Sophia (b. circa 1822 - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-51904
Fled from Slavery, Dorchester County, Maryland, 1824
Biography:
Sophia was born around 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland.1 Her owner, Robert Dennis, esq., owned a plantation near Vienna. Sophia was one of eight slaves to flee from Dorchester County around "the Easter Holydays" in 1824.2 Her mother, Patience, was involved in the escape attempt. Patience, along with her husband, Levin, were actively involved in the plot to escape, which also included Sophia's five year old sister, Anne Maria. Sophia was described as "about two years old and now at the breast."3 The executor for Dennis, Clement Stanford, made a strong public effort to have this group of slaves apprehended on November 13, 1824. Stanford had the same advertisement posted in the "Patriot, Baltimore; Star, Easton, Md. - Emporium, Trenton, N.J. and National Gazette, Philadelphia."4 Stanford appeared to focus his efforts in Baltimore and northern cities where many slaves were fleeing to seek their freedom.
Stanford offered a reward of $750 dollars "to any person or persons, who may apprehend said negroes and secure them in jail or otherwise, so that the subscriber gets them again, or 75 dollars for each one secured."5 On January 1, 1825, two months after the original advertisement, Stanford increased the reward amount to $1000 for all slaves.6 However, he offered another stipulation: "100 dollars for each man, or 50 for the woman and each of the children."7 Most runaway advertisements from slave owners generally placed a higher value placed on male slaves. Patience sought to freedom for not only herself, but also for her two children.
1. "$750 Reward." Cambridge Chronicle. November 13, 1824.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. "One Thousand Dollars Reward." Cambridge Chronicle. January 1, 1825.
7. Ibid.
Return to Sophia's Introductory Page
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