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1799, Tom, Freedom seeking (Resistance)
Item
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Title
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1799, Tom, Freedom seeking (Resistance)
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Identifier
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NJS-EVE-00496
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Event Description
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Tom, a Black man aged 25 or 26, ran away from enslaver William Throckmorton of Spotswood on August 25, 1799. Tom was seen on the road to Trenton, and may have been heading to Pennsylvania. Throckmorton placed a runaway notice offering a 30 dollar reward for Tom's capture three days after Tom left. The ad was still running in the papers in December 1799, suggesting that Tom was likely still at large.
The following is the transcript of the runaway ad by William Throckmorton as published in the Trenton newspaper New-Jersey State Gazette on December 10, 1799:
"Thirty Dollars Reward.
RUNAWAY from the subscriber on Sunday 25th inst. Living in Spotswood, South-Amboy township, county of Middlesex, state of New-Jersey, a Negro Man named TOM, 25 or 26 years old; five feet six or seven inches high, dark complexion, thick lips, bushy hair, which he sometimes wears tied and his ear lock platted, had on, when he went away, a long striped nankeen coat, tow trousers and castor hat. Whoever will take up the said Negro, and secure him in any gaol or deliver him to his master, shall receive the above reward, with reasonable charges paid by
WILLIAM THROCKMORTON.
N. B. It is supposed he has gone into Pennsylvania, as he was seen on the road to Trenton.
August 28, 1799."
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Date
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25 August 1799
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Sex
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Male
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Age
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Adult
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25 or 26 years
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Source
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Runaway ad for Tom
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Runaway ad for Tom, by William Throckmorton. New-Jersey State Gazette. December 10, 1799.
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Record Contributor
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Jesse Bayker