Archive and History Center Database

Items

• 1806--Ben Bolts for Freedom
  On April 14, 1806, Ben escaped from his Boone County enslaver, Thomas West. His description revealed a hard life: he had a scar on his lip, evidence of an earlier knife-wound on his neck and a previously broken arm that was still visibly affected. West offered a $25 reward for his return.
• 1816--Captured in Louisville
  On January 14, 1816, nineteen-year-old Nelson was captured in Louisville and jailed. He claimed to have been enslaved by Ben Rice, who lived "ten miles from Boon Court House." The jailor advertised for the enslaver to come claim Nelson and pay associated fees, otherwise he would be auctioned.
• 1830--Hiram Flees the Deep South
  On September 4, 1830, 24-year-old Hiram escaped New Orleans enslaver J. R. Wolff. He was in the company of Sarah, another freedom seeker. Hiram was described as being "a native of Boone County, Kentucky". A reward of up to $100 was offered for the return of both Hiram and Sarah.
• 1827--Charles jailed in New Orleans
  19 year old Charles was a freedom seeker from Boone County captured as a runaway in New Orleans and brought to the jail in July, 1827. He identified Moses Scott as his enslaver.
• 1819--Parker the left-handed fiddle player
  Sometime in early January, 1819, Parker escaped the farm of Boone County enslaver, John Cave. He was spotted soon after, on January 4th, in Cincinnati. Parker was described as about 5' 5" tall and was a very good fiddle player, who played left-handed. A reward of $100 was offered for his capture and return.
• 1832--Escape of a young couple sold downriver
  On June 5th, 1832, 22-yr-old Charles and his wife, 16-yr-old Harriet escaped from Charles Toney, of Franklin Co, Alabama. Toney had recently purchased the young couple from Boone County enslaver, Cornelius Hughes. A reward of $20 was offered for their return.
• 1810--Freedom was too short for Maria
  28 year old Maria was manumitted by Thomas Prentiss in 1809, but soon after was bound to him through indenture, essentially re-enslaving her; she soon took matters into her own hands and ran toward freedom. In September, 1810 Prentiss placed an ad offering a reward of $50 for Maria's return. Prentiss warned others against "harboring or concealing" Maria, promising the full force of the law would be brought.
• 1815 -- Eliza's second escape
  Eliza was enslaved by James Edmondson for many years in Staunton, Virginia, before he brought her to Kentucky. She was trained to work in the house and was described as "very capable." She escaped from Edmondson's Fleming County property on October 4, 1813, but was returned to Edmondson soon after. Edmondson sold her to Major William P. Roper of Flemingsburg right after her capture.
• 1816 - Escape of John and Simon
  In March, 1816, 23-yr-old Simon and John, who was between 30-35, escaped from Boone County enslaver, Abraham Depew. It was believed that the men would be headed to Richmond, Virginia, where Depew had brought them from in the fall of 1815. A reward of $75 for the return of each or $150 plus expenses for both men was offered.
• 1831-- Moses and his walking stick
  On the 8th of May, 1831, 35-yr-old Moses escaped Boone County enslaver James Terrill. Moses was described as a "smart fellow," about 5'8" tall with whiskers. He took with him some spurs and a bridle, but no horse. He also carried a unique walking stick with the head of a snake carved at the top of the handle . There were three enslavers named James Terrill in Boone County 's 1830 census records, but only one enslaved a man whose age fit Moses'. Terrill offered a reward of $50 for Moses' return.
• 1801-- Escape of Abram and John
  On Saturday night, August 1st, 1801 Abram and John escaped from Boone County. Enslavers Bayliss Ashby and James Cloud offered a reward of fifty dollars for their return.
• 1816--Freedom for Christmas
  During the Christmas holidays, 40-year-old David escaped from Boone County, where he had been hired out by enslaver Thomas Prentiss of Lexington. Prentiss offered fifty dollars for David's capture and delivery to him in Lexington or forty dollars if David were lodged in any jail in Kentucky.
• 1812--Franky flees to freedom
  On Sep 9th, 1812, 35 year old Franky escaped Boon County enslaver, Elijah Craig, who lived near Tanner's Station. Craig offered a reward of $5 plus expenses for her return.
• 1811--Captured with stolen goods
  On December 10, 1811, Campbell County Justice of the Peace, James Keneday, placed an ad for some stolen items he confiscated from a freedom seeker on the "upper end" of Campbell County, near the Ohio River.
• 1824 -- Bill Bolts to Freedom
  On Saturday night, Sep. 18, 1824, 23-yr-old freedom seeker Bill escaped from Boone County enslaver George L. Balsley. He was described as about 5'5" tall, left handed and trained as a tobacconist. A reward of up to $150 was offered for his return.
• 1833--Humphrey the blacksmith
  On January 24, 1833, 17-yr-old Humphrey made his escape from Boone County enslaver, A. W. Gaines. He was a novice blacksmith and was described as about 5'6" tall. It was suspected he would head across the Ohio River and make his way to Canada or Pennsylvania. A reward of up to $100 was offered for his return.
• 1808--Isham Rides South
  on August 13, 1808, 25-year old Isham took a sorrel horse and new saddle and escaped from Boone County enslaver, Benjamin Cave III. It was believed that he would head back to Virginia, where he had been raised. A $10 reward was offered for his return.
• Before 1847--Earlier escapes connected to Kentucky Raids
  Due to the large number of freedom seekers who fled to Cass County, Michigan and nearby communities from Northern Kentucky, the "Kentucky Raid" is associated with several groups and individual escapes. The freedom seekers who arrived prior to those who escaped in the 1847 groups have some connection to these freedom seekers that may prove important.
• 1840 -- Boone Co., Henry Crosses the Ohio River
  On the night of October 23rd, 1840, 24-yr-old Freedom Seeker Henry crossed the Ohio River at the mouth of Woolper Creek. Enslaver Edward T. Clarkson offered a $300 Reward for his return.
• 1807--Brothers escape to freedom
  On November 20th, 1807, brothers Bristol and Matt escaped from Boone County enslaver, Archelous Alloway, who lived near Lawrenceburg Ferry Road. Bristow had escaped previously in 1802. It was believed that the two men, who were in their mid-20s, would try to pass as Free in Ohio and may have obtained passes. A reward of $200 was offered for their return.
• 1814--Escape of two teens and a baby
  On February 19th, 1814, 17 year old Mary, along with 18 yr. old Louisa and her son, Ned (an infant of about 9 months old) fled from slaveholder William McGlasson, who lived at "the fork of Dry Run"
• 1847--Cass County (Mich.) Raid
  A large group of northern Kentucky enslavers, slave catchers and their various enforcers descended on Cass County, Michgan, raiding homes in pursuit of those who had escaped enslavement en mass several months before.
• 1847--Elkhart County (Ind.) Raid
  On their way to Cass County, Michigan to recapture a large group of formerly enslaved people, a group broke off from the main raiding party and diverted to neighboring Elkhart County, Indiana in search of Tom Harris, who had left northern Kentucky just before the majority of those the enslavers were pursuing.
• 1847--Second of Two Group Escapes
  In the spring of 1847, freedom seekers enslaved in Boone County and Kenton County (Buckner, Graves, Cleveland, Lindsay, Stephens, Sanford, Scott, and Timberlake) escaped in two groups. The first group consisted of over 20 individuals, the second group included 11 freedom seekers.
• 1843--Escape of Nelson
  Nelson, 40 yrs old, described as "6 ft. in height, well-proportioned and a little bald; handy with tools and very sprightly" escaped from Reuben Sebree of Petersburg on December 3, 1843.