Lesson 4 Document 3

Ads for runaway servants plus one poem

Pennsylvania Gazette, July 4, 1751.

Ran away on the 1st instant, from Daniel Bates of Gloucester county, an English servant man, named George M'Cartney, about 19 years of age, a short fellow, pretty well set, of a yellow complexion, a little pitted with smallpox; Had on when he went away, an old felt hat, with a piece sewed on part of the brim of it, a ragged linnen cap, a blue jacket, without lining, with soal-leather buttons on it, coarse, dirty ozenbrigs trowsers, a check shirt, and an old pair of women's shoes, with the heels out, and pieces of leather put in the room of them. Whoever takes up and secures said servant, so that his master may have him again, shall have Forty Shillings reward, and reasonable charges, paid by

Daniel Bates

Pennsylvania Gazette, July 18, 1751.

Run away on the 12th inst., from William Oakford, at the head of Alloway's Creek, Salem county, a servant man, named Joseph Steel, of a middle stature, short black curl'd hair, about 28 years of age ... He took with him a Negroe boy named Caesar: Had on when he went away, a new lead colour'd thick cloth coat and vest, leather breeches, short trowsers, thread stockings and half-worn shoes; he had also two felt hats, and two shirts, one white the other brown. The said servants took with them a bay horse, has got the pole-evil, and paces well; a rifle barrel gun, and a large yellow dog, with a white ring round his neck. Whoever takes up and secures said servants, so that their master may have them again, shall have Forty Shillings reward for each, and reasonable charges, paid by

William Oakford.

N.B. The said Steel has serv’d a time in Bucks County, about 17 miles from Philadelphia, on Bristol road; and the Negroe boy was bought out of Philadelphia, about two years since.

Pennsylvania Gazette, April 3, 1760.

Run away last Night from William Scott, of this City, an Apprentice Boy, named Job Goodman, by Trade a Taylor, about 16 or 17 years old, a well looking Boy, tall and slim, has a very innocent Look and Speech, wears brown Hair, tied behind with a black Ribbon (but it is likely he will cut it off, for he has got a blue and white Cotton Cap). Had on when he went away, a light coloured Cloth Coat and Breeches, with yellow carved Metal Buttons, black Jacket, check Shirt, and a pair of Silver Buckles on his Shoes. Whoever takes up the said Apprentice, and brings him home to his said Master shall be rewarded with Forty Shillings, and all reasonable Charges, paid by William Scott.

NB It is likely he may change his Clothes, as he has got, in a greenish coloured Bag, a new blue German Serge Coat, with Buttons and Lining of the Colour, and sundry other clothes, etc. All Masters of Vessels are forbid to carry him off at their peril. If the above Apprentice is inlisted in any of his Majesty's Troops, the Subscriber would be much obliged to any Person that would let him know.

P153

Pennsylvania Gazette, March 6, 1776.

This present instant on the fourteenth day,

My apprentice boy did run away;

Thomas Stillenger he is called by name,

His indenture further testifies the same; He has always been a vexatious lad,

One reason why he is so meanly clad;

To describe the rest I am not inclined,

Cloth for a jacket he left behind;

Of apple pies he took with him but five,

For to preserve himself alive;

Three quarter dollars are missed of late,

Which perhaps he took to pay his freight;

Believe him not if you be wise,

He is very artful in telling lies;

For which I whipt him, I thought severe,

But did not make him shed one tear.

Whoever doth him safely secure

Of a reward they may be sure,

Six-pence at least I do propose

To give for him with all his clothes;

Or clear me of him forever and mine.

And his indentures away I will sign;

Now to inform you further still,

I keep a saw and fulling mill;

In East-Fallowfield township

and Chester County is the place of my abode,

I subscribe my name unto the same, and that is William Moode.

Children and youth in America: a documentary history. Editor, Robert H. Bremner; associate editors, John Barnard, Tamara K. Hareven [and] Robert M. Mennel

Cambridge, MA Harvard University Press 1970

Vol 1 1600-1865

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