Suspected Fugitive Slaves Imprisoned in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Newspaper Notices of Persons Held in the Chester County Jail as Escaped Slaves

• Captured man speaks little or no English
  "NOTICE is hereby given,
  THAT there is in Chester County Goal a Negro Man, supposed to be about 30 Years of Age, who cannot tell where or to whom he belongs; for he speaks little or no English."
  Source: The American Weekly Mercury (Philadelphia), 24 November 1737.
  Notes: The brief description of this imprisoned man suggests that he was newly brought into the Province of Pennsylvania, probably from one of the Caribbean islands.
• Ben, captured between Marcus Hook and Chester, will be sold
  "WAS taken up between Marcus-Hook and Chester, a Negro Man named BEN, says he lately belonged to one Wilson, in Water-street, Philadelphia: He is now in Chester gaol. His owner is desired to come, prove his property, pay charges and take him away, otherwise he will be sold for his fees, this being the second time he has been advertised.
  ROBERT SMITH, Sheriff."
  Source: Dunlap and Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser, 11 February 1779.
  Notes: Ben's enslaver is Philadelphia merchant Philip Wilson, whose place of business in the late 1770s was on Water Street. Wilson had placed an escape ad in local newspapers after Ben's October 1778 escape.
• Dick, slave to James Dick, New Castle County, Delaware
  "WAS committed to the gaol for Chester county, the 6th inst. A NEGRO MAN, who calls himself DICK, and acknowledges he is a slave to Mr. James Dick, living in Dragon Neck, in New Castle county, in the State of Delaware. His master is hereby requested to come, in eight weeks from the date hereof, prove property, and take him away, otherwise he will be discharged at the expiration of that time, on paying his fees.
  BENJAMIN MILLER, Gaoler.
  Jan. 8."
  Source: Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia), 18 January 1797
• John, slave to William Bowen, St. Mary's, Maryland
  "RUNAWAY NEGRO.
  WAS committed to the gaol of Chester county, on the 8th day of November last, and still remains there, a negro man who calls himself JOHN, and says his master's name is William Bowen and lives in St. Mary's county, Maryland. He is about 5 feet 10 inches high, rather slender built, has thick lips, flat nose, and open countenance, and is rather sooty complexioned -- he says he is 24 years old. His master or mistress is hereby notified that on proving him to be their property, and paying the costs, they may take him away.
  JESSE JOHN, Sheriff.
  West Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania, 16 Jan. 1806."
  Source: Aurora General Advertiser (Philadelphia), 06 February 1806.

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