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1808 - Fayette Co., A price on Joe's head
Joe, a 25-yr-old man enslaved by William Smith Sr. of Fayette Co., escaped to freedom. It was assumed he would head for Ohio. Smith offered a reward of up to $50 for his capture and return.
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1808 - Fayette Co., Young Jack absconds
On July 1, 1808, Lexington enslaver William Hanson discovered that 19-yr-old Jack had escaped him. Jack was about 5'4" tall and had a stout build. Hanson offered a reward of up to $20 for his return if taken out of the county.
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1807 - Fayette Co., Freedom on Independence Day
On July 4, 33-yr-old Morris celebrated Independence Day by escaping from Fayette Co. enslaver William Allen. He was described as about 5'9" tall and had extensive scarring on the right side of his face from a burn. He left astride Allen's bay horse that had a brand which read "R. B." A "liberal" reward would be given to anyone returning Morris.
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1807 - Fayette Co., Nick escapes with his family
In late-summer, 1807, a freedom seeker named Nick escaped Fayette County enslaver Jacob Sageser. Nick was travelling with a white woman and "mulatto" child, likely his family. He was described as about six feet tall and had a "blemish in his right eye. Nick could read and write and it was suspected that he would have written himself a pass.
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1806 - Fayette Co., Teen freedom seeker on the run
On Oct 12, 1806, 19-yr-old Patt escaped from enslaver Jacob McConathy, who lived at the Forks of Elkhorn in Fayette Co. She had been purchased one month prior from Pendleton County enslaver George Beenson. Patt was about 5'7" tall, slender and had a scar on the upper part of her breast. A reward of $10 was offered for her return
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1801 - Fayette Co., A woman's flight
On Dec 1, 1801, an unnamed 30-yr-old woman escaped Fayette County enslaver, Adrian Davenport. She was described as a large woman with a "sour look." Davenport offered $5 for her return.
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1806 - Fayette Co., Hampton escapes and evades
On September 22, 1806, 34-yr-old Hampton escaped Fayette County enslaver, John Graves. He was recaptured near Paris, Bourbon Co., and a pass with a letter directed to Isaac Rankin near Chillicothe was found on his person, signed by Thomas Rankin. Hampton also had changed his name to John. He again escaped his captors in Paris and a reward of $20 was offered for his return.
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1805 - Fayette Co., Letty's Christmas escape
On Christmas, 1805, 28-yr-old Letty escaped Lexington enslaver, Will Morton. Letty was of "common stature" and took with her 2-3 white muslin dresses, one of fancy chintz, a salmon colored petticoat, white yarn stockings and good shoes, along with other "good quality" clothing. It was suspected Letty was headed to Clark County, Bardstown or Danville. A reward of $20 was offered for her return.
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1803 - Fayette Co., Talkative Tom escapes
Near the end of February, 1803, 30-yr-old Tom escaped from Fayette County enslaver, Robert Barr. Tom was a tall, thin, religious man described as "talkative." Tom's wife was held by enslaver Stephen Rozels, who lived near Henry's mill. A "reasonable reward" was offered for Tom's return.
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1799 - Fayette Co., Nelly's self-liberation
In early August, 1799, 26-yr-old Nelly escaped Lexington enslaver Will Morton. Morton had purchased Nelly from Ben Bridges, of Madison County, KY, who brought her with him from Williamsburg, VA. Nelly was described as "handsome and well-formed" and it was suspected that she may have procured a pass.
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1799 - Fayette Co., Salley's chance for freedom
In June, 1799, a woman named Salley took the opportunity to emancipate herself from Fayette County enslaver John Hall. Hall purchased Sally from Scott County enslaver Jesse Peak. Salley had been hired by George Adams of Lexington, to work in his "Indian King" tavern. After Hall took custody of Salley, she escaped. Hall did not offer a reward, but warned others against helping Salley elude capture.
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1798 - Fayette Co., Sam's second chance
On Sunday, Sept 23, 1798, 35-year-old Sam escaped enslaver James Gatewood, of Lexington. Sam was about six feet tall, slim and was a blacksmith. Sam had escaped previously and was captured at Fort Hamilton (now Butler County, OH) with a pass in the name of Nicholas Davis of Bedford Co, VA. Sam was a fiddle player and very social. A reward of $15 was offered for his return.
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1798 - Fayette Co., Enslaver warns against aid
On September 18th, 1798, 30-yr-old freedom seeker, Dick, escaped the lands of Fayette County enslaver, John Clark, who lived on Tate's Creek Road. Dick was likely to have a pass and was described as very "active and sensible." Clark warned against anyone providing help, transportation or safe harbor to Dick. A reward of $10 was offered for his return.
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1798 - Fayette Co., George Linn signs his freedom pass
On the night of July 29th, 1798, 20-yr-old freedom seeker George Linn escaped Lexington enslaver, James Morrison. George was able to write his name legibly and would likely pass as free. A reward of $8 was offered for his return.
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1798 - Fayette Co., Mr. Kerby's second self-emancipation
On Mar. 30, 1798, Isaiah Kerby, called "Abraham" by Fayette County enslaver Peter LeGrand, escaped bondage. Isaiah was about six feet tall and was an excellent fiddle player. After escaping a prior enslaver, Col. Nichols, of Lexington, Isaiah had passed as free in Cincinnati, where he worked for Mr. Smith and Mr. Finley (Findlay?) He was captured in Washington (DC) on his way to Philadelphia. It was known that he had a white wife near Cincinnati and would probably travel to her home before going to Detroit.
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1795 - Fayette Co., Billey and Ned race to freedom
In October, during horseraces held in Lexington, freedom seekers Billey and Ned, both around 25 yrs. old, escaped enslaver Thomas Hart (Henry Clay's father-in-law.) Both had family held in Lexington, and it was suspected they may be in town. A $20 was offered for their return.
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1795 - Fayette Co., Nan slips away
On Jun 25th, 1795, 28-yr-old Nan escaped Fayette County enslaver, Rawleigh Chinn. Nan was described as "mulatto" and was a sensible and "artful" woman. Chinn warned that she would "tell fine tales" and expected that she would attempt to pass as a free woman. A reward of $3 plus "generous compensation" was promised for her return.
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1795 - Fayette Co., Andrew Absconds
In May, 1795, enslaver Robert Megowan offered a reward of $3 for a freedom seeker named Andrew, who had escaped Megowan's Lexington property. He was spotted in Scott county near "Mrs. Todd's plantation" and Megowan warned others against harboring him.
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1791 - Fayette Co., Vanishing Tom
In Jan, 1791, a freedom seeker named Tom escaped from enslaver William Price, who lived near Lexington. Tom was about 5'10" tall with a "yellow" complexion and a scar on one of his cheeks. It was suspected that he would attempt to pass for a free man. A reward of $10 was offered for his return
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1806 - Fayette Co., Newborn's flight
In late March, 1806, a man named Newborn escaped from Fayette County enslaver Jarred Wilson, who lived about 8 miles SE of Lexington. Newborn was between 30-35 years old, enjoyed chewing tobacco and told others he had lived among Native Americans for several years. Wilson offered a liberal reward for his return.
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1799 - Fayette Co., A search for Sharp Moses
In the spring of 1799, 24-yr-old Moses escaped from Fayette County enslaver, William T. Taylor, who lived on the Hickman road, about 7 miles from Lexington. Moses was described as about 5'10" tall, with platted hair. He was a "sharp, knowing fellow" and a reward of $10 was offered for his return.
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1817 - Fayette Co., Delf's departure
On Mar 7, 1817, 35-yr-old Delf escaped from Fayette County enslaver, Moses Hicks. Delf was described as about 5'1" tall and very thin. She was wearing a white frock when she escaped. It was believed that she would head toward Ohio. An undefined reward was offered for her return.
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1828 - Fayette Co., Escape to Missouri
On Saturday, May 22, 1828, 20-yr-old Charles escaped from Fayette County enslaver, Jonathan Parrish. Charles was described as about 5'10" tall, with a bright complexion. It was believed he would head for Missouri. A reward of $50 was offered for his return
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1821 - Fayette Co., Charles' chance for freedom
In September, 1821, 27-yr-old Charles escaped from Fayette County enslaver, Jeremiah Rogers. Charles was about 5'11" tall and was missing his left thumb to the first joint. A reward of up to $100 was offered for his return.
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1799 - Fayette Co., Dick and Molly flee enslavement
In June, 1799, 40-yr-old Dick and his wife, Molly, who was about 30-yrs-old, packed their things and escaped. Fayette County enslaver, Abraham Venable, placed an ad offering a reward of $10 each for their return. Dick was described as about 5'10" tall and had a crooked finger on his left hand. Molly was about 5'6" tall and had a "yellow complexion."