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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."
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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.