Borderlands Archive and History Center Database

Items

• unknown, Morris
  In August, 1863, A 21-yr-old man named Morris was captured by Fayette County jailer, William Lusby. The jailer's ad names William Crouch of Bourbon County as the enslaver. The ad was still running in October.
• 1813 - Fayette Co., Tarleton takes a chance
  On July 27th, 1813, a freedom seeker named Tarleton escaped the factory of Lexington enslaver John Brand. Tarleton was described as about 180 lbs. with broad shoulders. A reward of up to $20 was offered for his return.
• 1830 - Fayette Co., Charles breaks free
  On May 10th, 1830, 24-yr-old Charles escaped Fayette county enslaver Jesse Lamme. Charles was described as about 6 feet tall and 190 lbs. A reward of $20 plus expenses was offered for his return.
• 1829 - Fayette Co., A young freedom seeker
  On July 5th, 1829, a 14-yr-old boy named Edmund escaped bondage in Fayette County. He rode off on a small grey horse with one blind eye and a crooked tail. Enslaver J.S. Vandegraff offered a reward of $30 for Edmund's return.
• 1823 - Fayette Co., Matilda disappears
  On Saturday, August 17, 1823, 28-yr-old Matilda, known to her Lexington enslaver as "Charlotte," escaped from bondage in Lexington. She was described as "tall and straight" and was known to talk and laugh when alone. She had been recently brought from Virginia and it was believed she may attempt to return. Enslaver John Bridges offered a $20 reward for her return.
• 1823 - Fayette Co., Substantial reward for James
  On October 13, 1823, 22-yr-old James escaped Lexington enslaver Elijah Warner. He was described as about 5'6" tall and 150 lbs. A large reward of $150 was offered for his return.
• 1822 - Fayette Co., Nat's self-emancipation
  In early October, 1822, 40-yr-old Nat escaped from Lexington enslaver Walter Connell. Nat was about 5'9" tall and "square built." A reward of $50 was offered for his return.
• 1820 - Fayette Co., A well-dressed freedom seeker
  In March, 1822, Lucinda, a 22-yr-old freedom seeker, escaped Lexington enslaver Elizabeth Parker. Lucinda was about 5'3" tall and her clothing was described as "much better than the common dress of servants." A reward of $20 was offered for her return.
• 1819 - Fayette Co., Armed for freedom
  Sometime around October 20, 1819, 25-yr-old Bazil escaped from the Lexington area, where he had been hired out by the estate of enslaver John Pettit (deceased.) It was suspected that Bazil had obtained a pass and had stolen two pistols from Capt. James Kay and rode away atop a pilfered sorrel mare. A reward of $50 was offered for his return.
• 1820 - Fayette Co., Adkins breaks free
  In October, 1820, Robert Gatewood placed an ad offering a reward of $50 for the return of 23-yr-old Adkins, who had escaped from the Lexington jail with two other enslaved men the previous July. Presumably, he had escaped, was caught and escaped again.
• 1820 - Fayette Co., Betty moves away
  On April 8, 1820, 36-yr-old Betty packed a trunk, bed and several dresses, and escaped from Lexington enslaver Jehu Baker. A "liberal reward, plus expenses" was offered for her return
• 1820 - Fayette Co., Kit's departure
  In early Feb., 1820, 22-yr-old Kit escaped the land of enslaver Thomas Barnes, who lived in Fayette Co., 3 miles from the mouth of Jack's Creek. Kit was about 5'7" tall, was able to write and had a wife in Winchester, KY, held by Mr. D. Talliaferro. A reward of up to $30 was offered for his return.
• 1819 - Fayette Co., Joe tries again
  On Oct. 23rd, 1819, Fayette County enslaver William Bowman offered a reward for the return of Joe, who had recently escaped him. Joe had previously escaped from Lewis Dedman in August, 1819. After recapture, Joe was sold to John Read who in turn sold him to William Bowman. Joe's description was largely unchanged except for the detail of his grey eye color. A reward of up to $30 was offered for his return.
• 1819 - Fayette Co., Joe's journey to freedom
  In August, 1819, 24-yr-old Joe escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Lewis Dedman, who lived four miles west of Lexington. Joe was descried as about 5'9" tall with a "yellow complexion and a humiliated or humble look." A reward of up to $50 was offered for hist return.
• 1818 - Fayette Co., The escape of Andrew
  On the morning of March 13, 1818, 23-yr-old Andrew escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Elizabeth Dulin. Andrew was described as about 6 feet tall with a "smiling countenance" and was known to speak "pertly." a reward of $20 was offered for his return.
• 1818 - Fayette Co., Miles makes his move
  Freedom seeker Miles escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Richard Patterson near the end of February, 1818. Miles was about 5'6" tall and was wearing a white cot and brown pants when he escaped. Paterson offered a $5 reward for his return.
• 1817 - Fayette Co., A desperate situation
  On the 20th of August, 1817, freedom seeker George escaped Lexington enslavers James and Francis McConnell. George was trained as a plasterer and very "handy at anything he's put at". George was about 5'10" tall and was described as having a "yellow" complexion, large whiskers and a scar on his throat from a self-inflicted wound. A reward of up to $40 was offered for his return.
• 1817 - Fayette Co., Woman self-emancipates
  In the fall of 1817, an unnamed 25-yr-old woman escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Miner Hart. She was described as about 5'10" tall with a quarter-sized scar under her eye and several other similar scars on her right arm. A reward of up to $50 was offered for her return.
• 1815 - Fayette Co., Enslaved Moses escapes indenture
  Near the end of February, 1815, 28-yr-old Moses escaped from Samuel Long of Fayette Co, to whom he was indentured to learn the trade of carpentry. Long offered $10 for his return and revealed that he was enslaved by Mr. D. White. It's unclear who the indenture arrangement was with.
• 1814 - Fayette Co., Young Matilda leaves enslaver Leaving Young
  On the 25th of October, 1814, 22-yr-old Matilda disappeared from the property of a Lexington enslaver with the unlikely name, Leaving Young. She was about 5'9" tall, of a light complexion and could read and write. It was believed she was still in the area when a $50 reward was offered for her return.
• 1814 - Fayette Co., Jacob's escape
  On the 4th of July, 1814, 20-yr-old Jacob escaped from Lexington-area enslaver, Will Gist. In his description of Jacob, Gist mentioned, ironically, that he "talks bad English." A "reasonable reward" was offered for Jacob's return.
• 1811 - Fayette Co., Frank's flight to freedom
  In October, 1811, 40-yr-old Frank escaped from Thomas Wallace of Lexington. Wallace had hired Frank from the estate of deceased enslaver Edward Thomas. Frank was about 5'7" tall and intelligent. He was versed in bot house and farm work and was familiar with the Frankfort area. A reward of $5 plus expenses was offered for his return.
• 1811 - Fayette Co., Daniel escapes captivity
  On July 20th, 1811, 18-yr-old Daniel escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Lewis Collins. Daniel was described as a "smart, likely, keen, active, sensible fellow." It was thought that Daniel may have been headed to the Goose Creek Salt works (Clay County) or the Salt-Petre caves in Rockcastle- an indication that he was a salt miner at some point. Previously, Daniel was held by James Smith in Pulaski County. A reward of $50 was offered for his return.
• 1811 - Fayette Co., Maria, small but brave
  On July 11, 1811, 19-yr-old Maria escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Jonathan Jewell. The young freedom seeker was about 5'2" tall and had very large eyes. A reward of $10 plus expenses was offered for her recapture.
• 1811 - Fayette Co., Joe Rutherford's flight to freedom
  Joseph Rutherford escaped Fayette County enslaver Robert S. Russell on May 25th, 1811. Rutherford, named after his father, was likely headed to Ohio or "Green River country" as he was familiar with both places. A reward of $20 was offered for Rutherford's capture and return.