1763-06-15 Freedom Seeking: Phill

Identifier
NJS-EVE-00682
Source
Runaway ad for Phill, by James Neilson

Runaway ad for Phill, by James Neilson, New-York Gazette, or, the Weekly Post-Boy, June 16, 1763.
Event Description
Phill, a Black woman or girl, ran away from Samuel Hallett of Hallett's Cove (present-day Astoria, Queens, New York) around June 1763. Her age at the time of this event is unknown. Phill's primary enslaver was James Neilson of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and it is unclear how long Phill was living with or working for Samuel Hallett in New York prior to her escape. A runaway advertisement offering a reward of twenty shillings for Phill's capture and return was published in the newspaper called The New-York Gazette, or, the Weekly Post-Boy on June 16, 1763. In addition to Samuel Hallett and James Neilson, the ad mentioned that Phill could be brought to James Abeel in New York if she was captured. James Abeel was the husband of James Neilson's niece Gertrude Neilson Abeel, and evidently he was ready to assist James Neilson in capturing Phill.

The full text of the runaway ad follows below:

"RUN away, last Night, from Samuel Hallett, of Hallett's Cove, a Negro Girl, named Phill, belonging to James Neilson, Esq; of New-Brunswick, about five Feet high, well made, and pretty Black. Whoever will take up and secure the said Wench, or bring her to said Hallett, or James Abeel, in New-York, or to her said Master, at New-Brunswick, shall receive TWENTY SHILLINGS Reward, and all reasonable Charges, by either of the above mentioned Persons."
Event Type
Freedom Seeking
Date
June 15, 1763
Date Certainty
Inferred
Location of Event
Hallett's Cove, Queens, New York
Primary Participants

Phill
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01828
Role: Runaway
Age category: Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- James Neilson (ca. 1700-1783)
- Samuel Hallett
Verbatim description from source:
"Negro Girl, named Phill, belonging to James Neilson, Esq, of New-Brunswick, about five Feet high, well made, and pretty Black"
Additional Participants

James Abeel (1733-1825)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01831
Role: Additional Participant

James Neilson (ca. 1700-1783)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01359
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser
Comment: principal legal owner of Phill

Samuel Hallett
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01829
Role: Enslaver
Comment: Phill ran from his house
Record Contributor
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event