Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Enslavement Data

Jailer's Notices of Captured Slaves

Published jailer notices provide information on local, state and out of state African Americans arrested and committed to the county jail as suspected escaped slaves. Enslavers of such persons, seeing the notices in regional newspapers, were expected to come to the jail, provide proof of ownership, and pay the costs associated with keeping, feeding, advertising, and filling out paperwork on the captured esapee.

Such notices provide valuable clues regarding the escape routes used by freedom seekers. They also illustrate the dangers faced by free Blacks traveling in areas where they were not known and arrested as suspected escaped slaves. Persons arrested and jailed under suspicion of being escaped slaves often faced months in prison due to delays by jailers in publishing notices, the allowance of weeks or months for potential enslavers to claim them, and the wait for court dates if no enslaver appeared to pay fees. In worst case instances, free Blacks who were unable to prove their free status could be sold back into enslavement by the county to recoup fees and costs.

• Name: William Heans
  Date of item: 07 March 1765
  Location: Carlisle
  Item: Notice of imprisonment of suspected escaped slave who claims he is free.
  Details/Text: "WAS Committed to Carlisle Goal, in Cumberland County, the 28th of January last, on Suspicion of being a Runaway, a likely Negroe Fellow, about 25 Years of Age, very thick and strong built, about 6 Feet high, calls himself William Heans, says he is a free Man, and that he was born in St. Mary's, in Maryland. His Master (if any) is desired to come and take him away, otherwise he will be sold for his Fees, by HENRY CUNNINGHAM, Goaler"
  Notes:
  Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 07 March 1765.

• Name: Daniel Edwards
  Date of item: 24 January 1767
  Location: Carlisle
  Item: Notice of imprisonment of suspected escaped slave who claims he is free.
  Details/Text: "Carlisle Goal, Cumberland County, Jan. 24, 1767.
  NOW in said Goal, on Suspicion of being Runaways, the two following described Fellows, viz. Daniel Edwards, a Molattoe, near six Feet high, a very stout well built Fellow, about 35 Years of Age, plays on the Fiddle, says he is a free Man, and was born in the City of Boston. James Sweney, a young slim Lad, says he belongs to, and run away from, Stephen Mendenhall, of New-Castle County, near Wilmington. Their Masters (if any they have) are hereby notified to come and take them away, otherwise they will be sold out for their Fees within six Weeks from the Date hereof, by HENRY CUNNINGHAM, Goaler."
  Notes: Edwards, who claimed he was free, was jailed along with an escaped young white man named James Sweney.
  Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 12 February 1767.