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November 10, 1794: George Evan, a favorite waiter and personal servant, runs away from Georgetown.
50 Dollars Reward.
RAN away very unexpectedly from the Subscriber, on Saturday the 11th October,
A Mulatto man,
named George Evan, about 25 years old, 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, straight and well made he has long bushy black hair, which he commmonly wears qued, his cheek bones rather high, his laugh simple; he has always served as a waiter, was a favorite servant, and spoiled by his excessive indulgence, understands dressing and shaving, and plays well on the violin; he took with him a brown fustian coatee and jacket, bound with yellow silk serrett, a pair of light coloured sagathy breeches and half boots; as he had many other cloaths of cloth and light summer wear, it is probable he may change his dress, it is supposed he has crossed over into Virginia.
Whoever secures the above man shall receive the above reward, and reasonable charges if brought home.
All Masters of Vessels will receive him (onb)oard at their peril.
Marsham Waring.
George Town, in Columbia
Nov. 3
Notes: The slaveholder here appears to be the elder Marsham Waring (1754-1812), businessman and "gentleman" of Georgetown and Director of the Bank of Columbia. He was introduced to George Washington to help in the planning of the new capital. Waring had other slaves. When he moved from Georgetown to his estate in Prince George's County, he took along an 18-year-old enslaved Black man named Dick. In his will, dated 17 May 1812, he bequeathed to "Tom -favorite servant --to be free at the testator's death and the testator's executor to dispose of any property to pay debts in preference of Tom."
Waring initially advertised for George Evan's recovery in the Virginia Gazette and General Advertiser, on 16 October 1794, just days after George's disappearance. The only change in wording from the ad above is in the name. In the earlier ad he worded it: "a Mulatto man named George, by his acquaintances called George Evans."
Sources: Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia), 10 November, 1794, page 4; Virginia Gazette and General Advertiser, 16 October 1794; Prince George's County, MD, Will Book, Liber TT; 1808-1812; Folio 55, Marsham Waring.
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