Which of the Following Is Not True About the Advertisement for the Runaway Servants We Read?

A frequent discovery when reading 18^th Century newspapers is the runaway ads. In an era when people could be owned past or contractually jump to others, individuals who absconded were often advertised by their masters. These ads give u.s. amazing descriptions of individuals and show the lodge's remarkable diversity of physical attributes, demographics, personalities, situations and material civilisation. Better still, many of them are outright fun and amusing. Sometimes information technology'due south the choice of words used, sometimes it's the characters that are described, but it'due south hard non to smile when reading these ads. From thousands that were published during the American Revolution, below are ten selected because they're fun to read; about are from Pennsylvania newspapers simply considering those papers carried far more runaway ads than others – but in that location are hundreds more every bit as entertaining as these, from all over the colonies.

Six Dollars Reward.

Run abroad from the subscriber, in Charlestown township, Chester county, on the 26th day of February, a servant man, named James Thomson, but will undoubtedly alter his name, as by his own information he has been used to do; he is well-nigh 35 years of historic period, nearly 5 feet seven or 8 inches high, a thick well prepare fellow, of a swarthy complexion, direct blackness hair, blackness eyes, has a sour await, is addicted of strong liquor, given to lying later a tranquillity manner, has a low vocalization, apt to requite bad language when he is angry, talks good English and Dutch, and several other languages; he has been used to attend a saw factory; he says he is something of a carpenter; it is likely he may forge a laissez passer, as he is a proficient scholar; the lower joint of his little finger on the left hand is out of its identify; had on, when he went away, a minor quondam felt chapeau, bound with black record, a curt crewman's jacket of blue nap cloth, lined with green baize, had black horn buttons on it, ozenbrigs shirt, old brownish textile breeches, a pair of grey coarse yarn stockings, a pair of strong shoes, with round rimmed buckles, ane of them steel plated with silvery, the other white metallic. Whoever takes upward and secures said servant, and then that his master may have him over again, shall receive the to a higher place reward, and reasonable charges, paid past William Bodly.

[Pennsylvania Gazette, eight March 1775]

Five Pounds Reward,

Run away from the subscriber, the 7th instant, an indented servant man, named Stephen Kelso, born in New England, by trade a caulker and ship carpenter, served his apprenticeship in New York, about 35 years of age, well made, brownish coloured hair, 5 feet 8 or nine inches high; had on, and took with him, a half‑worn lid, a lite coloured jacket, a linsey ditto, quondam buckskin breeches, old blue yarn stockings, and sundry other clothes too tedious to mention; as well took with him sundry transport carpenter's tools, some marked J Westward, others S K, and others stamped on the handle; he is very remarkable for shewing his teeth, specially his upper teeth, and stutters when in liquor, which he is very much addicted to, very apt to scratch his breast and shoulders when examined. Whoever takes up the said servant, and secures him in any goal, and so that his chief may accept him again, shall accept, if 5 miles, 30 Shillings, if 20 miles, Twoscore Shillings, and the above reward if out of the province, including what the police force allows, with reasonable charges, paid by Micajah James.

[Pennsylvania Gazette, eight March 1775]

Baltimore county, Patapsco Neck, April three, 1775.

20 Dollars Reward, for apprehending a Runaway.

James, a mulatto slave, sometimes known by the name of Vulcan, only normally answers to the proper noun of Buck, took an abrupt leave of his overseer last Wednesday, and has not yet returned; he is a dark mulatto, about 5 feet ix inches loftier, strong made, sensible, artful, and deceptive in conversation, business firm and daring in his efforts to perpetrate villainy, tho' of mild atmosphere, and plausible in speech: he has ofttimes travelled through a considerable function of this and some office of the province of Pennsylvania, is well known, it is supposed, in the borough and canton of Lancaster, and is acquainted with Philadelphia, may probably therefore re-visit those places. His working cloaths were a home manufactured long cloth waistcoat with sleeves, and breeches, yarn stockings, osnabrig shirt, and good shoes, nailed with hobs: he is possessed of and has taken with him a blue German serge coat, a green broad textile vest, two pair of cotton and i pair of thread stockings, two white shirts ruffled at the chest, a good castor lid with ring and buckle, a pair of expert pumps, with a pair of double rimmed argent buckles. He has a mark if distinction, which from modesty, or some other motive, he is careful to muffle; 1 of his ears (merely which is forgot) is remarkably less than the other. The above reward volition be paid if he should be taken up out of the province, and brought abode; v pounds if at the distance of 40 miles, iii pounds if thirty, and forty shillings if 20 miles, with reasonable travelling expences, including the legal charge under the act of associates, by Thomas Jones.

[Maryland Gazette, June 1, 1775]

Five Dollars Reward.

Run away from the subscriber, living in Woodbridge, East New Jersey, on the night of the 23d of July terminal, an Irish servant man, named John Morgan, about xx years old, 5 feet v inches high, downward await, brown bushy hair, something marked with the smallpox, speaks very fibroid, cannot read nor write, is something of a balance master, can carry sticks, rakes, forks or the like, on his chin or olfactory organ, which he may likely do to get liquor, equally he has no money, unless he sells some of some of his clothes; he had on, and took with him, two homespun linen shirts, the one bank check the other striped, two homespun woollen shirts, two coats, one brown saggathy, one home made textile mixed blue and white, a pair of drilling breeches, a pair of brown saggathy ditto, two pair of tow trowsers, worsted stockings, Germantown make, halfworn shoes, contumely buckles, 1 of which is mended with pewter, very clumsily. Whoever takes up said servant, and secures him in any of his Majesty'southward goals, shall have the in a higher place advantage, paid past Jeremiah Manning.

[Pennsylvania Gazette, 9 August 1775]

Was Stolen,

…on the 18th day of September last, from the subscriber, living in Nottingham township, Burlington county, West Bailiwick of jersey, A sorrel Stallion, near 16 hands loftier, 15 years old next leap, has neither brand nor ear mark, has a minor star in his brow, some white hairs on his about buttock, shod earlier with steel shoes, a natural pacer, and low in flesh; likewise an former saddle, with light coloured costly housings, and a snaffle bridle. Were taken by a man who called himself John Stewart, only he has passed in other places past the names of John Noble Armstrong, alias John Armstrong, alias John Wentworth Armstrong, alias Newgent, and is apt to alter his proper name at almost every identify he comes to, and is a cunning artful fellow, pretends he was brought up in the practise of the police, is apt to drink hard, and when merry very foul mouthed and wranglesome; had on, when in the neighbourhood, a white fur hat, a white linen cap, a blue surtout coat, a red waistcoat, a white shirt, coarse homespun linen drawers, brown thread stockings , pumps, with yellowish metal buckles; he is about 5 anxiety 10 inches loftier, near sighted, of a sandy complexion, much pock marked, and has some scars in his face, most the left side of his oral fissure. Whoever takes up both horse and thief, and secures them, so that the thief may be brought to condign punishment, and the subscriber gets his equus caballus again, shall accept Three Pounds advantage, and for the horse, saddle, and bridle only, the sum of 20 Shillings, and all reasonable charges shall exist paid, by Abraham Lobb.

[Pennsylvania Gazette, 18 October 1775]

This present instant, on the fourteenth day,

My amateur boy did run abroad;

Thomas Stillenger he is called by name,

His indenture further testifies the same;

Small of his historic period, in his twelfth year,

My bargain of him has been very dear;

He has always been a vexatious lad,

One reason why he is so meanly clad;

Hat, shirt and breeches were almost new,

Sheeps russet stockings, and half worn shoes,

To describe the residuum I am not inclin,

Cloth for a jacket he left behind;

Of apple pies with him he took but v,

For to preserve himself live;

3 quarter dollars are missed of late,

Which peradventure he took to pay his freight;

Believe him not, if you be wise,

He is very artful in telling lies,

He is also guilty of another crime,

Of taking textile from fourth dimension to time,

And as he lived so far from ocean,

Down Brandywine did information technology convey;

The freight whereof not being paid,

Sunk to the bottom and in that location it staid;

All which by chance is got again,

1 piece doth only nevertheless remain;

For which I whipt him, I thought severe,

But did no make him shed one tear.

Whoever doth him safely secure,

Of a reward they may be sure,

Six pence at least I exercise propose,

To give for him with all his wearing apparel;

Or clear me of him for ever, and mine,

And his indenture away I will sign;

Now to inform y'all further still,

I keep a saw and fulling mill;

In East Fallowfield township and Chester county is the identify of my abode, I subscriber my name unto the same, and that is William Moode.

[Pennsylvania Gazette, 6 March 1776]

Three Pounds Advantage.

Run away from the Birdsborough Forge, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of June, 1776, a Negroe Man, ordinarily called Cuff Dix; he is an active well made fellow, and a well-nigh excellent hammerman; he is about 5 feet 5 or half dozen inches high, fond of liquor, understands English well, though he stammers in his speech; there is an iron ring in one of his ears, which if he can take out, a pigsty will remain it, large enough to receive the small end of a pipe stem, in which case he volition probably endeavour to conceal the pigsty by filling it up; he wore, when he went away, a minor old hat, calorie-free coloured homespun jacket , tow shirt and trowsers. He has often run away, changed his name, denied that the subscriber was his master, and been bars in several goals in this province; he was employed the greatest part of last summer by a person near Dilworthtown, in Chester county. Any person who shall harbour said Negroe shall be dealt with as the law directs, and his name not omitted in a time to come advertising. Equally Negroes in general think that Lord Dunmore is contending for their liberty, it is not improbable that said Negroe is on his march to bring together his Lordship's ain black regiment, but information technology is hoped he will exist prevented by some honest Whig from effecting it. Any person who shall bring said Negroe home to his master, or secure him in any goal, so that he may exist had over again, shall receive the above reward, and reasonable charges, paid by Mark Bird.

[Pennsylvania Gazette, 17 July 1776]

Viii Dollars Reward.

Run away from the subscriber, living in Pittsgrove township, Salem county, W-New-Jersey, on Sunday, the 21^st day of July, a servant man named William Blackmore, near v feet 7 or 8 inches high, short lite hair, is knock-kneed, and turns his toes out in his walk, he came from the West of England, and talks upon that dialect, is very talkative and impudent, and inclines to swear, fond of visitor, and apt to make it liquor; has a large scar in the calf of his leg, occasioned by a scald; had on, when he went away, a blueish cloth jacket, without sleeves, or lining, onetime buckskin breeches, broke before, coarse thread stockings, old shoes, an old fine shirt, a half worn beaver chapeau, scalloped and cocked up (which he stole) he had with him a tow and linen shirt, also an iron collar around his cervix, on i shank of which was marked I. H. and on the other Westward. B. he covers it with his shirt, but may hands exist discovered; it is probable he will modify his name, as he has washed before; information technology is expected he will endeavour to get on lath some of the king'southward ships, as he is a great tory. Whoever takes upward the said servant, and secures him in whatsoever goal, so that his primary may get him once more, shall receive the above reward, and reasonable charges paid, if brought home, by Isaac Harris.

[Pennsylvania Gazette, July 21, 1776]

Eight Dollars Reward.

Run away, on Sunday, the 9th of this instant February, a native Irish retainer human, named Philip Clark, about 5 feet vii or 8 inches high, pretty well set, of a flesh colour, has a pocked plough upward nose, has a remarkable style of throwing his caput back when he eats spoon victuals, is much given to liquor, has black hair, which he wears virtually always curled, has a large white lock on one side of his caput, which he says came past a fall from a mare, and sometimes says by a blow with a quart pot; it is idea he will cut off his hair; had on, when he went away, a calorie-free fabric coat, with metallic buttons and striped lincey lining, ii light material jackets, buckskin breeches, tied with strings at the knees, ii pair of stockings , ane obviously blue, the other dark grey ribbed, new neats leather shoes, with plated buckles, a plain silver stock buckle, a bank check silk handkerchief; he took with him a mutual prayerbook; it is though he volition become on board a privateer, or go to Howe, as he is a Tory, and as he is a good scholar may forge a pass. Whoever takes up said servant, and secures him in whatever goal, so that his principal may get him again, shall take the higher up advantage, and reasonable charges, paid by Samuel Landers, in Ridley township, Chester county.

N.B. If any officeholder has enlisted him, his primary will sell him reasonable; enquire of Mr. John Roberts, Taylor, in Elbow Lane, or said main.

[Pennsylvania Gazette, 12 February 1777]

Lancaster, December 22, 1777.

Twenty Dollars Reward.

Deserted form Capt. Gourley's visitor, of the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment, a certain John Dark-brown, by trade an armourer, about five feet seven inches high, pock marked, fair complexion; had on a light coloured coat, white linen jacket, leather breeches, and a beaver lid.

Also a sure Francis Harris, lately discharged from one of the floating batteries, past trade a manufacturing plant wright, nearly five feet 11 inches high; had on when he deserted, an old calorie-free jacket with sleeves, and flowered, flannel breeches; he is much given to drink, and apt to say in his discourse, Please GOODNESS, or past way of oath, By HE THAT MADE LITTLE APPLES OR POOP LANTHORNS. Whoever takes up said deserters, and secures them in any of the gaols of the United states of america, and so that they may be returned to their regiment, shall receive the higher up advantage and reasonable charges, paid by John Bickham, Lieut. 9th Pennsylvania Reg.

[Pennsylvania Packet, 22 Dec 1777]

FEATURED Image AT TOP: Advertising page from a 1781 issue of the Jamaican newspaper the Majestic Gazette, i of many newspapers from the flow displaying notices well-nigh delinquent slaves. Source: British Library

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Source: https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/10/10-runaway-ads/

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