1808 Freedom Seeking: Sampson
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-01048
- Source
-
Runaway ad for Sampson (alias Francis), by Oliver Hunt
-
Runaway ad for Sampson (alias Francis), by Oliver Hunt, "Thirty Dollars Reward," Trenton Federalist, April 4, 1808.
- Event Description
-
On Saturday night, March 26, 1808, Sampson (alias Francis) ran away from his enslaver Oliver Hunt near Princeton, NJ. This was at least Sampson's second escape attempt (he had run away from a different enslaver, Richard Stockton of Princeton, two years earlier).
Oliver Hunt published a runaway ad for Sampson, listing the man's age as "about thirty years," but he was probably older than 30 by then, considering that Richard Stockton's runaway ad for Sampson two years earlier also listed age 30.
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Transcript of the source document:
"Thirty Dollars Reward.
RANAWAY from the subscriber near Princeton, on Saturday night the 26th inst. a Negro man named Sampson, he frequently calls himself Francis, about thirty years of age, five feet 4 or 5 inches high, square shouldered, his legs are remarkably small, knockneed, turns his toes much out when walking, and upon the whole has a very awkward walk, fond of spirituous liquors; had on when he went away a light drab coatee much worn, pantaloons of the same, dark swansdown jacket, rorum hat about half worn, light mixed worsted stockings, strong coarse shoes with spring heels; took with him a pair of old shoes, a pair of woolen stockings, a new muslin shirt one also of two and linen. Whoever will take up said Negro man and secure him in any gaol or deliver him to the subscriber shall receive the above reward with all reasonable charges.
OLIVER HUNT
75-3w pd." - Event Type
- Freedom Seeking
- Date
- 1808
- Location of Event
- Princeton
- Primary Participants
-
Sampson (b. 1776) {aka Francis}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02436
Role: Runaway
Age: 30
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Oliver Hunt
Verbatim description from source:
"Negro man named Sampson, he frequently calls himself Francis, about thirty years of age, five feet 4 or 5 inches high, square shouldered, his legs are remarkably small, knockneed, turns his toes much out when walking, and upon the whole has a very awkward walk, fond of spirituous liquors" - Additional Participants
-
Oliver Hunt
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02491
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser - Record Contributor
- Larissa Jimenez Gratereaux
- Princeton & Slavery Project