1803-11-14 Freedom Seeking: Pat
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-01018
- Source
-
Runaway ad for Pat, by John Reeve
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Runaway ad for Pat, by John Reeve, "Fifty Dollars Reward," True American, November 21, 1803, p. 3.
- Event Description
-
Pat, a 20-year-old Black woman, ran away from her enslaver John Reeve in 1803. Reeve published a runaway ad for Pat, noting that she likely went to Newtown, PA, where her mother (a free Black woman) lived, or to Philadelphia where she had an aunt.
Although the bottom of the ad states that it was written on "Nov. 7, 1803," this appears to be an error, since Pat did not run away until November 14. According to the text of the ad, Pat ran away on "Monday morning the 14th inst," i.e. the 14th of the current month. This certainly refers to November 14, 1803, which was a Monday.
The ad first appeared in the November 21, 1803, issue of the True American (a Trenton newspaper) and ran for about two months.
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Transcript of the source document:
"Fifty Dollars Reward.
RAN away from the subscriber, on Monday morning the 14th inst., living at Rocky Hill, a negro woman named PAT, about 20 years of age, of a yellowish complexion, middle sized, pretty robust and strong built, very thick and bushy hair and inclined to grow long but has lately been cut off quite short; she has a down and guilty look. She took with her a Calico short gown of chocolate ground work with white oval spots and a small red spot in the middle of the white ones and sprigs between the oval spots; one striped tow and linnen do, a blue linsey petticoat, a blue and white shawl which on close examination will be found to have a seam through it, a pair of thick leather shoes with spur pieces on the heels, and ran down at sides and much worn, a pair of netting fingered gloves almost white. A dog belonging to the house disappeared same morning, and quite likely followed her, he is middle sized almost white somewhat inclined to yellow, some parts of his body more than others, and has no artificial mark; he answers to the name Saap[?]. Said wench will probably change her name and dress; as her mother is free and lives near Newtown in Pennsylvania it is very probable she will be found in that neighborhood or within 15 or 20 miles of it, or perhaps in the City of Philadelphia as she has an aunt living there. Whoever will take up said runaway and deliver her to the subscriber, or secure her that her master may get her again, shall receive the above reward, and reasonable charges by applying to
JOHN REEVE.
Rocky-Hill near Princeton, Nov. 7, 1803." - Event Type
- Freedom Seeking
- Date
- November 14, 1803
- Location of Event
- Rocky Hill
- Primary Participants
-
Pat (b. 1783)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02415
Role: Runaway
Age: 20
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- John Reeve (1762-1831)
Verbatim description from source:
"negro woman; of a yellowish complexion, middle sized, pretty robust and strong built, very thick and bushy hair and inclined to grow long but has lately been cut off quite short" - Additional Participants
-
John Reeve (1762-1831)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02411
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker