1797-05-28 Freedom Seeking: Michael

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01028
Source
Runaway ad for Michael (alias Jem), by William McClellan Jr

Runaway ad for Michael (alias Jem), by William McClellan Jr, "Fifty Dollars Reward," Porcupine's Gazette, June 5, 1797.
Event Description
On May 28, 1797, a Black man named Michael ran away from his enslaver William McClellan of York, Pennsylvania. McClellan published a runaway ad that provided details about Michael's biography and information about his previous escape attempt.

According to the runaway ad, Michael was "raised in Princeton in New Jersey, by Captain Albert Scank," using the phonetic spelling for the name of Michael's original enslaver. This family's name in the Princeton area is usually spelled Schenck. McClellan supposed that Michael would try to return to New Jersey as he had done during his previous escape attempt two and a half years prior. The ad also noted that Michael went by the alias Jem and worked for "Mr. Vanbertie a foreign minister" in Trenton last time he ran away.

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Transcript of the source document:

"Fifty Dollars Reward.

Ran away from the subscriber in the borough of York, the 28th inst. a negro man named Michael, he is about five feet 8 or 10 inches high, stout made, broad shouldered, thick jawed, bandy legged, and stoops considerably when walking; has lost two or three of his fore teeth, is somewhat dull of hearing and seldom speaks unless spoken to. Had on and took with him a grey coloured cloth coat, a jacket and overalls of drab colour, 1 pair of nankeen coveralls, 1 pair of striped trowsers, 1 fine shirt, and 1 or 2 coarse do. 1 pair of new shoes. The said negro was raised in Princeton in New Jersey, by Captain Albert Scank, and it is probable he may attempt to return there. He ran away about two years and a half since, and lived some time near Reading in this state, where he obtained a pass which carried him to Trenton in Jersey, and there had it countersigned by a Justice Anderson from whence he went to New-York, and returned to Trenton; at which place I apprehended him last winter in the service of Mr. Vanbertie a foreign minister, at that time he was called by the name of Jem. Whoever takes up said Negro and secures him in any jail, so that I may get him again, shall receive the above reward.

WILLIAM MCCLELLAN.
June 5."
Event Type
Freedom Seeking
Date
May 28, 1797
Location of Event
York, Pennsylvania
Related Place
Trenton
Princeton
Preceding Event
1796-12 Capture: Michael
Primary Participants

Michael {alias Jem}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02440
Role: Runaway
Age category: Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- William McClellan Jr. (1763-1831)
Verbatim description from source:
"negro man named Michael, he is about five feet 8 or 10 inches high, stout made, broad shouldered, thick jawed, bandy legged, and stoops considerably when walking; has lost two or three of his fore teeth, is somewhat dull of hearing and seldom speaks unless spoken to; at that time he was called by the name of Jem"
Additional Participants

William McClellan Jr. (1763-1831)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02439
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser

Justice Anderson
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02442
Role: Mentioned Person
Comment: involved in Michael's previous escape

Albert Schenck
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02441
Role: Former Enslaver Mentioned
Comment: Michael's original enslaver in Princeton, NJ

Mr. Vanbertie
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02443
Role: Mentioned Person
Comment: previous employer of Michael
Record Contributor
Larissa Jimenez Gratereaux
Princeton & Slavery Project
Resource class
Event