Run away...Nell, who formerly belonged to Robert J. Livingston

Title

Run away...Nell, who formerly belonged to Robert J. Livingston

Description

A black woman named Nell ran away from slaveholder Isaac Kingsland in Bergen County. Her master's ad mentions that Nell formerly belonged to Robert J. Livingston, a New York merchant. Isaac Kingsland describes the clothing Nell wore and took with her when she escaped. Kingsland offers a reward of 40 shillings for Nell's capture and warns neighbors and sea captains not to harbor or transport Nell away from New Jersey.

Date

1753-04-23

Language

English

Source

Graham Russell Hodges and Alan Edward Brown, eds., “Pretends to Be Free”: Runaway Slave Advertisements from Colonial and Revolutionary New York and New Jersey (New York: Garland, 1994), 45, item 103.

Text (Transcript)

Run away the 12th Instant April, from ISAAC KINGSLAND of Saddle River, in Bergen County, East New Jersey, a Negro Wench named Nell, who formerly belonged to Robert J. Livingston, Merchant in New York: she is a tall slim Wench, has three Diamonds in her face, one on each side and the other on her Forehead: had on and taken with her when she went away, three Petticoats, one is an old quilted one, and the other two homespun, one striped and the other mixed a blue and white striped short gown, a bluish homespun Waistcoat, and an Ozenbrigs shirt, with Homespun sleeves, a short blue cloke, a new pair of Blue Stockings, a pair of old crooked shoes, and several other Things too tedious to mention. These are therefore to Forewarn all Masters of Vessels and others, of carrying off, concealing or harbouring said Wench, as they will answer it at their peril with the utmost Rigour of the Law· Whoever takes up the foremention'd Negroe, and secures her in any Goal, so that her master can have her again, shall have Forty Shillings reward, and all reasonable charges paid by ISAAC KINGSLAND.

Publication

Place of publication

Geolocation

Citation

Kingsland, Isaac, “Run away...Nell, who formerly belonged to Robert J. Livingston,” Scarlet and Black Digital Archive, Rutgers University, accessed March 28, 2024, https://scarletandblack.rutgers.edu/archive/items/show/3.