1771-02-09 Freedom Seeking: Silas
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-01067
- Source
-
Runaway ad for Silas (listed as Sy), follow-up in March 1771, by Isaac Coats
-
Runaway ad for Silas (listed as Sy), follow-up in March 1771, by Isaac Coats, "SIX DOLLARS REWARD," Pennsylvania Journal, March 7, 1771, p. 3.
- Event Description
-
On or about February 9, 1771, a young Black freedom seeker named Silas (called Sy for short) was seen at the house of Richard Tennent, an innkeeper in Trenton. Information about Silas's whereabouts in New Jersey comes from an updated runaway notice that his enslaver Isaac Coats submitted to the Pennsylvania Journal on March 7, 1771. A transcript of this ad is below.
Silas was a fugitive from slavery who had run away from Isaac Coats in January 1771 and went to New Jersey. Isaac Collins originally posted a $2 reward for Silas; and then on March 7, 1771, he posted a follow-up runaway notice providing more details about Silas and increasing the reward to $6. Note that this was one of many escape attempts that Silas made from Isaac Coats.
Between January and March 1771, various people in New Jersey reported to Isaac Coats that they saw Silas there. Silas used his skills as a chimney sweep to make a living in New Jersey for several weeks. He was seen in Burlington and then went to Trenton where he encountered (and possibly worked for) Richard Tennent, the innkeeper. Although Isaac Coats originally suspected that Silas would go to Princeton, the March 7 runaway ad does not mention that he was seen in Princeton, although it does say that he was seen "in other places in the Jerseys" and this may include Princeton. The March 7 ad reported that Silas had with him forged paperwork that said he was a free-born man. He allegedly set out to New York by way of New Brunswick.
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Transcript of the source document:
"SIX DOLLARS REWARD.
SY, a Negro slave, of a yellow or copper-coloured complexion, having been RUN AWAY from the subscriber his master, in Philadelphia, for about eight weeks past, part of which time he has been sweeping chimneys or lurking about Burlington, and since in other places in the Jerseys, and was at Trenton at the house of Richard Tennent, inn-keeper, on or about the 9th or 10th of last month, from whence he proceeded on towards New-York, and said he would go through New-Brunswick, having with him a forged pass setting forth his being born free, and at present a freeman: THEREFORE the above reward shall be paid to any person or persons that will secure the said slave in any of his Majesty's gaols, or otherwise send him to his master in Philadelphia, together with reasonable charges. All persons are forbid to harbour the said slave, masters of vessels and others are forwarned not to take him away, as they will suffer the same according to law.
ISAAC COATS, Brick-maker,
March 7. § Living in Vine-street, Philadelphia." - Event Type
- Freedom Seeking
- Date
- February 9, 1771 – March 7, 1771
- Location of Event
- Trenton
- Preceding Event
- 1771-01-29 Freedom Seeking: Silas
- Following Event
- 1771-04 Capture: Silas
- Primary Participants
-
Silas (b. 1752) {Sy}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02502
Role: Runaway
Age: 16
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Isaac Coats
Verbatim description from source:
"SY, a Negro slave, of a yellow or copper-coloured complexion" - Additional Participants
-
Isaac Coats
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02501
Role: Enslaver, AdvertiserRichard Tennent
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02529
Role: Additional Participant
Comment: innkeeper in Trenton, Silas was seen at this house or possibly worked for him as a chimney sweep - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker