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Fugitive slaves -- Virginia

 Subject
Subject Source: Local sources

Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:

Accounts of Martha Washington with printer Ellis Price, 1800 May 27

 Item — Box 7, Folder: 22
Scope and Contents

Accounts dated February 13, March 11, and April 12, 1800 for newspaper advertisements and handbills purchased by Martha Washington from Ellis Price, printer of The Columbian Mirror and Alexandria Gazette. Items Martha purchased include 26 advertisements for a house to rent, an advertisement about the Mount Vernon fishery, 23 advertisements about the donkey Knight of Malta, and notice about the runaway slave Marcus.

Dates: 1800 May 27

Letter, from Betty Lewis, 1794 February 9

 Item — Box 26, Folder: 1794.02.09
Identifier: A-301.166
Scope and Contents

Betty writes that Harriot is very pleased with items Washington sent to her from Philadelphia--she is very deserving and takes care of her things--two valuable Negro hands have run away, probably to Philadelphia to be free, and Betty asks her brother's advice in the matter--her next year's crops will be negligible unless they can be returned. Autograph letter signed, 1 page.

Dates: 1794 February 9

Letter, from Lund Washington, 1776 January 17

 Item — Box 18, Folder: 1776.01.17
Identifier: A-283.23
Scope and Contents

In this letter Lunds writes about trying to recover runaway negro from [Jennifer] Adams and rent from Adams along with affairs of other tenants, among other topics.

Dates: 1776 January 17

Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. Blackburn Washington, 1842 March 7

 Item — Box 64, Folder: 1842.03.07
Identifier: 2018-SC-058-001
Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Mount Vernon to Charlestown. John Augustine writes to his mother about Gabriel Johnson, an enslaved man who has run away. He suspects Gabriel has gone to Jefferson County, where Jane is. Autograph letter signed with integral address panel.

Dates: 1842 March 7

Letter, John Augustine Washington to Jane C. Washington, 1845 February 18

 Item — Box 1, Folder: 12
Identifier: MS-4864
Scope and Contents

Mount Vernon to Blakeley. Farm news; slave repeatedly running off; family matters.

Dates: 1845 February 18

Letter, Noblet Herbert to John Augustine Washington III, 1845 February 11

 Item — Box 66, Folder: 1845.02.11
Identifier: 2018-SC-076-001
Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed. Leesburg. N. Herbert, a cousin of John Augustine, writes about Alfred, an enslaved man who escaped from Mount Vernon and voluntarily surrendered himself to the Loudon County Jail in Leesburg. Herbert writes that slave traders Joseph Bruin of Alexandria and William Bale of Exeter were inquiring about Alfred but recommends that Augustine keep him.

Dates: 1845 February 11

Letter, to Burwell Bassett, 1799 August 11

 Item — Box 15, Folder: 1799.08.11
Identifier: A-301.75
Scope and Contents

Some time ago a mulatto girl, body servant to Mrs. Washington, ran away--she was found in Portsmouth, N.H.--asks Bassett that since he is going to Portsmouth, would he take steps to send her back--a Frenchman enticed her away but has left her--if she causes no further trouble, she won't be punished--Washington doesn't wish him to do anything “unpleasant, or troublesome” to bring her back.

Dates: 1799 August 11

Letter, to Lawrence Lewis, 1797 August 4

 Item — Box 13, Folder: 1797.08.04
Identifier: A-301.61 ; RM-568 ; MS-4244
Scope and Contents Washington commiserates with Lewis over his runaway slave ("the loss of your Servant") -- this will become more frequent -- "I wish from my Soul that the Legislature of this State could see the policy of the gradual abolition of Slavery. It might prevt. much future mischief." -- writes about Lewis coming to make his home at Mt. Vernon -- Lewis will be treated as a member of the family, and not paid -- his duties will be to entertain guests and visitors after the Washington retires to bed or...
Dates: 1797 August 4

Power of attorney, Lawrence Lewis for retrieval of two escaped slaves, 1831 June 10

 Item — Box 55, Folder: 1831.06.10
Identifier: 2016-SC-032
Scope and Contents

The son of George Washington's sister, Lawrence Lewis authorizes Thomas Griggs to bring back a slave named Shadrach and his brother Arlington who ran away separately from Lewis' farm near Battletown.

Dates: 1831 June 10

The Maryland Gazette, Annapolis, MD, 1761 August 20

 Item
Identifier: RM-1211
Scope and Contents

This edition of the newspaper contains a runaway slave notice published by George Washington for 4 slaves, Peros, Jack, Neptune, and Cupid.

Dates: Publication: 1761 August 20

The Philadelphia Gazette and Universal Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia, PA, 1800 May 30

 Item
Identifier: RM-1018; NEWS-5645
Abstract

Plantation manager James Anderson places an advertisement in the Philadelphia Gazette and Universal Daily Advertiser, 30 May 1800, found on page 4. At the bottom of column 2 is a notice for Marcus, a runaway slave and household servant at Mount Vernon including a physical description. Marcus belonged to Martha Washington.

Dates: Publication: 1800 May 30