Warm-Up
Instructions: The advertisement below contains evidence of past resistance by the freedom seeker, but it is hidden by the perspective of the author, an enslaver.
- Find the description of resistance and underline it.
- In the margins or below, brainstorm why Harry might have practiced this form of resistance.
Activity 4: Advertisement 1
To be SOLD at JOHN GREENHOW’s store, Williamsburg, CLOVER, lucern, and rye grass seed, camomile flowers, bark, camphor, vials, gallipots, sundry fresh drugs, sago, mixed sweetmeats, tamarinds, mustard, borax, spelter, emery, polishing powders, oil, stone, slips, all sorts of spices, paints, oils, camel hair pencils, Indian ink, ringworm earth, harness buckles, brasses, and bits, desk furnitures, brass nails, tea chest furnitures and canisters complete, surveyors instruments complete or separate, chapes and tongs for silver buckles, pliers, seine cork and lead, lancets, tooth drawers, nippers, sliding tongs, pin vices, hand and bench vices, large and small cock gaffs, necklaces, crystals, main and pendulum springs, hour and minute hands, magnifiers, green, blue, and crystal convex and concave spectakles, glazers diamonds, saddle trees of all sorts, blacksmiths, saddlers, shoemakers, carpenters, joiners, silversmiths, and bricklayers tools, half gallon case bottles, wide mouth bottles, house bells, coffee mills, toys, fiddles, Roman strings, tin sheats, sister and search bottoms, sithes and sickles, bird glasses, rum provers, wine by the gallon, cask, or pipe, locks and hinges of all sorts, most kinds of materials for building, window glass of all sizes, cart and chair wheel boxes, all sorts of cast iron, bar iron, chair traces, and many hundred other useful articles.
Run away, last December, from the said GREENHOW, an old Negro man named HARRY, by trade a cooper; he did belong to Col. Moseley of Princess Anne, and lived many years at Hampton, where he has children. It is supposed he is either about Hampton, Norfolk, or Newtown. He is a sly thief, few locks or doors will turn him, and is seldom long in a place before he puts his [creativity] in practice. Whoever conveys him to me shall be paid as the law directs. He is outlawed.
Source: Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, eds., 11 April 1766.
Group Work
Instructions: Answer for each source (discuss and summarize):
- What past form of resistance is noted in the advertisement?
Choose one additional question to discuss and summarize. Not all questions will apply to each source.
- Why do you think that the enslaver chose to include this past form of resistance?
- In what ways might the past form of resistance relate to this incident of freedom seeking?
- How do these forms of resistance inform our understanding of slavery and freedom in the 18th century?
Activity 4: Advertisement 2
RAN away from one of the Subscriber’s Quarters on Sapponie, in Prince George County, 14 or 15 Weeks ago, a Mulatto Man Slave, named Tom, 25 Years old, about 5 feet 8 or 9 Inches high, thin faced, and bushy Hair, if not cut off; he is very apt to grin when he speaks, or is spoken to; had on an old dark Fustian Coat, with plain yellow Metal Buttons; Hath been several Times taken up, and escaped again before he could be deliver’d to the Quarter whereunto he belong’d; and the last Time shackled, Handcuffed, and an Iron Collar about his Neck, with Prongs, and to some of them Links. Whoever will deliver him to me, in Charles-City County, shall have a Pistole Reward, besides what the Law allows; and if brought from any great Distance a farther Reward suitable to the Trouble, by
JOHN STITH.
N.B. It is suspected he will endeavour to escape on Board some Vessel.
Source: Virginia Gazette, Hunter, ed., 18 June 1751.
Activity 4: Advertisement 3
RUN away from the subscriber, in Mecklenburg county, on Wednesday last, a fellow named JACK. It appears he has been principally concerned in promoting the late disorderly meetings among the Negroes, and is gone off for fear of being prosecuted for many robberies he has committed. He is a low squat made fellow, bow legged, his eyes remarkably red, has been branded on the right cheek R, and on the left M, though not easily to be perceived. It is supposed he intends for Carolina or Georgia. Whoever apprehends the said slave, and will deliver him to me, shall receive 50 [shillings] if taken 50 miles from home and 6 [pence] a mile for a greater distance.
ROBERT MUNFORD.
Source: Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, eds., 2 May 1766.
Activity 4: Advertisement 4
RUN away from the subscriber, the 20th of October last, a likely young Mulatto man named SAM HOWELL, 23 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches high, well made for strength, has a remarkable good set of teeth, very black large eyebrows, and is a little bow legged– as for his apparel it is so long since he went away that I [suppose] he has worn them out, and got others. He was bound for 31 years, according to the condition of his mother, who was to serve until that time; his pretence for going away was to apply to some lawyer at Williamsburg to try to get his freedom, though he had a trial in the county court, and was adjudged to serve his full time. I did hear that he applied to the King’s attorney, and he told him he could not get free until his time was out; and I have never heard from him since. As he passes for a free man, I imagine he will endeavour to get on board some vessel, I therefore desire all masters of vessel not to entertain him, or carry him out of the country. Whoever apprehends the said slave, and brings him to me, in Cumberland county, on James river, shall receive £5 reward.
WADE NETHERLAND.
Source: Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, eds., 2 May 1766.