Runaway Slaves in Jamaica (I): Eighteenth Century Edited by Douglas B. Chambers University of Southern Mississippi (February, 2013)1 Part 1: Paid Advertisements (1718-1795)2 1718 30 July 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, from Mrs. MARY HALES in Temple-Lane, Kingston, a creole Negro wench, marked on the right shoulder W, called by the name of NANNE. She had on a white petticoat, an oznaburg jacket, a white handkerchief. Whoever brings her to the aforesaid Mrs. Hales, or to the Printers, shall be well rewarded, or whoever retains her be it at their peril. 30 July 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, from Mrs. DRAKES a yellow Negro wench, named ROSE, marked L C upon her right shoulder. Whoever brings the said Negro to her mistress shall be well rewarded, and whoever entertains her be it at their peril. 30 July 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, from Mr. DANIEL PLOWMAN sometime in April last from his penn in the parish of St. Catherine, a Negro GIRL marked D and ◊ and P on her breast. And since that time on Friday last the 11th of this instant, three Negro men-boys [MAN] [MAN] [MAN],3 and a GIRL with the same mark, have run away. Whosoever shall bring the said Negroes to the owner, living in Spanish Town, or secures them that they may be recovered, shall be very well rewarded and their charges paid. Whosoever shall detain them be it at their peril. 1 The original research was funded in part by an Aubrey Keith Lucas and Ella Ginn Lucas Endowment for Faculty Excellence Award, University of Southern Mississippi. 2 Newspaper abbreviations: Cornwall Chronicle [CC]; Jamaica Mercury [JM]; Royal Gazette [RG]; Weekly Jamaica Courant [WJC]. 3 The colloquial term for “teenagers.” 2 30 July 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, this month past, from WILLIAM ASSAM of Spanish Town, a Negro man slave named OXFORD, formerly belonging to Dr. JOHN STEWART, full-set, thick and short, aged about 20, and marked upon the left breast W A. Whoever secures the said slave shall be well rewarded and all charges paid. 30 July 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, from the estate of WILLIAM PUSEY, Esq., in Vere, a lusty Ebrow [Eboe] Negro man named JACK, of a pole black complexion, part of his nose cut off; also a lean Calamante [Coromantee] Negro boy named DARBY, marked W P that used to conceal himself about the Town, they both speak pretty good English. Whoever takes them up and gives notice to Matthias Philip of Kingston, so as they may be had, shall be reasonably rewarded. 5 August 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant A Negro man named HAM, marked on the right shoulder L C, belonging to the estate of Mr. LEONARD COMPERE, of the parish of St. David, and formerly hired to Mr. KIRBY, merchant in Kingston, in which place he is supposed to be, having lately run away. Whoever will take him up and bring him to the overseer of the said Estate, or to Richard Mill, Esq., of Kingston, shall have ten Shillings besides mile-money. 5 August 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, about eight months ago from Mrs. KATHERINE PICKARD in Kingston, a Malagascar Negro named JAMAICA, and P. AMERICA, marked on the right shoulder W K. Whoever brings them to their aforesaid mistress shall have thirty Shillings for each of them. Whoever entertains them be it at their peril. 5 August 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, about four months ago from Mrs. ANN MARSH at Withy-wood, a Caramote [Coromantee] Negro WOMAN, with a BOY about 5 years old, her feet seems to be very much swelled, having several scars in her neck, a tall black wench. Whoever discovers her, so that she may be had again, shall be well rewarded. And whoever entertains her be it at their peril. 3 5 August 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, from GEORGE BULTEEL of Kingston, an Ebo Negro man named TOM, without any mark to be particularly known, save he wants a toe on each foot, and formerly belonged to Messieurs SHEAVE and FRY, but now to the said George Bulteel, as by bill of sale appears from the said Thomas Fry, dated the first of March last; and likewise a creole Negro boy named JEMMY, about 13 years of age, but no mark. Whoever shall bring the said Negro man to this said master shall have two Pistoles reward and reasonable charges, and for the boy ten Shillings. And whoever entertains them be it at their peril. 5 August 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, from Mr. KNIGHT’s penn in Liguanea, a young Pappaw [Popo] Negro man named BADU, he speaks good English and is marked on the right shoulder K. He was met about ten days since, going to leeward, and pretended he was sent by his master to fetch cattle. Whoever secures him, so that he be had again, shall have forty Shillings reward. 5 August 1718 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away from JOHN CLARKE, Esq., of Liguanea, a Negro man commonly called DOCTOR SAM, supposed to be in the town of Kingston. Whoever gives notice of him to his master aforesaid, so as he may be had again, shall have three Pounds reward and charges. 1719 10 February 1718/19 [1719] Weekly Jamaica Courant Kingston Whereas the Negro slaves following, viz., DUBLIN, PETER, FORTUNE, DICK, TONEY, TOBY, MINGO, KATEY and her son QUAW, MARY an Indian woman and her three CHILDREN, and PAPAW SARAH, formerly belonging to Mrs. PATRIDGE, and since in the possession of Mr. THOMAS STONE, late of the parish of St. Dorothy, Planter, dec., and now belonging to SAMUEL PAGE, Esq., have absconded themselves for several months, and all or most of them supposed to be entertained by Mr. THOMAS DOWNES, of the said parish of St. Dorothy, Planter, who several times treated with the said Samuel Page for a lease of them, but never concluded the same. These are therefore to give notice that if the said Negroes shall, within ten days from this day, return home to their said master Samuel Page, their past faults shall be forgiven them, or if any person other than the said Mr. Downes, shall bring the said Negroes to Mr. Larson, Marshal, at Spanish-Town, he shall receive twenty Shillings per head over and above the mile-money due (the children and Toby the coach-man, to Joshua Bowes, Esq., only 4 excepted) [sic] and whoever entertains them, or any of them for the future, will be prosecuted according to law. S. PAGE. 10 April 1719 Weekly Jamaica Courant Kingston Run away, from JOHN PRICE a mariner, of Port Royal, a Coromantine [Coromantee] Negro woman named VENUS, she is low of stature, and speaks good English; by intelligence she has hired herself in Kingston. Any person that shall bring the aforesaid Negro, or give intelligence of her to her aforesaid master, so that she may be taken in custody, shall have twenty Shillings reward, but whomsoever detains or hires her, be it at their peril. JOHN PRICE. 15 April 1719 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, on Saturday last the 11th instant, from CHARLES GREEN a joiner in Kingston, a mulatto man named JOSEPH KEHERN, aged about 19, an apprentice. Whoever gives notice of him to his master aforesaid, so as he be had again, shall have twenty Shillings reward and mile- money, and those that entertain him shall incur the penalty of the act in force for that purpose. 1721 28 June 1721 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, from a Penn near Halfway Tree in Liguanea lately belonging to Dr. MASON on Sunday last, the 25th of this instant June, two new Callabar Negro men [MAN] [MAN], marked H W on the left shoulder. Whoever takes them up and brings them to Mr. William Hayman, shall have a Pistole reward for each Negro. 28 June 1721 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, some time ago from Capt. JOHN DOWNES in St. Thomas in the East, a Negro man named SAMBO, he is tall and slender, and is marked H D and ◊ injoined in one, on the left breast. Whoever takes him up shall have twenty Shillings reward, also the same for taking up the mulatto [MAN] [who] was noted down in the former Courant. 28 June 1721 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, from JAMES ROBER of Kingston on Sunday last, the 25th of June instant, a lusty 5 Negro wench, of a middle age, named BENNIBO. Whoever apprehends her to her master aforesaid shall have ten Shillings reward and charges. 1726 22 March 1726 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, from WILLIAM TOWNSHEND, Esq., about fourteen weeks, a slim Coromantee wench named PHIDELA with a large sucking CHILD, marked W T in one on the right shoulder, and formerly belonged to Mrs. LESSEL, dec. Whoever brings her to her master aforesaid shall be handsomely rewarded, but be it to their peril that entertain her. 22 March 1726 Weekly Jamaica Courant Run away, from WILLIAM WYLLYS, Esq., of the parish of St. Thomas in the East, two Negro women; one named PHILLIS, a short thick Angola wench, goes a little lamish, has some long cuts on each side her face and has been gone about six months; the other a Caramantine [Coromantee] named HAGAR, marked on the right breast W with a ◊ in one, and had on when she went away a pair of pothooks; they both speak good English and are supposed to be harboured about Kingston. Whoever brings either of them to Richard Done in Kingston, or their master aforesaid, shall receive twenty Shillings for each; but be it to their peril that detain or either of them [sic].