African Americans of the Kentucky Borderlands

Items

• unknown, Charles [37]
  On May 10th, 1830, 24-yr-old Charles escaped Fayette county enslaver Jesse Lamme. Charles was described as about 6 feet tall and 190 lbs. A reward of $20 plus expenses was offered for his return.
• unknown, Edmund [18]
  On July 5th, 1829, a 14-yr-old boy named Edmund escaped bondage in Fayette County. He rode off on a small grey horse with one blind eye and a crooked tail. Enslaver J.S. Vandegraff offered a reward of $30 for Edmund's return.
• unknown, Matilda [14]
  On Saturday, August 17, 1823, 28-yr-old Matilda, known to her Lexington enslaver as "Charlotte," escaped from bondage in Lexington. She was described as "tall and straight" and was known to talk and laugh when alone. She had been recently brought from Virginia and it was believed she may attempt to return. Enslaver John Bridges offered a $20 reward for her return.
• unknown, James [34]
  On October 13, 1823, 22-yr-old James escaped Lexington enslaver Elijah Warner. He was described as about 5'6" tall and 150 lbs. A large reward of $150 was offered for his return.
• unknown, Nat [3]
  In early October, 1822, 40-yr-old Nat escaped from Lexington enslaver Walter Connell. Nat was about 5'9" tall and "square built." A reward of $50 was offered for his return.
• unknown, Lucinda [9]
  In March, 1822, Lucinda, a 22-yr-old freedom seeker, escaped Lexington enslaver Elizabeth Parker. Lucinda was about 5'3" tall and her clothing was described as "much better than the common dress of servants." A reward of $20 was offered for her return.
• unknown, Bazil
  Sometime around October 20, 1819, 25-yr-old Bazil escaped from the Lexington area, where he had been hired out by the estate of enslaver John Pettit (deceased.) It was suspected that Bazil had obtained a pass and had stolen two pistols from Capt. James Kay and rode away atop a pilfered sorrel mare. A reward of $50 was offered for his return.
• unknown, Adkins
  In October, 1820, Robert Gatewood placed an ad offering a reward of $50 for the return of 23-yr-old Adkins, who had escaped from the Lexington jail with two other enslaved men the previous July. Presumably, he had escaped, was caught and escaped again.
• unknown, Betty [6]
  On April 8, 1820, 36-yr-old Betty packed a trunk, bed and several dresses, and escaped from Lexington enslaver Jehu Baker. A "liberal reward, plus expenses" was offered for her return
• unknown, Kit [5]
  In early Feb., 1820, 22-yr-old Kit escaped the land of enslaver Thomas Barnes, who lived in Fayette Co., 3 miles from the mouth of Jack's Creek. Kit was about 5'7" tall, was able to write and had a wife in Winchester, KY, held by Mr. D. Talliaferro. A reward of up to $30 was offered for his return.
• unknown, Joe [12]
  In August, 1819, 24-yr-old Joe escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Lewis Dedman, who lived four miles west of Lexington. Joe was descried as about 5'9" tall with a "yellow complexion and a humiliated or humble look." A reward of up to $50 was offered for hist return. Another ad was placed two months later by a different enslaver, William Bowman, who had recently purchased Joe, who had escaped again.
• unknown, Andrew [13]
  On the morning of March 13, 1818, 23-yr-old Andrew escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Elizabeth Dulin. Andrew was described as about 6 feet tall with a "smiling countenance" and was known to speak "pertly." a reward of $20 was offered for his return.
• unknown, Miles
  Freedom seeker Miles escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Richard Patterson near the end of February, 1818. Miles was about 5'6" tall and was wearing a white cot and brown pants when he escaped. Paterson offered a $5 reward for his return.
• unknown, George [57]
  On the 20th of August, 1817, freedom seeker George escaped Lexington enslavers James and Francis McConnell. George was trained as a plasterer and very "handy at anything he's put at". George was about 5'10" tall and was described as having a "yellow" complexion, large whiskers and a scar on his throat from a self-inflicted wound. A reward of up to $40 was offered for his return.
• unknown, female [121]
  In the fall of 1817, an unnamed 25-yr-old woman escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Miner Hart. She was described as about 5'10" tall with a quarter-sized scar under her eye and several other similar scars on her right arm. A reward of up to $50 was offered for her return.
• unknown, Moses [18]
  Near the end of February, 1815, 28-yr-old Moses escaped from Samuel Long of Fayette Co, to whom he was indentured to learn the trade of carpentry. Long offered $10 for his return and revealed that he was enslaved by Mr. D. White. It's unclear who the indenture arrangement was with.
• unknown, Matilda [13]
  On the 25th of October, 1814, 22-yr-old Matilda disappeared from the property of a Lexington enslaver with the unlikely name, Leaving Young. She was about 5'9" tall, of a light complexion and could read and write. It was believed she was still in the area when a $50 reward was offered for her return.
• unknown, Jacob [21]
  On the 4th of July, 1814, 20-yr-old Jacob escaped from Lexington-area enslaver, Will Gist. In his description of Jacob, Gist mentioned, ironically, that he "talks bad English." A "reasonable reward" was offered for Jacob's return.
• unknown, Frank [18]
  In October, 1811, 40-yr-old Frank escaped from Thomas Wallace of Lexington. Wallace had hired Frank from the estate of deceased enslaver Edward Thomas. Frank was about 5'7" tall and intelligent. He was versed in bot house and farm work and was familiar with the Frankfort area. A reward of $5 plus expenses was offered for his return.
• unknown, Daniel [21]
  On July 20th, 1811, 18-yr-old Daniel escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Lewis Collins. Daniel was described as a "smart, likely, keen, active, sensible fellow." It was thought that Daniel may have been headed to the Goose Creek Salt works (Clay County) or the Salt-Petre caves in Rockcastle- an indication that he was a salt miner at some point. Previously, Daniel was held by James Smith in Pulaski County. A reward of $50 was offered for his return.
• unknown, Maria [34]
  On July 11, 1811, 19-yr-old Maria escaped Fayette Co. enslaver Jonathan Jewell. The young freedom seeker was about 5'2" tall and had very large eyes. A reward of $10 plus expenses was offered for her recapture.
• Rutherford, Joseph
  Joseph Rutherford escaped Fayette County enslaver Robert S. Russell on May 25th, 1811. Rutherford, named after his father, was likely headed to Ohio or "Green River country" as he was familiar with both places. A reward of $20 was offered for Rutherford's capture and return.
• unknown, Joe [11]
  Joe, a 25-yr-old man enslaved by William Smith Sr. of Fayette Co., escaped to freedom. It was assumed he would head for Ohio. Smith offered a reward of up to $50 for his capture and return.
• unknown, Jack [29]
  On July 1, 1808, Lexington enslaver William Hanson discovered that 19-yr-old Jack had escaped him. Jack was about 5'4" tall and had a stout build. Hanson offered a reward of up to $20 for his return if taken out of the county.
• unknown, Morris [1]
  On July 4, 33-yr-old Morris celebrated Independence Day by escaping from Fayette Co. enslaver William Allen. He was described as about 5'9" tall and had extensive scarring on the right side of his face from a burn. He left astride Allen's bay horse that had a brand which read "R. B." A "liberal" reward would be given to anyone returning Morris.