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Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon), Williamsburg, March 7, 1771.
FIVE POUNDS REWARD.
RUN away from the Sloop Tryal, in Rappahannock River, on the second of December last, a
bright Mulatto Man Slave named SAM, the Property of Mr. Charles Yates of Fredericksburg,
who bought him last May of Colonel Warner Lewis of Gloucester County, since which Time he
has been constantly with me, until he ran off. He is about twenty five Years old, six Feet two
Inches high, strong limbed, well made, and a very likely Fellow; he has a Scar on his Forehead
over one of his Eyes, I think it is the left, some Colour in his Cheeks when warm, and has a long
Shock of Wool on his Head, which he often shears about the Crown. He was bred partly to the
Plantation and Farming Business, and sometimes, as he informed me, was employed as an Axe
Man and Sawer, about Ship building. His Dress was such as Sailors wear, and was imported ready
made, an under Jacket of spotted Swanskin, or Cotton, and is too short for him in the Arms; he
had also a milled double Yarn Cap, of two Colours, and took with him his Bedding, a new spotted
Rug which he had stolen, and several Yards of mixed coloured Broadcloth, cut from a whole
Piece that he had stolen, the Remainder of which he distributed amongst the Sloop's Crew to bribe
them to Secrecy. His Thefts were certainly the Cause of his Flight, to avoid the Gallows; for he
was never punished whilst with me, nor ever complained, neither had he any Cause to be
dissatisfied at his Treatment and it is probable his Apprehensions will make him endeavour to
escape out of the Colony, under the Character of a Seaman. I have heard he was at Norfolk on
Christmas Day, and there pretended to have belonged to a Vessel lately wrecked on the Sea
Coast. With such a Story some Person in Want of Hands might be induced to engage him. Should
it have been so, any One knowing it shall be well rewarded for the Information; and, if he is yet in
the Colony, Whoever apprehends him shall receive FIVE POUNDS on Delivery to me, or to his
Master at Fredericksburg, besides what the law allows for conveying him from the Place where he
is taken up. STAFFORD LIGHTBURN, Junior.
Notes
- Reprint: Windley, vol. 1, pp. 91-92.
- More Information: advertised in Rind, March 7, 1771. See #v1771030642.
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