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1854 - Fayette Co., Dick's self-emancipation
On October 30, 1854, 35-yr-old Dick escaped frm Fayette Co. enslaver John Higgins. Dick was about 5'9" tall and 160 lbs. A reward of up to $200 was offered for his return.
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1797 - Fayette Co., Bold John
In August, 1797, John, a 30-yr-old freedom seeker, escaped from the lands of Fayette Co. enslaver Leonard Young, who lived near Bryan station. John was about 5'10" tall and had "a bold look." A reward of $15 was offered for his return.
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1797 - Fayette Co., Disappearance of Nat
In April, 1797, Fayette Co enslaver George Caldwell placed an ad offering a reward for the return of Nat, a 22-yr-old freedom seeker who had recently escaped. Nat's brother, Tom, was also mentioned in the ad, though he had escaped earlier. A reward of $20 was offered for the return of both men.
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1797 - Fayette Co., Artful Isaac absconds
On Mar 21, 1797, 21-yr-old Isaac escaped Lexington enslaver Montgomery Bell. Isaac was described as "artful," about 5'8" tall and was carrying with him a lady's hat. It was likely that he would change his name and clothing and attempt to claim free status. A reward of $10 was offered for his return.
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1796 - Fayette Co., Charles breaks free
On Dec 29th, 1796, 18-yr-old Charles escaped from Fayette County enslaver Bird Price. Charles was about 5 feet tall and was headed toward Strode's Station. A reward of $10 was offered for his return.
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1843 - Fayette Co., Sam bolts for freedom
On April 12, 1843, 28-yr-old Sam escaped from Lexington enslaver Charles B. Lewis. Sam was described as 5'8" tall, quick spoken and intelligent. Sam had previously been enslaved by James Cochran of Fleming County. A reward of up to $100 was offered for his return.
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1822 - Fayette Co., Frank's first attempt
On May 20th, 1822, Frank escaped Lexington enslaver, Samuel Trotter. Frank was described as "very artful." He escaped again in 1829. The reward offered for his return in 1822 was $40.
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1815 - Fayette Co., The self-liberation of Jefferson
On Feb. 13, 1815, 24-yr-old Jefferson escaped from Fayette County enslaver, Jacob Sidenor. Jefferson was about 5'8" tall and was wearing overalls and a fur hat when he left. He had previously been enslaved by Daniel Layton also of Fayette Co. A reward of up to $30 was offered for his return.
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1796 - Fayette Co., Long-gone Jess
In August, 1796, 26-yr-old Jess escaped Fayette County enslaver James Parish. Jess was about 5'10" tall and spoke quickly. A $100 reward for Jess was included in an ad placed four years after his escape.
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1800 - Fayette Co., The disappearance of George and his family
In late August, 1800, Fayette County enslaver James Parish offered a reward for the return of 27 - yr.-old George, his 25-yr-old wife and two sons, aged 4 years and 14 months. He offered a reward of $50 plus expenses for their return.
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1829 - Fayette Co., The escape of talkative Frank
On October 9th, 1829, 35-yr-old Frank escaped Lexington enslaver Samuel Trotter. Frank was about 35 years old, 5'8" tall and very talkative. A reward of $20 was offered for his return. Samuel had escaped once before. It's not clear if he was re-captured after this attempt, but he did not appear in Trotter's 1833 estate appraisal.
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1828 - Fayette Co., Freedom called, Sam answered
On November 16th, 1828, 23-yr-old Sam escaped from Fayette County enslaver W.L. Breckinridge. Same was described as "stout built," with a "yellow" complexion and had only one eye. Same wore a green silk eye patch and had a new fur hat and new leather shoes when he left. It was thought that he would head to Louisville or to Cincinnati where his father lived nearby. A reward of $50 was offered for his return.
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1816 - Woodford Co., Escape of a child
In April, 1816, Jim, and 11-year-old freedom seeker, escaped from Woodford County enslaver, Warren Offutt. Jim, who was described as "uncommonly active" and "well-made" made his escape on a grey mare. Offutt offered a reward of $150 for his return (with the horse.)
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1816 - Woodford Co., Aquilla rides away
On September 28, 1816, Aquilla (aka "Quill") escaped from Woodford County enslaver Warren Offutt, on the back of one of Offutt's horses. Aquilla was described as 28 years old, 5'10" tall and missing his two front teeth. It was suspected that he was in the company of another freedom seeker held by enslaver James Meek. A reward of $150 was offered for Aquilla's return, along with the horse or $100 without.
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1801 - Woodford Co., Smiling Ben steals away
In March, 1801, Woodford County enslaver, Henry Caldwell, discovered the disappearance of 25-yr-old Ben. Ben was described as about 5'8" tall, with a bald patch on the back of his head, the result of a childhood burn. Ben was pleasant and smiled frequently. A reward of up to $30 was offered for his return.;
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1818 - Woodford Co., Abel escapes the Deep South
Abel, a 30-yr-old freedom seeker, escaped from enslaver Samuel Herman in New Orleans, sometime in 1818. Abel had been purchased from Woodford County enslaver, John Harvy, in 1817 and it was suspected that he had made his way back to Kentucky. A reward of $50 was being offered for his return nearly two years after his escape.
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1829 - Woodford Co., Disappearance of George
On July 10, 1829, 21-yr-old George escaped from Versailles-area enslaver William B. Blackburn. George was slender and over six feet tall and had a "bright" complexion. A reward of up to $100 was offered for his return
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1822 - Woodford Co., Jane self-emancipates
On October 19, 1822, a 36-yr-old freedom seeker named Jane escaped from Woodford County enslaver Warren Offutt. Jane was described as "stout" and was missing most of the fingers on her left hand from a childhood burn. A reward of $50 was offered for her return.
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1820 - Woodford Co., Escape of Sam
In mid-May, 1820, a freedom seeker named Sam escaped from Woodford County enslaver, Sowyel Woolfolk. Same was about 5'10" tall, bow-legged and had a large scar on his right cheek. Reward of up to $100 was offered for his return.
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1811 - Woodford Co., The search for Sam
Sam, a 29-yr-old freedom seeker, escaped from Versailles-area enslaver Jesse Ellis on Jan. 15, 1811. Sam was described as 5'11" tall, with a slim build. A $50 reward was offered for his return.
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1808 - Woodford Co., Preacher Jim and Tom take flight
On Mar. 7, 1808, 26-yr-old Jim and 20-yr-old Tom (also known as "Didmus") escaped from Woodford County enslaver, Lewis Castleman. It was suspected they had obtained a pass. Jim acted as a preacher and had six fingers on his left hand. Tom was described as "low and heavy-made." Twenty dollars was offered for their return.
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1799 - Woodford Co., Moses' first escape
On July 22, 1799, 25-yr-old Moses, held by Woodford County enslaver John. Finnie, made his first attempt at freedom. Finnie offered a reward of $5 for his return. Just over a year later, Moses escaped again.
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1795 - Woodford Co., Reward for a miller
In early September, 1795, a 28-yr-old freedom seeker named Phill escaped from Woodford County enslaver Sally Beard, on South Elkhorn, near McBride's mill. Phill was described as a "good miller" and had a sore on his left leg. Beard suspected he had a pass and would head toward the mouth of the Kentucky river. A six dollar reward was offered for his return.
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1830 - Woodford Co., Miner escapes the factory
Miner, a 35-yr-old freedom seeker, escaped from a bagging factory in Woodford County on April 10th, 1830. Partners "Adams & Brasfield" who owned the factory were his enslavers. Miner was about 5'8" tall and was formerly held by Capt. Edward Howe, also of Woodford Co., A reward of $10 was offered for Miner's return.
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1823 - Woodford Co., Escape of Bob and Nancy
On October 1, 1823, two freedom seekers, 22 -yr.-old Bob and 25-yr-old Nancy, escaped from Versailles-area enslaver William B. Blackburn. Blackburn offered a reward of up to $200 for their return.