The Geography of Slavery

Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon),
Williamsburg, January 15, 1767.

WILLIAMSBURG, JAN. 14, 1766 [1767] RUN from the Subscriber's plantation in Albemarle county, a tall slim Negro fellow, named GEORGE; he is marked in the face as the Gold Coast slaves generally are, had the usual clothing of labouring Negroes, and is supposed to be harboured at some of the plantations on Cary's creek, in Goochland county. Also run away from the subscriber's quarter called Westham, in Henrico county, another Negro fellow, named ROBIN: he is very tall slim and of a thin visage having lost some of his teeth; he formerly belonged to Col. Benjamin Harrison of Berkeley, and is supposed to be gone in the neighbourhood of his plantation on Nottoway river, where he formerly lived. Whoever will convey the former Negro to Mr. Lucas Powell in Albemarle, and the latter to William Walker at Westham, shall receive FORTY SHILLINGS for each of them, besides what is allowed by law. As I have been always tender of my slaves, and particularly attentive to the good usage of them, I hope wherever these fellows may be apprehended that they will receive such moderate correction as will deter them from running away for the future; and wherever any of my Negroes are taken up as runaways, I desire the favour of the magistrate, who may be applied to for a certificate, to order them back to their respective overseers, instead of sending them to me in this city, RO. C. NICHOLAS.

Notes