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Home , Alamode, Beaver hat, Breeches, Jacket, Monmouth cap, Nankeen

for the Maritime Trades in New England, 1765-1770 Matthew Brenckle Jan. 2017

Introduction The following document is meant to help guide you as you put together your impression for the Boston Massacre reenactment. This is not meant to be prescriptive, but merely informative. There certainly is not room here to discuss all of the possible clothing choices appropriate for working-class Bostonians in 1770. Still, a careful review of available sources suggests certain trends or commonalities that will help us create a convincing and accurate portrayal of these people. When we say “maritime trades,” we are describing a diverse group of individuals whose skills and jobs encompassed a wide range of activities. These trades include the following occupations: 1. Civilian merchant sailors involved in deep-sea voyages to Europe and the Caribbean. 2. Sailors enlisted in the Royal Navy. 3. Men serving on small coasting vessels carrying bulk goods such as lumber or foodstuffs on short voyages, rarely out of sight of land. 4. Fishermen 5. Lightermen, who transferred cargoes from ship to ship, or ship to shore and back again. 6. Shore based laborers, of varying degrees of skill and experience such as stevedores, caulkers, ship painters, sailmakers, riggers, coopers, ship carpenters, spar and mast makers, etc. Despite their specific skill set or particular duties, most of these people dressed in clothing that both announced their occupation and aided their work. Some historians have noted the “utilitarian fallacy” of occupational , that is, the notion that the clothing of the working man looked the way it did because it had to be useful. By this logic, the sailor’s wide-legged or short created a minimal amount of impediment to his shipboard labor. In other words, form followed function. This assumption, however, ignores the important symbolic or cultural role many articles of working dress played in the everyday lives of these men. Clothing had meaning. It expressed class solidarity and helped situate the individual within the social structures of the era. In the case of seamen, special clothing created a bond between shipmates, and identified the wearer as one who had shared in the hardships of a seafaring life. John Adams’ “out landish Jack Tarrs” were deviant not only in language and behavior, but also in dress. As period deserter and runaway advertisements make clear, the general public recognized certain articles of dress by their cut or as maritime in origin. We see frequent mention of clothing given a seafaring prefix: “a sailor’s jackets,” a seaman’s ”, “sailor’s short trowsers.” It can be difficult to untangle what exactly made a certain garment sailor-like, but by looking at contemporary artistic depictions of sailors, we can begin to elucidate certain trends in seafaring clothing. Many people assume that sailor clothing (and indeed, the clothing of the poor or laboring classes in general) changed very little between 1750 and 1800. This is, of course, pure fantasy, and a rather disingenuous way for some reenactors to justify wearing the same clothing to events varying widely in date. Since our goal is to reproduce an accurate visual representation of men and women who lived and worked in Boston in 1770, we must cast a critical eye on both the sources available to us, and our own wardrobes. Jackets or which might be appropriate for 1780, may not in fact work for 1770. A final note: One will always find a garment or fabric choice in contemporary sources that seem out of the ordinary, but we should ask ourselves how common such a garment might have been among the people we attempt to portray. Just because something existed does not necessarily mean it would have been worn in this place by these people at this time. Selected Images The following contemporary images show the progression of styles from the early 1760s through the early 1770s.

Figure 1. The Seller, by Paul Sandby, about 1759. The sailor has apparently stolen from the merchant in the background and is offering them for sale to passersby. He wears a small, equally cocked , perched at an angle on his head. His rather short single- breasted features mariner’s cuffs with a proliferation of . The jacket appears to have pleated . He wears a striped or cross-barred neck handkerchief over a (the artist made the shirt blue, but was perhaps trying to suggest a blue and white checked shirt. He wears short and wide , that probably cover a pair of breeches. His lower legs are clad in dark grey or black stockings. His close with large rectangular . The overall style of his clothing looks back more to the 1750s or 1740s. The sailor’s common silhouette will change as the decade progresses.

Figure 2. Actor David Garrick as a sailor, from Britannia: a Masque, by Mallet, which premiered 1759. The actor sailor here wears a long skirted single-breasted jacket with flap and cuffs that open along the seam. Note the width of the . He doesn’t wear a waistcoat, but only a shirt and dark neck cloth. His hat is small brimmed and cocked up equally all around. He too wears long, loose over trousers, which close with a single on the waistband. He carries a stick, the common accessory of the sailor on shore.

Details of illustration from "A Favourite Song," in Clio and Euterpre, or, British Harmony, A Collection of Celebrated Songs and Cantatas, Volume Three, page 50, published by Henry Roberts, 1762 Thanks to Kyle Dalton for finding this. The two sailors in this work wear nearly identical garments. The man on the left is a boatswain or boatswain’s mate. He wears a silver heart-shaped breastplate, chain, and call (whistle) as a mark of office. Both men appear to have dispensed with , and wear the now familiar triangular cocked hats (worn askew), long jackets, and full trousers. Note, also, the low slung quality of the trousers and the long on the jackets.

Detail from A Book of Drafts and Remarks, by Archibald Hamilton, 1763, National Maritime Museum. The mate or master of a merchant ship takes a sight using an octant. He wears a bound or laced cocked hat, a skirted jacket with contrasting cuffs and , as well as striped trousers that appear to have buttoning pockets set into the side seams.

Detail from “The Landing of Captain Rogers's Men at California,” artist unknown, 1765. Thanks to Kyle Dalton for finding this. Although this depicts an event that happened decades before, the artist has show these sailors dressed in clothing contemporary to 1765. They still wear long, wide trousers, but the jackets are now short, skirtless, and double-breasted (the engraver probably meant to depict a row of buttons and buttonholes on either side of the center fronts, not two rows of buttons). Even though the jackets are cut “round,” they still come down well over the hips.

Details from “The Embarkation,” by John Collet, undated, but probably mid to late 1760s. This painting gives us a view of the working dress of merchant sailors and watermen. The sailor standing on the right, with his arms crossed, sports a short jacket with mariner’s cuffs, a short horizontally striped waistcoat and vertically striped fall-front trousers. The sailor bending down to the left wears a red short jacket and a jockey . The man behind him wears a blue double-breasted jacket and a or .

The men in the boat wear some rather disreputable looking clothing. The man standing to the left wears heavily patched trousers, a striped shirt, and an open waistcoat. His cap is probably knit. The man to the right is similarly outfitted, with white shirt, unbuttoned red waistcoat and a small round hat.

“A Sailor Giving a Patagonian Woman Some Biscuit for her Child,” Frontispiece, A Voyage Round the World in His Majesty's Ship The Dolphin, by John Byron, 1767. The sailor wears all the usual clothing: a skirted jacket, long, wide trousers, and in this instance, a skirted waistcoat. Note however, that his waistcoat is considerably shorter than many civilian waistcoats of this period. This is owing to the shortness of his jacket. The waistcoat skirts should not project from under the jacket’s hem. He wears a small rimmed round hat. Note also the size of the ship’s biscuit.

“A view of the Endeavour's watering place in the Bay of Good Success,” by Alexander Buchan, 1769. Captain James Cook’s crew go about their duties wearing an assemblage of canvas or woolen jackets and long canvas trousers. In the mid 1760s the pattern of the Royal Navy’s slop jackets changed. No longer made single-breasted with long skirts, the jackets were now short and double breasted. By the late 1760s, this transition was complete. It is likely this style of jacket quickly found its way into the merchant navy as well.

Details and Guidelines Jackets and The jacket, along with his trousers, was the sailor’s most distinctive garment. Period commentators (always landsmen) often referred to the jacket’s peculiar cut. During the 1740s and 1750s, seamen’s slop jackets (both navy and civilian) tended to be rather long, single- breasted skirted garments (measuring 36 inches down the center back, according to Royal Navy slop lists). Some images depict a jacket constructed very much like a sleeved waistcoat, while others show jackets with proper lapped center back vents and pleated side vents. Both seem perfectly acceptable, especially for a merchant sailor.

By the mid 1760s the Royal Navy pattern was altered to a relatively short, double-breasted jacket with slashed cuffs and welt pockets. These came down below the hips and covered the loins. They were usually made of , and lined with white (although there are some orders for unlined jackets). Jackets of this style are much in evidence in drawings made from life from the late 1760s and onward.

Much of what we know about jacket construction details must be extrapolated from archaeologically recovered examples. The General Carleton jacket, though dating to 1785, probably displays many similar construction techniques to those made earlier. Perhaps most significant is the single piece back (ie, no center back seam). The Carleton jacket was originally constructed this way, but later slit up the center back and the two sides overlapped, probably to improve the fit. The Carleton jacket also features mariner’s cuffs with a separate pointed placket. Some pictorial evidence suggests a simpler slash (without placket) that followed the sleeve’s under seam and fastened with three or more buttons. Horn or dyed bone buttons seem to have been most common. Longer, skirted jackets would have been constructed differently, however, with a two piece back and extra fabric to construct the .

Runaway and deserter advertisements provide information about jacket colors and fabrics, as worn in North America. Not surprisingly, blue was the most popular color, even at this early date. Brown and green were common colors for laborers’ clothes, and they were also worn by sailors. Fabrics on the other hand were more varied.

Table C: Jacket and Colors, 1752-1787. Color Totals Percentage Blue 50 47.6 Brown 9 8.5 Green 8 7.6 Red, including 7 6.6 Crimson and Light- coloured 5 4.7 Light-blue 3 2.8 White 3 2.8 Grey 3 2.8 Drab-coloured 2 1.9 Spotted 2 1.9 Light-brown 1 .95 Black 1 .95 Cloth-coloured 1 .95 Unspecified 9 8.5 Total 105 Sources: Assorted newspapers, see appendix. Table D: Jacket and Coat Fabrics 1752-1787 Fabrics Total Percentage “Rough,” 5 4.7 “coarse”, and “thick” Swanskin 3 2.8 Fear-nothing/ 2 1.9 fearnought 2 1.9 Duffil 2 1.9 Cloth 1 .95 Homespun 1 .95 1 .95 1 .95 Kersey 1 .95 Bath Coating 1 .95 Unspecified 85 80.9 Total 105 Sources: Assorted newspapers, see appendix. Most advertisements did not specify fabrics. Color was a more important characteristic than material, and could be more readily identified, especially from a distance. Still, it is probably significant that of the fabrics described, the most numerous were called “thick,” “coarse,” or “rough,” as would be expected of a sailor’s outer working garment. Preferred: Well fitted, completely hand-sewn skirted singled-breasted jackets with mariners cuffs in a variety of thick woolens. Double-breasted “short” jackets that come down well over the hips, constructed of various coarse and thick woolens. Acceptable: Jackets as above, with all visible stitching done by hand. Unacceptable: Short-waisted jackets of the 1790s or Napoleonic/Federal period. Garments sewn entirely by machine or made of canvas.

Waistcoats While civilian waistcoats typically retained the long skirts of the previous decades, sailors generally wore shorter versions for the simple reason that their jackets were shorter, too. The waistcoat’s hem should not hang below the bottom of the jacket. Period images and newspaper descriptions suggest that both stripes and various solid colors were popular. Most seem to have been single-breasted. Table A: Waistcoat Colors 1752-1787 Colors Total Percentage Striped 5 19.2 Blue 4 15.3 Brown 4 15.3 White 3 11.5 Red/Crimson 2 7.6 Spotted 2 7.6 Black 1 3.8 Drab-coloured 1 3.8 Grey 1 3.8 Trimmed with 1 3.8 black Unspecified 2 7.6 Total 26

Preferred: Well-fitted handsewn waistcoats (with or without ) with moderate skirts, in , flax , or , in variety of stripes and solids. Acceptable: Well-fitted waistcoats of the sort described above, with visible stitching done by hand. Unacceptable: Later period waistcoats or vests, waistcoats made of upholstery fabric, cotton canvas, or , badly fitted waistcoats, those entirely machine sewn.

Breeches and Trowsers Sailors and other maritime laborers were among the first men to regularly wear trousers. These might be short, wide overtrousers of the sort denominated “petticoat breeches”, or narrower, longer versions with a buttoning fall or and pockets set into the outseam. Nevertheless, these men also frequently wore the breeches/stocking combination favored by their land-bound cousins. Either choice is appropriate. The Royal Navy regularly advertised for and purchased large quantities of linen or canvas trousers and woolen breeches during the period. Clothier William Tod provided most of the Navy’s trousers in the late 1760s. These were made of either linen canvas or “Russia” duck. Lt. Gabriel Bray’s drawings depict garments that fall to the ankle and have moderately wide legs. Pockets are set in the side seam (if there was one- see below). The waistband fastened with two buttons, and two additional buttons secured the fall. As late as 1793, an assistant of slop contractor Edward Darby described the Navy’s slop trousers: “they are very uncommon dimensions in the trade; here is another remarkable thing, they have two seems (sic) in the legs, which seamen, in general object to, but we are obliged to make them so for government…” Sailors preferred trousers made without an outseam. A pair of woolen trousers from the General Carleton was made with only an inseam (ie, each leg was one piece of cloth), and this was a feature of slop trousers into the early 19th century as well. It is possible the slop trousers of the previous decades were made in the same fashion. On the other hand, they may have continued to follow the construction called for in the 1740 navy slop lists: “Trowsers of Brown Osnaburgh Canvas, cut out of whole Cloth [ie, no piecing], Breeches Fashion [which suggest both an inseam and outseam], Two Buttons to the Waistband, and Four others.”

Table E: Breeches Colors 1752-1787 Colors Total Percentage Black 4 16 Blue 4 16 White 4 16 Brown 2 8 Grey 1 4 Unspecified 10 40 Total 25

Table F: Breeches Fabrics 1752-1787 Fabrics Total Percentage 6 24 “fine” cloth 1 4 1 4 Worsted shag 1 4 Worsted knit 1 4 Thickset 1 4 Nankeen 1 4 Canvas 1 4 Duffil 1 4 Osnabrug 1 4 Unspecified 10 40 Total 25 Sources: Assorted newspapers, see appendix In 1754, John Dwyer wore “a pair of old whitish plush breeches, with silver buttons.” Another man had “worsted shag breeches.”1 Black, white, and blue seem to have been popular colors, and at least one man had breeches of nankeen, a yellow tinted cotton.2 A surprising number of seamen owned leather breeches, which one would think might have fared badly at sea, but this may reflect their status as men who only occasionally worked in vessels. Less frequently worn were canvas breeches, although trousers were nearly always made of such fabric.3 Table G: Trouser Colors 1752-1787 Color Total Percentage 7 11.1 White 5 7.9 Blue 3 4.7 Red 3 4.7 Striped 2 3.1 Light- 1 1.5 coloured Brown 1 1.5 Grey 1 1.5 Drab-coloured 1 1.5 Unspecified 39 61.9 Total 63 Sources: Assorted newspapers, see appendix. Since many trousers were made of canvas or linen, it stands to reason that many in the “unspecified” category were in fact of a white or cream color. The frequent omission of color suggests that “trowsers” were nearly always undyed. Seaman Samuel Kelly, however, wrote that “our master laid in a few slops to sell us, from which each man was supplied with a pair of red baize trousers, so that when we were aloft reefing the sails we appeared like a flock of flamingoes.”4

Preferred: Handsewn wide and short trousers (or over trousers) in natural or lightly bleached hemp or linen canvas. Long and narrower trousers in a variety of woolens, , or hemp. Stripes or solid fabrics. Well-fitted breeches in woolens, linens, or leather. Acceptable: Trousers and breeches as above, with all visible sewing done by hand. Unacceptable: Totally machine sewn trousers or breeches, or garments with later styling.

1 New York Mercury, 9 Sept. 1754, 20 Jan. 1755. 2 Ibid., 4 Sept. 1767. 3 Virginia Gazette, 9 Feb. 1769. 4 Samuel Kelly, An Eighteenth Century Seaman, Whose days have been few and evil…, Crosbie Garstin, ed. (New York, 1925), 97.

Stockings Except for men enlisted in the Royal Navy, which purchased coarse grey worsted stockings by the thousands, most people engaged in maritime trades wore the same stockings as the rest of the population. Frame knit stockings probably outweighed hand knits by this period, but both could be made of worsted or carded wool or linen. Frame knit stockings featured a telltale seam up the center back, although many hand knits had a line of purls in the same location to simulate this seam. It is also likely that some seamen preferred to wear half stocking or beneath long trousers, especially in warmer weather. Preferred: Frame or hand knit woolen or linen stockings, with period appropriate detailing, including narrow , and center back seam (or simulated seam). Preferred colors are grey, white, brown, black, “clouded” or mixed. Acceptable: Modern reproduction stockings in wool or linen, knit in the round without back seam. Unacceptable: Modern tube socks. There is very little evidence for green or red woolen stockings at this period. Shoes As with stockings, sailors made use of styles common to people of the same socio-economic class ashore. Low quarter shoes, either welted or turned seem to have predominated. Both buckles and were used. Several pairs recovered from the 1758 wreck of HMS Invincible had been modified by having the latchets cut off and pierced for laces. One peculiarity among sailors was the penchant for pulling their latchets through the buckles toward the toe (see detail of Copley’s “Watson and the Shark,” right). Preferred: Handmade low quarter mid-18th century shoes with period buckles or laces. Acceptable: Machine-made reproductions of 18th century shoes, with period buckles or laces. Unacceptable: 19th or 20th reproductions, or modern shoes of any sort.

Neckcloths Sailor neck handkerchiefs ran the gamut from staid, solid colored cotton, linen, or , to more colorful stripes, checks, or printed or resist-dyed patterns. Preferred: Hand-hemmed neck handkerchiefs made of period printed or dyed cotton, linen, or silk Acceptable: Machine finished neck handkerchiefs made of period printed or dyed cotton, linen, or silk Unacceptable: Modern bandanas, or inappropriate patterns, or no neck covering at all.

Hats and The hats of seamen and other maritime laborers differed little from those worn by other laboring men. If the pictorial record may be relied on, the small cocked hat favored by seamen for much of the 18th century had become somewhat less popular than round hats by the late1760s. Contemporary images suggest sailors’ hats generally had round and small brims. The brims of most round hats hats are show to curl up all around. This may be a function of the hats’ poor quality, or it may be another widespread sailor affectation. Cocked hats, when worn, seem to sit at a rakish angle, or be worn backwards entirely. In 1762, the London Chronicle reported somewhat satirically that “sailors wore the sides of their hats uniformly tacked down to the , and looked as if they carried a triangular apple pasty [sic] upon their heads.”A quick perusal of runaway advertisements reveals that seamen commonly wore cocked hats. David Ashbill and William Ferrell, who ran away in 1751 and 1752 respectively, both wore “cock’d” hats. A servant who ran from John Lane’s estate in 1751 wore “a Sailor’s Hat bound round the Brim with [Oznabrig] and cock’d up with Twine.” Barnaby Allay “had on when he went away…an old Hat cock’d up with three corners.”5 Two French servant men, run from the snow Charming Sally at New York, “both wore their hats cocked , and were formerly in the French service.”6 Peter Robb, who had “much the Appearance of a Sailor,” wore his “Hat cocked very sharp.”7 Sailors individualized their hats by adding different decorative devices. In the 1770s, it was common for round hats to be “trimmed round the brim, and…bound with ferret [a coarse woolen tape].” In 1770, Thomas Bentley wore “a sailor’s hat, bound with black worsted ferret” when he ran away. Another sailor had on “a new Felt Hat bound round with red Ferret, and a Band of the same.” John Osborn’s round hat, however, was “bound with Osnabrugs.” Ribbons of various shades were also popular. Englishman John Booker wore a hat “with an old broad red ribband tied round the crown.” George Allen “had on when he went away…a small round hat with a black ribband and .” 8 The warmth and head-hugging qualities of knit caps recommended them for sea service. Slop lists and contracts also regularly mention a variety of knit caps. In 1765-1766 a Mr. Rickards provided the Navy with “Dutch caps,” while in 1771-1772, Thomas Plestow produced at least 12,000 “double worsted caps.” Lt. Bray’s drawings of 1775 show seamen wearing the same style of knit caps (even on the coast of Senegal!) that feature a button at the of the crown and a loop on the brim- virtually identical to a surviving cap at the in , and another recovered from convict barracks in Australia. Most of the seamen in Bray’s drawings wear the caps with the brims turned upwards. Run-away and deserter advertisements are again valuable for civilian seamen. When a “Mulatto man slave named Sam” ran away from the sloop Tryall, he wore “a milled double Cap, of two colors.” Another run-away slave dressed in sailor’s clothing wore “a red Worsted Cap,” as did an Irish servant.9 Seaman George Horn wore a “red Cap” and his messmate Thomas Jameson a “blue mill’d Cap,” when they absconded from the privateer St. George at New York.10

5 Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg), 2 May 1751, 8 Aug. 1751, 18 June 1752, 7 Nov. 1754. 6 New York Mercury (New York), 7 Oct. 1754. 7 Virginia Gazette, 26 Aug. 1773. 8 Virginia Gazette, 8 Nov. 1770, 16 Aug. 1770, 8 July 1773, 1 Oct. 1772, 12 July 1770, 12 May 1774. 9 Virginia Gazette, 2 May 1751, 7 Mar. 1771, 29 April 1773. 10 New York Mercury, 12 Feb 1759.

Preferred: Wool or fur felt cocked or round hats, with small to moderate brims, made on period round blocks. Woolen Dutch caps, Monmouth caps, or other striped woolen caps. Acceptable: Oval blocked cocked or round felt hats. Unacceptable: Painted or tarred canvas “tarpaulin” hats, straw hats, military cocked hats, or late period cocked hats.

Sample of American Maritime Runaway and Deserter Advertisements, 1765-1771 N.B. These are primarily from the middle and southern colonies, with a smattering from New England papers. Since Boston Public Library’s unfortunate decision to limit access to the Redex Historical American Newspapers database, it has become difficult to do spur of the moment searches for New England runaways. This is something to pursue in the near future. At the end of the American advertisements, I have appended similar adverts for sailors from British newspapers.

Pennsylvania Gazette Philadelphia, 13 June 1765.

Philadelphia, June 5, 1765. RUN away, last Night, from Captain Hugh Wright’s Ship, a Mulattoe Fellow, named Dick, about 5 Feet 6 Inches high, well set, very crafty, talks much, and is remarkable for a Cast in his Right Eye; he wears a red Jacket, white Breeches, Check shirt, new Shoes and Stockings, and an old Hat. It is supposed he is gone to Dover, as he has a wife there. Whoever secures said Fellow in any Goal, or brings him to JAMES HARDING, in Philadelphia, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, besides Charges.

N.B. Masters of Vessels are cautioned against taking him away.

Georgia Gazette Savannah, 20 June 1765.

RUN AWAY from the subscriber, a thick well made NEGROE FELLOW, named JOE, of a yellowish complexion, speaks good English, has been for two years past used to a coasting vessel, usually wears a pea jacket and trowsers. As he is a sensible fellow, he may endeavor to pass as a free man, masters of vessels are therefore desired not to carry him off the province, otherwise they or their securities will be prosecuted as the law directs. Whoever will bring the said negroe to Paynter Dickenson in Savannah, or to me in Sunbury, or give any notice where he may may [sic] be found, shall receive 20 s. reward, besides all reasonable charges. STEPHEN DICKENSON.

New York Mercury New York, 10 November 1766.

RUN-away from the Snow James and Mary, John Moore, Master, William Cook, about 20 Years old, wears his own hair, of a fair complexion, about 5 feet 6 inches high: Had on when he went away, a Sailor’s white Jacket and trowsers, smooth fac’d, good like, and wears a sailor’s hat.

Likewise John Cook, about 19 years of age, wears his own hair, fair complexion, about 5 feet 6 Inches high, was when he went away in Sailor’s dress, with jacket and trowsers, smooth, thin-faced and good-like.

Likewise James Coulter, about 18 years old, wears a wig, brown complexion, about 5 feet 7 inches high, served part of his time to a Barber: Had on when he went away, an old blue coat, a pair of thickset breeches, good- like, smooth-fac’d: Whoever apprehends all or any of said servants, shall have Forty shillings for each, by applying to said Master, and all reasonable expenses paid; likewise all Masters of vessels on their peril, are discharged from countenancing or carrying them off the Continent.

New York Mercury New York, 4 September 1767.

RUN-away from his Lodgings, on Golden Hill, in this City, on Friday Night last, a certain William Trench, Mariner, and carried with him a Pair of Nankeen Breeches, and a double-breasted Jacket of the same Sort, and several other Things: He is about 24 Years old, much pitted with the Small-pox, and of a swarthy Complexion: Had on when he went away, a green Jacket, and long Canvas Trowsers. Whoever takes up and secures the said William Trench, and will bring him to the Subscriber, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, paid by DANIEL BANE.

New York Mercury New York, 4 January 1768.

RUN-away, from the Ship Three-Brothers, the 12th Inst. lying in the Harbour of New-York, an indented Servant named Dennis Reilley, 30 Years old, of a fair Complexion, wears his own Hair of a light Colour, & very straight, one of his upper Teeth broken, likely Company, plays very well on the Violin, and is supposed to be gone to Philadelphia: Had on when he went away, a black Coat, Jacket, and Breeches, and a Sailor’s Hat. Whoever takes up and secures the said Run-away, and will bring him to Messrs. Thomas and Alexander, in New-York, or Messrs. Carson, Barclay, and Mitchell, in Philadelphia, shall receive Three Pounds Reward, and all reasonable Charges, or from the Captain, JOHN GWINN.

Virginia Gazette Williamsburg , 22 September 1768.

FREDERICKSBURG, August 29, 1768. RUN away from the subscribers, on Saturday the 27th Instant, at night, two white, and one Mulatto convict servants. One of the white servants is named George Eaton, born in London, and imported last February, in the Neptune, Capt. Arbuckle. He is by trade a cabinet-maker, about 5 feet 3 or 4 inches high, 20 years of age, of a fair complexion, wears his own hair, which is short and fair, and sometimes wears a false curl, which a stranger would not know from his hair, being exactly of a colour. He has several marks on his left arm, letters being set in with gun-powder. He carried off with him an old mixed broad-cloth coat and waistcoat, of a chocolate colour; the coat has a cape with basket buttons, a pair of old buckskin, and a pair of old Nankeen breeches, a sailor's blue duffil jacket, lined with white plaid, an old castor hat, 3 white and oznabrig , two pair of oznabrig trowsers, 2 pair of yarn and a pair of old thread stockings, one pair of old shoes (new soaled) with yellow buckles. As he has been on board some of his Majesty's ships, he very likely will endeavour to get on board of some vessel as a sailor. The other named Charles Davis, a short squat fellow, about the height of Eaton, and about 18 or 20 years of age. He is of a fair complexion, with short curled hair, has a large scar or cut on his head, whereon the hair does not grow. He carried off with him sundry cloaths, among them a of Russia drab, of a lightish colour, a blue jacket with metal buttons, several oznabrigs and white linen shirts, an old castor and an old gold laced hat, 2 pair of , 2 pair of spurs, one of them silver, together with a saddle and bridle. The Mulatto fellow is named Jack, was born in the West-Indies, and imported in the Justitia in 1764 from London. He is about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high, about 25 years of age, his hair or wool almost like a Negro's, and his eyes large and weak, and stammers in his speech; he carried with him, and might have on when he went away, a , a brown linen shirt and trowsers, a red jacket with sleeves, or a white, or a green one, without sleeves, a pair of sagathy or Russia breeches, and country made shoes; he likewise carried with him a , betwixt a bay and a chesnut colour, hanging mane and tail, long backed, and we believe not branded, paces chiefly, is about 14 hands high, and about 8 or 9 years old. This fellow formerly belonged to John Briggs, deceased. Whoever takes up the said servants, and conveys them to the subscribers, shall have THREE POUNDS reward for Eaton and Davis, and reasonable charges; FORTY SHILLINGS for the Mulatto fellow, and TWENTY SHILLINGS for the horse. WILLIAM PORTER, THOMAS MILLER, JAMES LAVERTY. Davis is well known in most places on Rappahanock, having attended Mr. Porter as a waiting man, for upwards of 2 years. The three servants above-mentioned, were seen to pass by Todd's Ordinary, in Caroline, early last Sunday morning, and are expected to have gone towards James river, or Norfolk. All masters of vessels are desired, if they should offer themselves, to stop them. Virginia Gazette Williamsburg, 9 February 1769.

WEST POINT, Feb. 2, 1769 RUN away from on board the ship Middleton, a man and two boys, who have taken with them several things not their own. The man's name is JOHN, thick set, and had on when he went away a blue jacket, and a pair of canvas breeches. The oldest boy is very remarkable, having light eyes, and looks different ways with them, very red faced, and about 19 years old. The other is about 15 years of age, is an Irish boy, and goes by the name of TOM. Whoever apprehends any of the said persons, so that they may be brought to justice, shall have half a guinea reward. HENRY CLARK, Master.

Providence Gazette Providence, 1 July 1769. RUN away from on board a Brig lying in the River, a Mulatto Man, named Francisco, of middle Stature, thick set, speaks broken English; had on a blue Jacket, Sailors Trowsers, and took a small Hat belonging to one of the People. Whoever takes up said Mulatto, and brings him to the Subscriber, shall have Two Dollars Reward, and necessary Charges, paid by JOHN NASH.

N.B. He has a Sore on his right Hand. All Masters of Vessels are forbid to carry him off.

Virginia Gazette Williamsburg , 31 January 1771.

NORFOLK, January 14, 1771. RUN away last night from the Ship Hoyne, at Gosport, a Sailor Lad named DANIEL JOHNS. He is about eighteen or nineteen Years of Age, well made, five Feet six or seven inches high, and wears his own Hair, which is short and black; had on a short blue Jacket, and Canvas Trousers. It is imagined he went off in Company with three Seamen, from the said Ship, viz. GILES HAMMOND, thick, short, and stout made, of a fair Complexion, and has white Hair, tied behind; had on an old blue Jacket, and Canvas Trousers. PHILIP ROLLINGS, slender made, five Feet ten Inches High, of a sallow Complexion, and has short black Hair; had on an old red Jacket, and Check Trousers. ROGER GOUT, thick, short, and stout made, has dark Hair, is full faced; and much pitted with the Smallpox; had on a brown Jacket, and Canvas Trousers. Whoever secures the said Daniel Johns in any of his Majesty's Jails in this Colony, and will give Information thereof to the Subscribers, shall have THIRTY SHILLINGS Reward. INGLIS & LONG. Who have for Sale Loaf, Lump and Muscovado SUGAR; Jamaica, Antigua, Grenada, and Northward RUM; Jamaica SPIRIT; Barbados CANE SPIRIT; CHOCOLATE; SOAP; TALLOW CANDLES; Susquehanna River HERRINGS; Madiera WINE five Years old, London Quality; a small Quantity of Pruniac and Frontiniac WINE; a Parcel of WHEAT FANS, of the best Make; MARBLE FLAGS, twenty four inches and a Half and twenty Inches square, blue and white veined double OIL FLINTS, &c. HEMP, WHEAT, FLOWER, and Indian CORN, taken in Payment.

Virginia Gazette \Williamsburg , 11 June 1772.

BERMUDA HUNDRED, June 8, 1772. RUN away from the Ship POLLY, Thomas Duncomb Master, two Seamen, WILLIAM SCREECH, an elderly Man, about five Feet ten Inches high, of a dark Complexion, and has black curly Hair tied behind; he had on when he left the Ship a Crimson Coat and Waistcoat, and black Breeches. WILLIAM STEVENS, an elderly Man, of a dark swarthy Complexion, about five feet eight Inches high, wears his own Hair, which is brown, short, and curls behind; he had on when he went away a Scarlet Jacket (better than Half worn) and short Canvas Trousers. Whoever apprehends either, or both of these Seamen, and will deliver them on Board the said Ship (now lying at Bermuda Hundred) shall have THIRTY SHILLINGS Reward for each, with the customary travelling Charges allowed for bringing them up. THOMAS DUNCOMB.

Pennsylvania Gazette Philadelphia, 2 July 1772.

RUN away on the 23d of June, 1772, from on board the sloop William, in Baltimore harbour, a NEGROE MAN SLAVE, named DICK, near 6 feet high, with an uncommon large head and feet, many scars on his face and body; is a very lusty fellow, of a yellowish complexion; had on a red jacket, , trowsers, and a half worn castor hat. He was seen taking the road to Philadelphia, intending it is thought to get into some vessel, as he followed the sea. Whoever shall apprehend the said Negroe in the province of Maryland, and deliver him to Mr. John Smith, of Baltimore-town, merchant, shall receive Three Pounds as a reward; or if taken in or near Philadelphia, and delivered to Captain William Allison, the same reward, and reasonable charges, from either of the above Gentlemen, or WILLIAM DUNSCOMB.

N.B. He may change his dress, as he had a blue coat, a blanket, check shirt, &c.

British Runaway Advertisements

Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London, England), Monday, April 14, 1766

Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London, England), Thursday, December 25, 1766

Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London, England), Friday, February 6, 1767

Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London, England), Saturday, March 7, 1767

Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London, England), Monday, April 11, 1768

Public Advertiser (London, England), Thursday, May 11, 1769

Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London, England), Saturday, December 9, 1769

Public Advertiser (London, England), Friday, February 16, 1770

Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London, England), Monday, November 5, 1770

Public Advertiser (London, England), Wednesday, July 17, 1771

Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London, England), Saturday, August 24, 1771