1805-03-20 Freedom Seeking: York
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-01230
- Source
-
Runaway ad for York, by Elijah Everitt
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Runaway ad for York, by Elijah Everitt, "SIXTEEN DOLLARS REWARD," Centinel of Freedom, April 16, 1805, p. 1.
- Event Description
-
On March 20, 1805, a 35-year-old Black man named York (also known as John Smack) ran away from enslaver Elijah Everitt of Sussex County. Elijah Everitt circulated a runaway ad offering a reward for York's capture. The ad noted that York was previously "the property of Joseph Gaston, Esq. dec.," meaning deceased. The name Joseph Gaston refers to Elijah Everitt's father-in-law, who died in 1804, leaving a mill property on the Pequest River to Elijah Everitt and his wife Martha Gaston Everitt. The mill property was located in a village now known as Huntsville within the boundaries of present-day Green Township. At the turn of the 19th century, the village was still generally known as Pettit's Mill (after a previous mill owner), and it was considered part of Hardwick Township. In the 1805 runaway ad for York, Elijah Everitt identified his place of residence as Hardwick, Sussex County. The runaway ad also indicated that York had skills as a carman and miller. It can be inferred that York lived at the Gaston/Everitt mill property in the Huntsville area and ran away from that place.
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Transcript of the source document:
"SIXTEEN DOLLARS REWARD.
RAN AWAY on the 20th March, a Negro Man, named YORK, late the property of Joseph Gaston, Esq. dec. about 25 years of age, 4 feet 6 or 8 inches high and very stout. Had on, a fustian coatee & trowsers, rorum hat and pair of bootees, and took with him sundry other wearing apparel — It is supposed he will recommend himself as a carman or Miller and probably change his name to John Smack. He is thick lips, bowed knees, very talkative, full of compliments, and fond of company. Whoever will confine him in any jail, or secure him so that the subscriber may get him shall receive the above reward.
ELIJAH EVERITT.
Hardwick, Sussex C, Apl. 1, 1805.
44-3w." - Event Type
- Freedom Seeking
- Date
- March 20, 1805
- Primary Participants
-
York (b. 1770) {aka John Smack}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02879
Role: Runaway
Age: 35
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Elijah Everitt (1772-1850)
Verbatim description from source:
"Negro Man, named YORK, late the property of Joseph Gaston, Esq. dec. about 25 years of age, 4 feet 6 or 8 inches high and very stout; It is supposed he will recommend himself as a carman or Miller and probably change his name to John Smack. He is thick lips, bowed knees, very talkative, full of compliments, and fond of company." - Additional Participants
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Elijah Everitt (1772-1850)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02173
Role: Enslaver, AdvertiserJoseph Gaston (1738-1804)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02877
Role: Former Enslaver Mentioned - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker