging to James Pettigrew, of the said County; the Fellow is about 25 Years
old, has a large Scar over his right Eye, in the Shape of a half Moon he is a
strong active Fellow, named James: the Wench is you!
ng, and named Tabitha.
Whoever apprehends and conveys them to their Master, shall have a Reward of
Three Pistoles for the Fellow, and half a Pistole for the Wench, besides what
the Law allows. Likewise, ran away from the said Place, at the same Time, and
suspected to be in Company with them, a Mulatto Boy and a Negroe Woman,
belonging to William Andrews, of the said County, the Boy is about 7 Years old,
named Hamlet Robertson, the Wench is small, about 35 Years old, named Pleasant.
Whoever apprehends and conveys them to their Master, shall have a Reward of Two
Pistoles, besides what the Law allows. They are armed with Guns, &c. and
have broke open several Houses in the said County, committed Felonies, have
taken a Canoe, and 'tis imagined will take the first larger Vessel they meet
with, in order to cross the Bay.
Robert King.
James
Pettigrew.
William Andrews.
Virginia Gazette
(Rind),
Williamsburg,
July 18, 1771.
RAN away from the subscriber,
about the 1st of June last, in Accomack county, a Negro fellow named POMPEY, he
is about 23 years of age, 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, well made, of a mulatto
colour, wore his own hair, which is long and very curled. When he went off he
had but mean clothes, but it is supposed he may get others, as he called himself
a free man, and went by the name of George Johnson. He has several scars on his
breast, which, I hear, he says were caused by the small-pox, but he never had
the small-pox; the scars were had while working in an iron works, on Nanticoke
river, in Maryland. He went over the bay to Norfolk, and designed to go on board
some vessel as a sailor, having been used to sail in the bay. All masters of
vessels are therefore desired to be cautious of being imposed upon by him, as he
is an artful fellow. Whoever apprehends and secures him so that I get him again,
shall have FORTY SHILLINGS reward, besides what the law allows, and all
reasonable cha!
rges, paid by
RICHARD
DRUMMOND.
Virginia Gazette
(Purdie & Dixon),
Williamsburg,
July 29, 1773.
RUN away from the Subscriber, in
Accomack, on the 26th of June last, a Negro Fellow named DANIEL, about sixteen
Years of Age, of a yellowish Complexion, stoops in his Shoulders, has a down
Look, one Side of his Face seems larger than the other, or is awry, and has many
Scars on his Back or Breech. I suspect he will get on Board some Vessel, or make
for Carolina, and forewarn all Masters of Vessels from harbouring or
entertaining him. I will give a Reward of FIFTY SHILLINGS if he is taken in the
Colony or FIVE POUNDS if out thereof, and pay all reasonable Charges for sending
him home.
CLEMENT PARKER.
Virginia Gazette
(Rind),
Williamsburg,
January 13, 1774.
COMMITTED to the galo of
Prince George two Negro men, one of whom calls himself DAVY; he appears to be
about 25 years of age, is about 5 feet 7 inches and a half high, and had on a
broadcloth coat, red waistcoat, duffil breeches, cotton gambadoes, shoes and
stockings, and a hat. The other calls himself SAM; he appears to be about 20
years of age, is about 5 feet 3 inches and a half high, and has on an old blue
Newmarket coat, cotton waistcoat and breeches, a red under waistcoat, shoes and
stockings, and a striped Holland shirt. They say they belong to Griffin Stith,
in Northampton. The owner is desired to take them away, and pay charges
to
HENRY BATTE.