1807-07-16 Freedom Seeking: Dick
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-00170
- Source
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Runaway ad for Dick, by Alpheus Freeman
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Runaway ad for Dick, by Alpheus Freeman, "Twenty Dollars Reward," Guardian, Or, New-Brunswick Advertiser, November 12, 1807. Archival location: Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries. Rutgers University Biographical Files: Alumni (R-Bio Alumni). Box 2, Freeman, Alpheus, 1788.
- Event Description
-
Dick ran away from the house of his enslaver Alpheus Freeman on Thursday evening, July 16, 1807. Dick was aged about 17 or 18 at this time. Since Alpheus Freeman owned multiple properties in New Brunswick, it is difficult to know for certain where Dick resided prior to running away. Dick may have lived (and ran from) the large building on the corner of George Street and Prince (Bayard) Street which was one of Freeman's properties. Freeman was an alumnus of Queen's College (now Rutgers University) and an attorney.
Alpheus Freeman offered a 20 dollar reward for the capture and return of Dick and published a detailed description of Dick's physical appearance, scars, and meager apparel in the local newspaper called Guardian, or, New Brunswick Advertiser.
The following is a complete transcript of the runaway advertisement, copied from the November 12, 1807, issue of the newspaper:
"Twenty Dollars Reward
Ranaway from the subscriber on Thursday evening the 16th inst. a mulatto boy, named Dick, a slave of the subscriber, about 17 or 18 years of age, short and thick, with very bushy hair, has one or two scars in the forehead, the sinews of one of his hams a little contracted from a burn when an infant, the scar of which still remains, a scar on the top of one of his feet from an ulcer, an another scar on one of his great toes, occasioned by its being split open with an axe; had on when he went away a pair of tow trousers and shirt, an old great coat an old hat, no shoes or any other wearing apparel. Whoever will take up and secure said boy in any gaol, so that the subscriber may get him again, shall be entitled to the above reward with reasonable expenses.
Alpheus Freeman
New Brunswick (N.J.)
Aug. 22, 1807" - Event Type
- Freedom Seeking
- Date
- July 16, 1807
- Location of Event
- New Brunswick
- Primary Participants
-
Dick (b. ca. 1789)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00611
Role: Runaway
Age: 17
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Alpheus Freeman (1766-1813)
Verbatim description from source:
"mulatto boy, named Dick, a slave of the subscriber, about 17 or 18 years of age, short and thick, with very bushy hair, has one or two scars in the forehead, the sinews of one of his hams a little contracted from a burn when an infant, the scar of which still remains, a scar on the top of one of his feet from an ulcer, an another scar on one of his great toes, occasioned by its being split open with an axe" - Additional Participants
-
Alpheus Freeman (1766-1813)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00610
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker