1816-12-28 Freedom Seeking: Charles Thompson
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-01131
- Source
-
Runaway ad for Charles Thompson, by Abraham Woodruff
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Runaway ad for Charles Thompson, by Abraham Woodruff, "Five Dollars Reward," Trenton Federalist, January 27, 1817.
- Event Description
-
On December 28, 1816, 17-year-old Charles Thompson ran away from Abraham Woodruff in Trenton, New Jersey. Woodruff published a runaway ad that described Charles Thompson as "an apprenticed Mulatto Boy." It is uncertain, based on this document, whether Charles Thompson had been born free or enslaved.
Note that the term apprentice traditionally referred to a free-born youth who entered into a long-term labor agreement with a tradesman with the goal of learning a skilled trade. However, enslavers in New Jersey sometimes used the term apprentice to describe Black boys who were born into slavery and who were promised freedom at some future date after many years of service. This differed from a traditional apprenticeship, and Black people in this situation could still be bought and sold.
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Transcript of the source document:
"Five Dollars Reward.
RANAWAY from the subscriber, on Saturday the 28th ult. an apprenticed Mulatto Boy, named Charles Thompson, seventeen years old, about five feet, three inches high, has a very remarkable stutter in his speech, thick lips, wore a black coattee single breasted, gray pantaloons, and black fur hat. Whoever secures said runaway in any of the jails of the United States, so that the subscriber may find him shall be entitled to the above reward, and if brought home, all reasonable charges.
ABRAHAM WOODRUFF
Trenton, Jan. 6, 1817. 32-4w" - Event Type
- Freedom Seeking
- Date
- December 28, 1816
- Location of Event
- Trenton
- Primary Participants
-
Charles Thompson (b. 1799)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02654
Role: Runaway
Age: 17
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Abraham Woodruff
Verbatim description from source:
"an apprenticed Mulatto Boy, named Charles Thompson, seventeen years old, about five feet, three inches high, has a very remarkable stutter in his speech, thick lips" - Additional Participants
-
Abraham Woodruff
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02646
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser - Record Contributor
- Kate Jackson