Delaware County, Pennsylvania Slaveholders I - N

RAN away from the subscriber, about three weeks ago, A Negroe man, named JOHN BEARD, about 35 years old, 5 feet 10 inches high, of a yellow complexion, has a halt in his walk, occasioned by his right leg having been broke, plays on the fiddle, sings very well, and is much addicted to liquor. He is a good farmer, is very handy, and can make baskets. Had on, when he went away, a brown short jacket with light coloured sleeves, and overhalls of the same, a pair of new shoes, a coarse shirt, and an old wool hat. He is supposed to be gone to Bucks county or the Jersies, and will probably try to pass for a free man. Whoever takes up said Negroe man, and brings him to his master, or secures him in any gaol, shall have FOUR DOLLARS reward, and all reasonable charges, paid by
FRANCIS LEE. Jan. 16, 1790.

SIX DOLLARS Reward.
RAN AWAY from the subscriber, about two years ago, a Negroe MAN, named JOHN BEARD, he is about 45 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high; he is much addicted to liquor, and has a halt in his walk, occasioned by his right leg being broke; he is an exceeding good farmer, and understands playing on the violin very well, he is supposed to be in Bucks county, as he has been seen there lately. Whoever brings home the said Negroe to his master, living in Haverford township, Delaware county, ten miles from Philadelphia, shall have EIGHT DOLLARS reward, or if lodged in any goal, and information given, shall have SIX DOLLARS and all reasonable charges, paid by the subscriber.
FRANCIS LEE. February 23d, 1793.

RUN away on the 13th of September last from Abraham Lincoln of Springfield in the County of Chester, a Negro Man named Jack, about 30 Years of Age, low Stature, speaks little or no English, has a Scar by the Corner of one Eye, in the Form of a V, his Teeth notched, and the Top on one of his Fore Teeth broke:
He had on when he went away an old Hat, a grey Jacket partly like a Sailor's Jacket. Whoever secures the said Negro, and brings him to his Master, or to Mordecai Lincoln living among the Upper Inhabitants on Skuylkill, or to William Branson in Philadelphia, shall have Twenty Shillings Reward and reasonable Charges.

"Abraham Johnson, a Negro slave belonging to Humphrey Marshall was arraigned on an information exhibited by Benjamin Chew, Attorney General, charging the defendant with 'murdering a certain negro man named Glascow, the slave of Alexander Boyd.' For the first time in the legal history of the Commonwealth, so far as I have knowledge, it was in this case that the Court assigned Counsel for the defense. In this instance, it was Joseph Galloway, one of the foremost lawyers of his day, ... it was a lucky assignment for Johnson, since, as the record reads, the 'Court finds the defendant not guilty of murder but that he is guilty of homicide di defend,' and thereupon, discharged the prisoner from arrest on the information, but held him for payment of costs."

"A special session of the Court was held March 1, 1770 before Judges William Parker and Richard Riley at which Negro Martin the slave of Thomas Martin was convicted of an attempted attack on a white woman. He was sentenced to thirty-nine lashes 'to be branded with the letter R on his forehead,' and to be exported out of the Province by his master within six months on pain of death to the slave. This time was allowed so that his master might find a purchaser for his chattel, but the branding was done in open Court in the presence of the judges. High Sheriff, Jesse Maris, or his deputy, heated the iron on portable furnace and the prisoner being bound, the red hot brand was applied to the flesh and held there, notwithstanding the agonizing screams of the victim, until the letter 'R' had been indelibly affixed."

RUN away, on the 27th of November last, from Philadelphia, a young Mulatto slave, name'd Jack, but is generally known by the name of John Powell; he is about 5 feet 6 inches high, much pitted with the small-pox, has a large scar on his leg, and a blemish on the end of one of his fingers from a whitloe; he is well-set, left-handed, a cooper by trade, and took with him some tools, as also a fiddle, on which he often plays; he speaks good English, is a saucy forward fellow, and addicted to drinking. No certain description can be given of his clothing. Whoever secures the said slave, so that his master may get him again, shall have Two Pistoles reward, from MORDECAI MOORE, in New-Town, Chester County.