Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Runaways

April 18, 2013

On the 5th came a traveling black man.

Notice. On the night of the 5th inst. came a travelling Black man, and took up for the night in one of my Negro houses; after my having notice of it, I took him under examination, and he called himself Willie Trip, and produced a free pass under the signature of John Jones, Esq. and John Harris, of Craven county, N.C. with a good recommendation, stating that he was to travel to the Indiana; the matter seemed somewhat suspicious, in consequence I took from him his knapsack, with several articles of clothing, in it also a Red Morocco pocket book, with some cash, together with his pass; intending to further examine next morning, but in the morning he was gone, leaving the effects with me, induces me to believe him a runaway slave. Now this notice is that the owner may have knowledge of his route. He is a stout black sensible fellow, a small scar is on his left cheek, stated in his pass; and very little doubt with me but that he came from Craven county, not far from Newbern.    GEO. BRASSFIELD, X Roads between Raleigh and Hillsborough. January 6, 1820.

Star, Raleigh, 4 February 1820.

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April 17, 2013

Runaway bound boy, no. 8.

NOTICE.

Ran away from the Subscriber on the 13th of September last, a bound boy of color, by the name of WILLIAM HAITHCOCK, eighteen years of age, weighing about one hundred and fifty pounds. I hereby forewarn all persons from harboring or employing said boy under the penalty of the law. WM. P. McDANIEL. October 21.

Hillsborough Recorder, 21 October 1863.

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April 15, 2013

His father was emancipated in Virginia.

Committed to the Jail of Rockingham county, (N.C.) on the 25th ult. A Negro Fellow, who says his name is JOHN ARMSTRONG, and that he is a free Man – says his father was emancipated by a family of the name of Ladd, near Richmond – says he lived with Mr. Ratford, who formerly kept the Eagle Tavern in that place, and that he also lived several years with Mr. Smoke, who now keeps the Eagle Tavern, in the capacity of Ostler.

JOHN is about 30 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, is very much pitted with the small-pox, and when apprehended, said he was on his way to Tennessee, where his wife resides. The owner is requested to prove his property, pay charges and take him away.   JOHN LILLIARD, Jailer. 7th June, 1809.

Star, Raleigh, 20 July 1809.

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April 13, 2013

I think they will aim for Washington or New Bern.

Ten Dollars Reward.

Ranaway form the Subscriber on Sunday, the 19th instant. A bright Mulatto Man named Mark. About 42 or 42 years of age, five feet 10 or 11 inches high; straight and stout built; a good countenance; a film coming on his left eye – had two or three pair of homespun Jackets and Trowsers, some of them filled with wool and dyed purple. He went off with a free mulatto woman by the name of Dill Moore, who has a free pass, and I expect she has procured one for him also. I think they will aim for Washington or Newbern, for the purpose of obtaining a passage on board some vessel bound for a Northern port. Should Dill Moore take a passage for herself only, she probably may have the man put on board privately. The above reward will be paid to any person who will deliver the said Mark to me, or secure him in any prison so that I can get him again.

Masters of vessels and all other persons, are hereby forbid to harbor, employ or carry off the said Mark, as I will prosecute with vigour the person so offending.  JAMES HANRAHAN. Washington’s Ferry, Pitt County. April 25, 1829.

North Carolina Sentinel, New Bern, 13 June 1829.

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April 11, 2013

He passed for a free man for fifteen months.

RAN-AWAY.

From the Subscriber on the 10th day of September, a bright mulatto fellow by the name of Ralph. He is about 35 years old – a number of his fore teeth are missing – several before, so as to disqualify him from chawing any thing hard. He has a very down look. He had on when he left me cotton clothes, except his coat, which was cotton cambrick, of a brown colour, made in the present fashion. The coat had a pocket on the inside of the left lappell. – He is about five feet, eight or ten inches high – thick built. I expect he will attempt to pass for a free man, and perhaps aim for Richmond, in Virginia, where he was raised.  He left his former master, whose name was Jeffery, (lived in South Carolina,) and passed for a free man about fifteen months in the counties of Duplin, Bladen, and Jones, where he was at length taken up and committed to Wilmington Jail, where his master got him. Any person who will confine said Negro in any Jail in this state so I get him again, shall receive a reward of ten dollars, and if delivered to me in Wadesborough, 25 dollars. JOHN JENNINGS. Wadesborough, Sept. 25, 1809.

Star, Raleigh, 19 October 1809.

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April 9, 2013

They are called Ephram Mitchell.

NOTICE.

Ranaway from the subscriber on Sunday night the 29th instant, two negro slaves, (mulattoes,) by the names  of DUNCAN and JIM the former about twenty four years of age, and the latter twenty one – the said negroes belong to the estate of John Whitted, dec’d, and are hired to the subscribers and probably at this time are lurking in the neighborhood of Haywood (Chatham county, in this State) for the purpose of taking off along with them their Brother, who is also a mullatto, (by the name of Stephen) these boys having calculated on their freedom from their late masters will, and feeling disappointed in their expectation, it is therefore believed that they will make for some part of the country, where freedom is tolerated, and in the mean time pass as free persons of colour, as they are determined to effect their freedom if possible. – Duncan is likely not very stout about five feet ten inches high and has a scar on his neck occasioned by rising, any person or persons who will apprehend the same negroes and deliver them to the subscribers in Hillsborough shall be reasonably rewarded – or if taken up out of the state and secured in any Jail thereof, so that the subscribers get them shall receive a reward of five dollars each.

N.B. It is said these negroes have procured some kind of instrument of writing from a free man of colour by the name of Ephram Mitchell which was given by the Clerk of county some time past, which they will probably make use of to answer their purpose, therefore they will try to pass in his name, Ephram Mitchell.  H. Thompson, John Young. August 29th 1819.

Star, Raleigh, 10 September 1819.

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April 9, 2013

He is called William Wall.

Four Hundred Dollars Reward.

The store of the subscribers was robbed on the night of 24th February last, of three thousand, three or four hundred dollars, by a mulatto fellow named JIM, the property of William L. Thomas, esquire, of Chesterfield District, South-Carolina. Jim is about five feet eight inches high, a little round shouldered, has a large scar on his left arm near the shoulder, and wore a pair of whiskers. His dress cannot with accuracy be described, but had on when last seen a green bombazette coatee – He was seen and pursued on the 2d instant, by a party of men in Moore county, North Carolina, where he had purchased a horse, but was forced to abandon his horse and baggage when pursued. Jim has obtained a free pass or rather certificate of his freedom in which he is called William Wall; but it is not improbable he will again change his name, and procure another pass to prevent detection by the old one, as he is a very artful fellow. It is his avowed intention to go to the state of Pennsylvania or Ohio, but he may be at this time in Chatham county, North Carolina, from whence he was brought some time in the  month of May last year by a Mr. Ramsay. Any person or persons who will apprehend said fellow and confine him in any jail so that the subscribers may get him, shall receive $100 reward m or $120 if deleivered to them at their residence, and ten per centum for all the money restore. The money is in notes on different banks in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, & one $50 note on the Hudson Bank of New York, which is a counterfeit, and on the back is written “Atwaters,” the man’s name from whom it was received.  GILLESPIE & SANDERS. Chatham, Chesterfield District, South-Carolina, 19th March, 1816.

Star, Raleigh, 31 May 1816.

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April 6, 2013

He lives with a free colored woman.

Fifty Dollars Reward. For negro SHADRACK, who ran away from me in August last, 1823; he is twenty-six years old, five feet six or seven inches high, dark complexion, and has a sulky appearance. He was raised by Mathew C. Whitaker, Esq. deceased, of Halifax county; his parents belong to Henry Mason, Esq. and his wife belongs to the heirs of Benjamin Harriss, deceased, and at this time lives with a free colored woman, one mile and a half from Halifax town, on the main road leading from thence to Enfield. I will give the above reward for him delivered to me in Warren county, three miles south of Warrenton, on the stage-road, or confined in Halifax jail so that I get him. All persons are forewarned from hiring or harboring said boy. Rob. Ransom. Greenwood, Aug. 16, 1824.

Free Press, Halifax, 17 September 1824.

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April 5, 2013

Runaway bound boy, no. 7.

COMMITTED to the Jail of Rowan County, on the 4th of August, a negro boy named Edward Bailey, who says he is free, and bound to Newsome Westmoreland of Stokes county. Said boy is of dark complexion, about 13 or 14 years of age. N. ROBERTS, Jailor. Salisbury, Aug. 16, 1845.

Carolina Watchman, 18 August 1845.

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April 1, 2013

They are very well known.

$200 Reward. Ranaway from the subscriber, on the 22nd inst., FOUR NEGRO BOYS, named as follows: CHARLES WINN, aged about 24; WILLIAM, aged about 17 years; JOHN, aged 14 years; JIM, aged about 12 years.

The above boys are very well known as the children of Adam Winn. I think they intend trying to get to some free state. The above reward will be given for their delivery, or for their confinement in any jail in the State.   THOMAS BENNETT. Mt. Olive, Wayne co., July 25, 1854.

Fayetteville Observer, 3 August 1854.

[Sidenote: Adam Winn was a free man. Several of his sons were slaves. — LYH]

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