African Americans of the Kentucky Borderlands

Items

• 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.
• 1844--The Escape Of John "Felix" White
  John White escaped from George W. Brasher (a slave trader) sometime in 1844. He acted as an agent and conductor of the Underground Raiload in the (unsuccessful) attempt to free his wife, five children and another man from Boone County in 1848.
• 1848--14 Year Old Charlie Jailed for Running Away
  A Runaway Ad: "Committed to the Jail of Warren County, Mississippi, on the 4th day of November, 1848 by S. B. Harwood, an acting justice of the peace in the city of Vicksburg, is a negro named 'Charley,' who is 5 feet high and about 14 years of age with a black complexion. He had on a blue blanket coat and striped cotton pants and he belongs to George Brasier of Boone County, KY. The slaveholder of said negro is required to come forward, prove property and pay charges to take him away or he will be disposed of as the law directs. C. Steele, Sheriff."
• 1810--Charles Escapes, Reward Offered
  Charles, about 27 years old, escaped from Newport on March 4th, 1810. John Cleves Symmes Jr., offered a $20 reward for him.
• 1849--Family Escape From Wilson Harper
  A man, woman and child escape from Wilson Harper of Boone County. The enslaved man was the son of a free man in Cincinnati named Keyte (Kite). Harper agreed to sell the family to Keyte, with his property in Cincinnati as collateral, a case was brought before the courts when the mortgage was due yet unpaid, in 1851. Harper was ultimately awarded the property and the enslaved people remained free.
• 1847--David and Lucy Powell
  David and Lucy Powell and their 4 children escaped in October 1847 from John Norris in Petersburg. In 1849, Norris and several others made an attempt to recapture them in Cassopolis, MI, but were stopped in South Bend, IN with a writ of habeus corpus. The Powells slipped away. Norris successfully sued the men who helped derail his efforts for the value of the lost enslaved people. He was awarded more than $2800 in this well-covered case.
• 1837--Joseph G. Terrill
  In 1837, Joseph G. Terrill learned that he was to be sold and decided to take his freedom, along with his five sisters and an enslaved man from another property. The group found their way to Ohio, where they were placed on the Underground Railroad to Windsor Canada. Joseph joined the British forces as a drummer during a small rebellion. The Terrill sisters eventually settled in Ohio and Michigan. Joseph and his family settled in Syracuse, NY around 1861. He lived past 100 years old.
• 1848--Alfred Sold South
  Sold South! On November 27, 1848, freedom Seeker Alfred is caught and lodged in the Claiborne County (Miss.) jail by William H. Jacobs, Esq. Alfred named his slaveholder as George Brasher of Boone County, KY. His escape was made from an overseer named Henry Trisler on Black River.
• 1842--Seven Freedom Seekers Reach Canada
  Seven freedom seekers, five women and two men, escaped from the Taylor family of Newport. The three women were “genteel waiting maids” held in special regard by Mrs. Taylor. A $700 reward was offered. The group made it to Canada.
• 1849--Mary Ann French
  Mary Ann French was owned by Henry Bannister who owned a hotel In Union, KY. She earned money to buy her freedom, and then "stole" her four children. An article states that she returned to work for Bannister after the war, after living in Detroit for 20 years.
• 1846--George and Edmund Sold South!
  Sold South! George and Edmund, both purchased from G.W. Brasher (of Boone County, Ky.) ran away from slaveholder Stephen Tickell of Wilkinson County, MS. The slaveholder believed that they would possibly try to make their way back to Kentucky.
• 1842--Lloyd Graves
  Lloyd Graves, born in Boone County in 1824, ran at age 18, for fear of being sold. He escaped on the UGRR to Ontario, and lived to be over 100 years old.
• 1846--Man Evades Murder
  A man enslaved by "Mr. Price" in Boone County fled after being accused of killing another enslaved man with a board.
• 1845--George Marshall Escape
  George, 16 yrs of age, escaped from the heirs of Alexander Marshall from near Union (Frogtown area) and was possibly aided in escape. He escaped from Marshall farm in 1845, George is the second enslaved person in two years to escape from the Marshalls.
• 1847--First of Two Group Escapes
  CASS COUNTY- Enslaved people from slaveholders in Boone County and Kenton County (Buckner, Graves, Cleveland, Lindsay, Stephens, Sanford, Scott, and Timberlake) escaped in two groups. The first was about 22 people on the 24th of April 1847.
• 1833--Another Freedom Seeker from Elizabethtown
  An advertisement was placed for a runaway from the Elizabethtown area. There is a possible indication of a route taken through or to Lawrenceburg.
• 1825--Freedom Seeker from Elizabethtown
  An advertisement was placed for a runaway seen near Lawrenceburg from Elizabethtown. Did he move on the route through Kentucky or on the river?
• 1841--Dr. S. and the Escape Attempt
  An attempted escape from Boone County assisted by a "Dr. S." is revealed in the news.
• 1845--Robert Nelson Escape
  The interview covers the independent escape of Robert Nelson from Boone County. He was to be sold to pay the debts of his slaveholder, but he ran to Canada. He later purchased the freedom of his wife, who belonged to another slaveholder, for $400.
• 1840--Confrontation and Capture In Indiana
  Several unnamed freedom seekers were assisted by anti-slavery agents and were involved in a confrontation near Aurora, Indiana. Col. Neal Riddle and others hunted the enslaved who were captured after altercation.
• 1838--Rebellion Escapes To Canada
  Six enslaved people who were part of a larger planned "rebellion" in the Florence area were thought to have made it to Canada. The other enslaved people were stopped before the escape.
• 1806--Brothers Frederick and Pippen Escape
  In November 1806, a $10 reward was offered for the capture of the brothers Frederick and Pippen who escaped from the Kirtley family near Tanner's Station (now Petersburg). Frederick is described as being "25 yrs of age, 5'8" high, rather of a yellow complexion, stutters in speech, well made." Pippen is described as " about 5'7" high, heavy shouldered, rather darker than the other" The ad was placed by the representatives of the estate of Jeremiah Kirtley, Jeremiah Kirtley Jr. and Robert Kirtley.
• 1823--Jim Captured
  On July 24, 1823, Jim, a freedom seeker from Muhlenburg County, KY, is captured and held by the Boone County Jailer Benjamin Willis. The slaveholder named in the advertisement is James Milligan. Milligan's 1820 census record shows seven enslaved people, one of whom is an adult male.
• 1813--Mood Escape
  On September 15, 1813, "Mood" (about 25-30 years old), takes his freedom from slaveholder Elijah Kirtley, of Boone County. In Kirtley's advertisement for his return, a $20 reward is offered, along with a lengthy description. According to Kirtley, Mood is a gambler who is clever and boastful, especially concerning his strength, and "bent on mischief". Mood's scars are numerous, including a brand on his hand, made by a metal ring, applied after a previous escape attempt.
• 1837--Geofery and Esther
  A reward is offered for Geofery and Esther, who had been enslaved in Boone County by Corneilus Hughes, and presumably sold south. They escaped in January, and were still being sought in June. Would they have tried to contact family in Boone County on their way north?