1804-07-08 Freedom Seeking: Merch, Name Unrecorded - Male
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-00816
- Source
-
Runaway ad for Merch and another Black man, by George Farmer
-
Runaway ad for Merch and another Black man, by George Farmer, "Forty Dollars Reward," Trenton Federalist, July 16, 1804.
- Event Description
-
On July 8, 1804, Merch ran away from George Farmer. Merch escaped with another enslaved man, who was from the French West Indies and whose name was not reported in the runaway ad. George Farmer's notice listed New Brunswick as the location. Farmer was known to also have a large estate called Belle Vue across the river in the area of present-day Highland Park (then Piscataway), and it is possible that Merch and his companion ran away from there.
-----
Transcript of the source document:
"Forty Dollars Reward
RAN AWAY from Subscriber on the night of the 8th of July inft. TWO NEGRO MEN; the one named Merch; he is six feet high or thereabout, a very black fellow, round faced, stout made, hoops and swings his arms considerably while walking; has a scar on one of his wrists by the cut of a feather; about twenty two or three years of age, bred a farmer — took with him two shirts, one pair of trousers of tow cloth, one pair of blue pantaloons, one striped swansdown vest, a short blue roundabout Jacket, and perhaps various other clothes; he is a Maryland bred Negro. The other is five feet nine or ten inches high of a yellowish complexion, rather longish face, slender made, talks quick and is a French bred Negro, from one of the West India Islands; his occupation is a barber and most likely will be seeking that business; had on and took with him on white and one tow shirt, one pair of nankeen and one light colored slinky pantaloons, and perhaps sundry other clothes, tho as it is probable they may change them, it is needless to say anything further about their clothing. The above reward will be given to any person taking them and securing them in any goal, and giving notice to the subscriber or reasonable charges, if delivered, or twenty dollars for either of them.
GEORGE FARMER
New Brunswick, July 9, 1804 81-6w" - Event Type
- Freedom Seeking
- Date
- July 8, 1804
- Location of Event
- New Brunswick
- Related Place
- Belle Vue, Highland Park (formerly in Piscataway)
- Primary Participants
-
Merch (b. 1781)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01978
Role: Runaway
Age: 23
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- George Farmer (1761-1818)
Verbatim description from source:
"negro man; he is six feet high or thereabout, a very black fellow, round faced, stout made, hoops and swings his arms considerably while walking; has a scar on one of his wrists by the cut of a feather; about twenty two or three years of age, bred a farmer"Name Unrecorded - Male {Farmer household}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01980
Role: Runaway
Age category: Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- George Farmer (1761-1818)
Verbatim description from source:
"negro man; five feet nine or ten inches high of a yellowish complexion, rather longish face, slender made, talks quick and is a French bred Negro, from one of the West India Islands" - Additional Participants
-
George Farmer (1761-1818)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00483
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser - Record Contributor
- Kate Jackson