-
1802 - Nelson Co., Mother and child run for freedom
Freedom seeker Charity escaped from Joseph Chinn of Bourbon County in June, 1802. She had been held by Rawleigh Chinn of Nelson county who had recently died. Charity had tried previously to escape and had suffered a cut to her head as punishment. Charity took her two-year-old daughter with her. A reward of $2 plus expenses was offered for her return.
-
1804 - Nelson Co., Escape from the scars of enslavement
35-yr-old freedom seeker John escaped bondage at the hands of Nelson County enslaver Patrick Hourigan on 13 May, 1814. He was described as about 5'10" tall with a disabled finger and "a back pretty well-scarred." John was able to read and probably had a forged pass. A reward of $10 plus expenses was offered for John's capture and return
-
1814 - Nelson Co., Escape of Stephen
Nelson County enslaver Thomas Heady discovered that 19-yr-old Stephen had escaped his property near Gandertown. Stephen was described as about 5'7" tall and had a "blemish in his right eye." A reward of $10 was offered if Stephen was captured in the state.
-
1809 - Nelson Co., Bob steals away
18-yr-old Bob, a freedom seeker held by Nelson County enslaver John Woodring, disappeared in June, 1809. He was discribed only as about 5'6" tasll and a reward of $1 was offered for his return
-
1816 - Nelson Co., An escape and a wedding
On August 20th, 1816, Nelson Coi. Enslaver James Watson discovered that one of his enslaved women was missing. He offered a reward of one dollar for the capture of Greenberry Elliot, a white man whom he suspected had helped her escape. He had learned that Elliot had married the enslaved woman, which was confirmed by Nelson County marriage records showing the union of Greenberry Elliot and Polly Watson (named as the daughter of James Watson.) No reward was offered for Polly's return.
-
1808 - Nelson Co., Brothers on the run, part 2
In 1808, a reward was offered for the return of 18-yr-old Tom, who had escaped Bardstown enslaver Thomas Hite. It's likely that he was in company with his half-brother Charles, who escaped from enslaver William Pottinger, also of Nelson County. Tom was described as "sensible and shrewd" and was able to write some. He had be formerly enslaved by Judge Ormsby of Jefferson County.
-
1808 - Nelson Co., Brothers on the run
On May 9th, 1808, it was discovered that 16-yr-old Charles had gone missing. Nelson County enslaver, William Pottinger offered a reward of $15 for his return. Charles had escaped with his half-brother, Tom, who was a "man-servant" of Thomas Hite from Bardstown,. The reward was to be double if both young men were captured.An additional ad the same day was placed by Thomas Hite.
-
1801 - Nelson Co., Dick steals away
Nelson County enslaver John Bedford offered a $20 reward for the return of 50-yr-old freedom seeker Dick, who escaped June 26, 1801. Dick was literate and it was suspected he had a pass. The reward was run for nearly a year after Dick's escape.
-
1826 - Nelson Co., Bob takes his leave
Nelson County enslaver Joseph McClaskey offered a reward of up to $50 for the return of a freedom seeker named Bob in Dec, 1826 (error in printer date on ad, reads Dec 17, 1837.) Bob was about 5'10" tall and carried a napsack with red & yellow flowers. Bob's wife was held in Montgomery Co. by enslaver Dillard Hazelrig and it was suspected he would go to find her.
-
1806 - Nelson Co., A hard life before freedom
On Aug 15, 1806, twenty year old Glasgow escaped Nelson County enslaver Robert Wickliffe. His physical description included mention of multiple scars and an injury to several of his fingernails which were "burnt off." Glasgow had been given a pass to travel from Bardstown to Lexington and was traveling on horseback. A reward of $20 was offered if he was captured in Kentucky, to be increased if out of state.
-
1816 - Nelson Co., Spencer self-emancipates
In September, 1816, Nelson County enslaver James Glass offered a reward fro the return of Spencer, a 34-yr-old freedom seeker. Spencer was described as short in stature with a "crooked leg" and a scar on his neck.