1770-03 Freedom Seeking: Silas
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-01071
- Source
-
Runaway ad for Silas, escaped March 1770, by Isaac Coats
-
Runaway ad for Silas, escaped March 1770, by Isaac Coats, "RUN-AWAY," Pennsylvania Journal, April 19, 1770, p. 3.
- Event Description
-
In March 1770, a young Black man named Silas ran away from his enslaver, Isaac Coats, a brickmaker in Philadelphia. On April 19, 1770, Isaac Coats posted a runaway ad for Silas, noting that Silas had been absent for about four weeks and was seen in Burlington, New Jersey, where he was part of a group of Black chimney sweeps who worked in the city.
This was one of many escape attempts that Silas made from Isaac Coats. Following the publication of this runaway ad, Silas was apprehended, and he would go on to run away again in August of the same year.
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Transcript of the source document:
"RUN-AWAY,
About four weeks since, from the subscriber, living in Vine street; A Negro Lad, about the age of seventeen years, named Silas, he is of a yellow cast, and by trade a chimney sweep; he is well set, about five feet high, was lately seen loitering about the streets of the city of Burlington, in company with several negro lads, also chimney sweeps; Had on a homespun jacket, a pair of blue trowsers with his blanket, and is an oily tongu'd chap very apt to drink. Whoever will secure the said fellow, and send him to me, shall receive a reward of FIFTEEN SHILLINGS, and all reasonable charges.
April 19. ISAAC COATS, Brickmaker." - Event Type
- Freedom Seeking
- Date
- March 1770 – April 1770
- Date Certainty
- Approximate
- Preceding Event
- 1764-08 Capture: Silas
- Following Event
- 1770-05 Capture: Silas
- Primary Participants
-
Silas (b. 1752) {Sy}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02502
Role: Runaway
Age: 17
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Isaac Coats
Verbatim description from source:
"A Negro Lad, about the age of seventeen years, named Silas, he is of a yellow cast, and by trade a chimney sweep; he is well set, about five feet high" - Additional Participants
-
Isaac Coats
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02501
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker