Virginia Gazette (Rind),
Williamsburg, April 14, 1774.
RUN away, from Neabsco furnace, the 16th of March, a light coloured mulatto man named BILLY, or WILL, the property of the honourable John Tayloe, esquire. When I tell the public that he is the same boy who for many years used to wait on me, in my travels through this and the neighbouring province, and by his pertness, or rather impudence, was well known to all my acquaintances, there is the less occasion for a particular description of him. However, as he is now grown to the size of a man, and has not attended me for some time past, I think it not amiss to say that he is a very likely young fellow, about 20 years old, 5 feet 9 inches high, stout and strong made, has a remarkable swing in his walk, but is much more so by a surprising knack he has of gaining the good graces of almost every body who will listen to his bewitching and deceitful tongue, which seldom or ever speaks the truth. He has a small scar on the right side of his forehead, and the little finger of his right hand is quite straight by a hurt he got when a child. Had on, when he went away, a blue fearnought jacket, and an under one of green baize, cotton breeches, oznabrig shirt, mixed blue sale stockings, country made shoes, and yellow buckles. From his ingenuity, he is capable of doing almost any sort of business, and for some years past has been chiefly employed as a founder, a stone mason, and a miller, as occasion required; one of which trades, I imagine, he will, in the character of a free man, profess. I have some reason to suspect his travelling towards James river, under the pretence of being sent by me on business. Whoever apprehends the said fellow, and brings him to me, or to his master, the honourable John Tayloe, at Mountairy, or secure him so as to be had again, shall have treble what the law allows, and all reasonable charges paid. THOMAS LAWSON.
Notes
- Reprint: not in Windley
- More Information: see Purdie & Dixon, April 14, 1774, in which reward is only double what the law allows.