He was found five weeks afterwards.

by Lisa Y. Henderson

An old free negro strayed off from the poor house in Warren co., on the 20th Dec., on the night of which day it is supposed he died.  His dead body was found five weeks afterwards, having been exposed o all the weather since.  What is singular to the case, there was very little sign of decay on the body, but it had the appearance rather of drying up.

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 12 Feb 1851.