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1829 - Fayette Co., Jim, Jordan and Cyrus head for the river
On July 11, 1829, freedom seekers Jim and Jordan, held by Lexington area enslaver, William C. Connett. Jim was about 30 years old and 6 feet tall, Jordan was about 27 years old and "of low stature." Connett offered a reward of up to $100 for their return. It was suspected that they were with another freedom seeker, 24-yr-old Cyrus, held by enslaver C. Nutter, who lived nearby the Connett property. Nutter offered a reward of $15 for Cyrus' return. It was believed the three men would attempt to cross the Ohio River.
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1814 - Fayette Co., Sawney's self-emancipation
On the 21st of Jan, 1814, Sawney, a Virginia-born freedom seeker held by Fayette County enslavers George and Samuel Trotter. Sawney was described as about 5'9" tall and about 38 years old. A reward of $30 was offered for his return
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1817 - Fayette Co., Ned's flight
Sometime in mid-September, 1817, a freedom seeker named Ned or Edward Dorsey escaped enslaver Eliza Trotter, who lived on the outskirts of Lexington. Ned was about 35-40 years old, 5'7" tall and was wearing a grey, long-tailed coat when he left. A reward of up to $50 was offered for his return.
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1820 - Fayette Co., A ride to freedom
In May, 1820, 30-yr-old Phill , known as "Phill Lumpkin," escaped Fayette County enslaver Lucy Young. Phill was described as about 5'10" tall, slender and with a "yellow" complexion. He escaped on a 9-yr-old blood bay mare with a star on her forehead. Phill was "artful and sensible" and could read and write. A reward of $50 was offered for Phill's return and $10 for the mare.
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1815 - Fayette Co., Three men to freedom
On July 19, 1815 three freedom seekers escaped the lands of Fayette County enslaver Matthew Flournoy, brother of John James Flournoy of Boone and Campbell counties. Two of the men, 27-yr old Antony and 20-yr-old Cuffee, were from South Carolina and it was suspected they would try to return there. The third man, Roberson, was 24 years old and described as an "artful, Kentucky-raised fellow." A reward of $20 was offered for the return of each man.
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1813 - Fayette Co., Clary follows Frank
On July 13th, 1813, 40-yr-old Clary escaped from Lexington enslaver, Alexander Parker. Clary was described as about 5'2" tall and was very talkative and "cunning." Clary's husband, Frank, had escaped from the same enslaver the day prior. A reward of $10 was offered for the return of each freedom seeker.
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1813 - Fayette Co., Frank's escape
On July 12th, 1813, 40-yr-old Frank escaped from Lexington enslaver Alexander Parker. Frank was described as about 5'7" tall, slim and had a straight, stiff walk. The next day, Frank's wife, Clary, also escaped the same enslaver. A reward of $10 was offered for the return of each freedom seeker.
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1808 - Fayette Co., Humphrey's exit
In April, 1808, Humphrey, a freedom seeker held by Fayette County enslaver, Hugh Muldrow, made his escape. Humphrey was described as about 5'7" tall with very high cheekbones. He had previously been held by Frankfort enslaver F. Ratliff and still had a wife in Frankfort, who was held by William Hunter, of that place. A reward of $6 was offered for his return.
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1817 - Fayette Co., Phill vanishes.
On April 9, 1817, a freedom seeker named Phill escaped Fayette County enslaver, Jacob Smith. Phill was about 5'10" tall and had previously been held by enslaved James Gay. Smith offered a reward of $10 for his return.
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1803 - Fayette Co., Billey heads to Philly
On the night of Aug. 14, 1803, 32-yr-old Billey escaped Fayette County enslaver Oliver Keene. Billey was described as nearly 6' tall, with a lean face and high cheek bones. It was thought he might head either to Ohio or Philadelphia, as he was overheard saying he could hide himself there. Keene offered a $10 reward for his return.
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1803 - Fayette Co., The escape of John and friend
Sometime in the late summer, 1803, 30-yr-old John escaped enslaver Benjamin Green, who lived near Bryan's Station. John was about 5'10" tall and had a small scar over one eye. He was int the company of another freedom seeker, a woman held by Benjamin Howard, also of Fayette County. Green offered a reward of $20 for John's return.
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1801 - Fayette Co., Daniel's escape
In November, 1801, Fayette County enslaver Franky Graves offered $5 a reward for the return of Daniel. Daniel was about 28 yrs. old and it was believed he had escaped near Millersburg.
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1817 - Fayette Co., Handsome George steals away
On November 5, 1817, 18-yr-old George escaped from Lexington enslaver, Will Morton. George was described as "a handsome, well-formed person" and had pierced ears with silk cord earrings. Morton suspected the involvement of one or two white men in George's escape. A reward of $40 plus expenses was offered for his return.
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1816 - Fayette Co., A downtown disappearance
Sometime in March, 1816, 17-yr-old Stephen vanished from the property of Lexington enslaver, Thomas T. Burns, who lived on Main Cross Street. Stephen was wearing a fun hat, pale blue coat and deep blue pantaloons. A "liberal reward" was offered for his return.
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1814 - Fayette Co., George breaks free
On October 20, 1814, 19-yr-old freedom seeker, George, escaped Fayette County enslaver, Stark Taylor. George had been formerly enslaved by Col. James McClelland of Millersburg and it eas believed he was on his way to that neighborhood in Bourbon Co. A reward of $5 plus expenses was offered for his return.
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1839 - Fayette Co., Lewis leaves Lexington
Around the first of the year, 1839, 50-yr-old freedom seeker, Lewis, made a break for freedom. Lexington area enslaver, H. S. Elgin, offered a reward of up to $100 for his return. Lewis was about 6'3" tall and was wearing a dark blue frock coat and grey pantaloons when he escaped.
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1837 - Fayette Co., Soloman's departure
On May 14th, 1837, 30-yr-old Soloman escaped Lexington enslaver, David Castleman. At the time of his escape, Soloman was about 30-yrs old and was described as about 5'10" tall and had dimples when he smiled. He escaped on horseback and it was believed he would head for Canada. a reward of up to $200 was offered for his return.
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1837 - Fayette Co., Spirited away
In mid-May, 1837, 19-yr-old Cynthia left the property of Lexington-area enslaver, Alexander Crawford. Crawford believed the girl was tricked or kidnapped and did not suspect her of participating in her escape. Cynthia described as "delicate," and only about 4'6" tall, and left behind her parents and seven younger brothers. A reward of up to $50 was offered for her return
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1825 - Fayette Co., Reuben's run to freedom
On Feb. 3, 1825, 30-yr-old Reuben escaped enslavement in Lexington, Ky. John Gordon, of Lexington and J.R. Trunbull, of Winchester offered a reward of up to $100 for Rueben, who was described as about 6 fee tall and slim. It's not clear who the legal enslaver was, but it seems that Reuben was in Gordon's custody at the time of his escape; possibly a leasing arrangement.
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1824 - Fayette Co., Bill escapes the mill
On May 8, 1824, Bill,, a freedom seeker held by Isaac Yarnell, proprietor of the Fayette Paper Mill near Lexington, escaped bondage. He had been initially enslaved by Col. (Joseph) Crockett of Jessamine Co, then sold to J. Lewis of Simpsonville before coming into the hands of Yarnell. Bill was six feet tall with a large frame. A reward of up to $100 was offered for his return
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1797 - Fayette Co., Armed and ready for freedom
Tom, a freedom seeker held by Fayette Co. enslaver George Caldwell, made a break for freedom on Mar 10, 1797. He took a rifle and ammunition with him and it was thought he would either head for Ohio or to Virginia. Caldwell offered a "generous reward" plus expenses for Tom's return. Tom was also mentioned in a later ad that offered a reward for his return and that of his brother, Nat.
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1812 - Fayette Co., Elick's exit
On July 5th, 1812, 38-yr-old Elick escaped Fayette County enslaver, Abner Wilson, who lived near Bryan Station. Elick was 5'10" tall, nearly bald and had a "yellow" complexion. He had gotten a pass from a small boy and had ridden off on a bay mare. A reward of $50 was offered for his return
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1829 - Fayette Co., Chasing Charles
On about August 30, 1829, 16-yr-old Charles escaped Lexington enslaver, Maslin Smith, who owned a bagging factory. Charles was lender and was missing one of his front teeth. He had been spotted in the neighborhood of former enslaver Benjamin Warfield and near the Walnut Hill meeting house in Lexington. A reward of up to $100 was offered for his return
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1827 - Fayette Co., Daniel's departure
Just before Christmas, 1827, 17-yr-old Daniel escaped from Fayette County enslaver W.C. Connett. Daniel was described as about 5'10" tall with a stout build and very small ears. He had previously been enslaved by Jacob Laudaman. A reward of $10 plus expenses was offered for his return.
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1827 - Fayette Co., Three for freedom
In the fall of 1827, three men, Jim, 28, Harry, 22 and Bill, 24, escaped from Fayette County enslaver, John Atchison. It was suspected that Jim, who could read and write, may have forged passes for all three. It was thought they would head for the road to Carolina. A "handsome reward" would be given for their return.