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unknown, Phil [3]
in 1822, enslaver Hiram Beasley of New Castle offered a reward of $50 for the return of Phil. It was assumed he might go to Frankfort, where his wife was enslaved by Mr. Ralph. Otherwise, he was expected to try to go to Indiana, where he had been captured after escaping a previous enslaver in 1821.
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1821 - Mercer Co., Phil caught in Indiana
Phil, held by enslaver David Jarell, escaped from Mercer County but was captured in Indiana in June, 1821. According to a reward ad posted for a later escape.
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1821 - Mercer Co., A preacher on horseback
On the night of Oct. 9th, 1821, an enslaved preacher named Manuel (also known as Dick) mounted a sorrel mare andd escaped from the farm of Mercer County enslaver Thomas Wilson. Manuel was described as about 45yrs. Old and 5'9". A $40 reward was offered for the return of Manuel and the horse.
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1824 - Mercer Co., The disappearance of Jack
On May 3rd, 1824, Mercer Co. enslaver Abram Maury discovered 45-yr-old Jack was missing. Jack had formerly been enslaved by James Beil, also of Mercer county. He was described as "very stout" and over 6 feet tall with a penchant for chewing tobacco. A reward of $20 was offered for his return.
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1814 - Mercer Co., The capture of Bachus
In early May, 1814, 50-yr-old freedom seeker Bachus was captured and jailed in Jefferson County. He was described as about five feet tall and had a stutter. Bachus named Dr. Lettimore near Harrodsburg as his enslaver.
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1790 - Mercer Co., A price on his head
Freedom seeker Phil escaped from Mercer County enslaver John Meaux in November, 1790. Phil was described as 25-yrs-old, 5'6" tall. Meaux offered a reward of five pounds for the safe return of Phil or ten pounds for his head "severed from his body." The reward was to be paid in cattle at cash price.
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1824 - Mercer Co., Escape from the Deep South
On October 31, 1824, a 26-yr-old freedom seeker named Isaac fled enslavement in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Isaac was first enslaved by John Glover, of Mercer Co. then sold in 1818 to Guthrage Masterson who then sold him to Edward Chambers in Alabama. Isaac was suspected to have been headed to Kentucky with another freedom seeker. A reward of $25 plus expenses was offered.
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1806 - Mercer Co., Escape of James
On November 1st, 1806, 28-yr-old James escaped Danville area enslaver Stephen Fisher. When he left, he had a "very sore leg" and both heels had been affected by frotsbite. Fisher offered a reward of $50 for his return.
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1793 - Mercer Co., Ten pounds for Peter's return
in 1793, ten pounds reward was offered by Danville enslaver John Dougherey for the return of 30-yr-old freedom seeker, Peter, who had escaped around Sept 20th. Peter was about 5'10" tall with a "yellow" complexion and several missing front teeth.
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1808 - Mercer Co., Tom's flight to freedom
Around October 20th, 1808, a freedom seeker named Tom escaped from Danville-area enslaver James G. Birney , Sr., father of famous abolitionist James G. Birney Jr. Tom was a rope maker and was describeds as about 5'7" tall, with a "yellow" complexion. He had previously been enslaved by Mr. January of Lexington, where Tom's wife also lived. A reward of $10 plus expenses was offfered for his return.
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1798 - Mercer Co., Educated John slips away
John Dick, a 26-yr-old freedom seeker, took his exit from Danville-area enslaver Edward Hughes on March 1, 1798. He was previously held by Hail Tolbert of Madison County and was able to read and was "fond of shewing (sic)" this skill. A five dollar reward was offered for his return.
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1815 - Mercer Co., Joe's disappearance
On Dec 1, 1815, Danville-area enslaver Joseph Hertick placed an ad offereing a $20 reward for the retrun of Joe, who was likely to be headed for Ohio.