1780-11-12 Freedom Seeking: Caesar

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01021
Source
Runaway ad for Caesar, by John Denton

Runaway ad for Caesar, by John Denton, "One Thousand Dollars Reward," New-Jersey Gazette, November 15, 1780.
Event Description
Caesar, aged 25, ran away from his enslaver, John Denton of Princeton, New Jersey, and an ad was placed for his capture with a $1000 reward. In the ad, John Denton also mentioned his suspicions that Caesar received assistance or was "advised to go away" and that a man named Mr. Cubberly of Staten Island had some knowledge of the situation. John Denton offered additional rewards to persons who would provide information leading to the conviction of any persons who helped Caesar go away.

The same ad provides information about various goods and cattle that Denton had for sale.

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Transcript of the source document:

"One Thousand Dollars Reward.
RAN AWAY,
From the subscriber, in Princeton, on Sunday evening the 12th instant;
A NEGRO MAN, named Ceasar, about twenty-five years of age, about five feet eight inches high, marked with the small-pox ; had on a blue camblet coat worn out at the elbows, a pair of new buckskin breeches, straps without kneebuckles, old pumps with a hole in one of the toes or a new patch, a small felt hat lopt. Whoever apprehends the said Negro and delivers him to me, shall have the above reward, paid by JOHN DENTON.
Princeton, Nov. 14, 1780
P.S. There is good reason to believe that he has been advised to go away, any substantial evidence who will discover the fact (if the plot be by a white person) on full conviction, shall have a reward of Six Thousand Dollars ; if a black person, Five Hundred. As it is more than probable that there is more people goes to market to Staten-Island than ought ; but if any person going there will please to call on Mr. Cubberly and enquire of his negro man Caesar who it was that advised him to leave his master, and make a sufficient discovery whereby the subscriber may receive sufficient damage, shall have Ten Guineas or the exchange thereof in Continental money.
The subscriber has for sale, bar-iron, rock & shore salt, spelling-books and almanacks by the gross or a dozen as low as at Philadelphia, and sundry other kinds of merchandize. Also two yoke of fat oxen, with some other fat cattle, to be sold at publick vendue on Saturday the 18th instant, between the hours of eight and twelve o’clock in the forenoon, to ready money only ; or at private sale, as may best fit the purchaser. Hard money will be most agreeable—and no person to have the cattle to take them out of the state.
J.D."
Event Type
Freedom Seeking
Date
November 12, 1780
Location of Event
Princeton
Related Place
Staten Island, New York
Primary Participants

Caesar (b. 1755)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02422
Role: Runaway
Age: 25
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- John Denton
Verbatim description from source:
"NEGRO MAN; about five feet eight inches high, marked with the small-pox"
Additional Participants

John Denton
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02425
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser

Isaac Cubberly (1725-1786)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02447
Role: Mentioned Person
Record Contributor
Indy Davis
Princeton & Slavery Project
Resource class
Event