1769-06-10 Freedom Seeking: Ben, Jack

Identifier
NJS-EVE-00792
Source
Runaway ad for Ben and Jack, by Leffert Waldron and Ernestus Van Harlingen

Runaway ad for Ben and Jack, by Leffert Waldron and Ernestus Van Harlingen, New-York Journal, or, the General Advertiser, June 15, 1769.
Event Description
On June 10, 1769, two young Black men named Ben and Jack together escaped from their enslavers. Ben was enslaved by Leffert Waldron of Three Mile Run and Jack was enslaved by Ernestus Van Harlingen of Millstone. Two days later, the enslavers submitted a runaway ad to the New-York Journal newspaper, jointly offering a reward for Ben and Jack.

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Transcript of the source document:

"June 12, 1769 Run-away on Saturday the 10th of this Instant, from Leffert Waldron, at the 3 Mile Run, near New Brunswick, a yellowish Negro, named Ben, about 19 years old, about 5 feet 2 inches high, bushy Hair, speaks both low Dutch and English: Had on when he went away, a brown homespun Coat, with white Metal buttons, new homespun breeches, Felt Hat and sundry other Clothes. Also, at the same time, run away, a Negro Fellow, from Ernestus Van Harlingen, at Millstone, in the County of Somersett, at the Court-House, named Jack, about 21 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches high, well built, also yellowish, speaks both Dutch and English: Had on when he went away, a blue coat, brown jacket, half worn Leather Breeches and Felt Hat. Whoever will take up said Negroes and secure them so that their Masters may have them again, shall have Six Dollars reward if taken within the Province and Seven Dollars if taken without the Province, or half for each, paid by us. Leffert Waldron and Ernestus Van Harlingen."
Event Type
Freedom Seeking
Date
June 10, 1769
Location of Event
Three Mile Run, New Brunswick
Millstone (Somerset Court House)
Primary Participants

Ben (b. ca. 1750)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01946
Role: Runaway
Age: 19
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Leffert Waldron
Verbatim description from source:
"a yellowish Negro, named Ben, about 19 years old, about 5 feet 2 inches high, bushy Hair, speaks both low Dutch and English"

Jack (b. 1748)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01947
Role: Runaway
Age: 21
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Ernestus Van Harlingen (1732-1824)
Verbatim description from source:
"a Negro Fellow... named Jack, about 21 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches high, well built, also yellowish, speaks both Dutch and English"
Additional Participants

Leffert Waldron
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01941
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser
Comment: enslaver of Ben

Ernestus Van Harlingen (1732-1824)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01942
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser
Comment: enslaver of Jack
Related Resource
Bayker, Jesse, Christopher Blakley, and Kendra Boyd. “His Name Was Will: Remembering Enslaved Individuals in Rutgers History.” In Scarlet and Black: Slavery and Dispossession in Rutgers History, edited by MARISA J. FUENTES and DEBORAH GRAY WHITE, 58–81. Rutgers University Press, 2016.
Record Contributor
Xandria McKinley
Resource class
Event