Activity 2—Advertisement 5

RUN away from the subscriber in Essex, a Mulatto fellow (who some time ago belonged to Mr. Thomas Barnes) named JOE, of the middle size, well proportioned, combs his hair remarkably neat, has been always kept as a waitingman, is very smart in his answers, and understands house business, as well as the management of horses. He is a good shoemaker, and can do many other things, can read and write tolerably well, and probably may have a forged pass, of discharge, as he had one wrote by me to pass until the 31st of July. He has a variety of clothes, but those most commonly used by him are a blue Newmarket coat, a brown fustian [coat,] leather breeches, an old green shag jacket, a coarse leaden coloured cloth coat and vest, with white metal buttons, a laced hat, and another bound with black ferret, several white shirts, stockings, [etc.] He [brought] with him a dark brown blooded mare, about 13 hands and a half high, about 8 years old, trots, has a little white I believe on one of her feet, and branded […] WR in a piece. He was seen on Sunday the 30th of July with the said mare saddled, and a bundle of clothes, at Mr. Robert Tomlin’s, in Richmond county. Whoever takes up the runaway and mare, and conveys them to me, living near Hobb’s Hole, shall have £5 reward; and if taken upward of 50 miles from Hobb’s Hole, shall be paid for travelling.

WILLIAM ROANE.

Source: Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, eds., 24 August 1769.

Activity 2—Advertisement 6

Forty Shillings Reward. RUN away from the subscriber, in York county, about the 11th or 12th of November last, a very black Negro man named BEN, about 5 feet 6 inches high, 35 years old, spare made, by trade a carpenter, and understands something of the coopers business, his upper teeth rotten; he has many clothes, so it is impossible to describe them. He took with him sundry carpenters and coopers tools. I expect he will endeavour to pass for a freeman, as he can read tolerably well, and am doubtful of his obtaining a pass from some evil disposed person, and leave the colony. This is to desire all master of vessels, and others, from harbouring him; and I will give the above reward to any person that will deliver him to me, at Mr. James Shield’s, near Williamsburg.

JOSHUA JONES.
Source: Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, eds., 5 April 1770.