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The Year of Jubilee (1863)

June 1828: Tom Strother escapes from Stafford County, Virginia and heads for a free state

Fifty Dollars Reward.
Ran away from the Subscriber on the morning of the 22d instant, Negro Tom, (who calls himself Tom Strother) about thirty years old, five feet eight or ten inches high, stout, and rather inclined to be fleshy, of dark complexion, nearly black, good features, and a general expression indicative of much archness; though polite, obedient, and even submissive in his manner when spoken to.

On the 16th instant he was apprehended by a patrol, and convicted of breaking open and stealing a parcel of wool from a granery, and legally punished by stripes, (as the least sentence that could await his crime). It is presumed the marks may still be found upon his person.

His ordinary clothing was a roundabout and pantaloons of blue twilled linsey, linen shirt, some new pantaloons of the same, such shoes as are usually worn by field servants, and a fur hat, much worn.

He was seen at 12 o'clock, on the day he left this place, at Chopawamsic, the residence of Wm. H. Fitzhugh, Esq. who owns his wife, but went off after a short pause, leaving little doubt of his intentions to escape to a free State, and most probably through Alexandria, Washington, &c. &c.

I will pay for his apprehension, by which I get him again, in the following manner: Ten Dollars if taken in the State of Virginia; Twenty, if in the District of Columbia, or State of Maryland; and Fifty if elsewhere; with all reasonable charges, if brought home, in either case. Owners or keepers of ferries, bridges, or vessels, are particularly warned against permitting the above fellow to pass.

R. O. Grayson.
Salvington, Stafford County, Va. June 27.

Source: Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, D.C.), Friday, 4 July 1828.

Covering the history of African Americans in central Pennsylvania from the colonial era through the Civil War.

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