Frederick Chapman (b. circa 1818 - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-9403
Fled from slavery, Prince George's County, Maryland, 1838
Biography:
Frederick Chapman was the first of several slaves attempting to excape from Roderick McGregor in May of 1838. Within ten days McGregor had two more of his slaves, Henry Buchannan and Tom Vermillion, run away. Chapman, at age twenty, left McGregor's residence, near Upper Marlboro, and McGregor placed a warning to all "Owners of fish boats, captains of steamboats, conductors of railroad cars"1 not to harbor Chapman should they come accross him. McGregor left wearing a domestic jacket and pants, a rather large and long dark overcoat and a black cap. McGregor suggested that the 5'8-5'10" Chapman could be recognized by a scar on his right collar bone. Frederick was purchased from the estate of the late Joseph Edelen, near Piscataway, Prince George's County. The reward for the capture of Frederick Chapman doubled from one hundred to two hundred dollars by the time he was advertised in the Daily National Intelligencer for the third time in May of 1838. On March 27, 1839, the reward for Chapman was set at four hundred dollars, and McGregor added that Chapman played the violin and was fond of strong drink. McGregor also claimed that Chapman had been employed on board some vessel on the Potomac, possibly a wood-craft. McGregor advertised for Chapman for well over a year, and there is no record that he was ever captured.
1. "One Hundred Dollars Reward," Daily National Intelligencer, 12 May 1838.
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