1818-04-05 Freedom Seeking: Peter

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01145
Source
Runaway ad for Peter, by James T. Clarke

Runaway ad for Peter, by James T. Clarke, "15 Dollars Reward," Trenton Federalist, April 20, 1818.
Event Description
On April 5, 1818, Peter ran away from his enslaver James T. Clarke, who lived in Trenton, New Jersey. Clarke published a runaway ad describing Peter as a "negro boy," but Peter's age was not mentioned, and he may have been a boy or a young adult. Clarke supposed that Peter may have gone toward Asbury, Sussex County, where he had a brother living in the household of Col. McCullough.

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Transcript of the source document:

"15 Dollars Reward.
RANAWAY from the subscriber, on Sunday the 5th inst. a NEGRO BOY named Peter, about five feet eight inches in height, yellowish complexion, and a singular dent or depression in his forehead below where the hair terminates, which he usually attempts to comb over it. Had on greyish roundabout and common woolsey trowsers of yellow colour. Whoever returns said boy shall be entitled to above reward and all reasonable expenses. He had a brother living with Col. McCullough of Asbury, Sussex county, a short time since, and may possibly have gone that away.
JAMES T. CLARKE.
Trenton, April 16, 1818. 99-3w"
Event Type
Freedom Seeking
Date
April 5, 1818
Location of Event
Trenton
Related Place
Asbury, Franklin
Primary Participants

Peter
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02680
Role: Runaway
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- James T. Clarke
Verbatim description from source:
"NEGRO BOY named Peter, about five feet eight inches in height, yellowish complexion, and a singular dent or depression in his forehead below where the hair terminates, which he usually attempts to comb over it"
Comment: exact age not mentioned, may have been a child or young adult

Name Unrecorded - Male {brother of Peter}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02695
Role: Sibling
Status: Unknown
Verbatim description from source:
"brother living with Col. McCullough of Asbury, Sussex county"
Comment: potential destination for the runaway
Additional Participants

James T. Clarke
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02681
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser
Comment: enslaver of Peter

William McCullough (1759-1840)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02694
Role: Mentioned Person
Record Contributor
Xandria McKinley
Resource class
Event