Jack (b. circa 1807 - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-51911
Fled from Slavery, Dorchester County, Maryland, 1825
Biography:
Jack was born a slave in Dorchester County, Maryland around 1807.1 As a slave, Jack was owned by Levin Keene, a property owner in Dorchester County at the head of Hungar River. Jack was formerly owned by Robert Wyvell, who lived near New Market. Ownership of Jack was transferred to Keene after the death of Wyvell. The Monday night of March 21, 1825, Jack ran away from Keene's farm. Keene made an attempt to reclaim his slave by posting a runaway advertisement in the Cambridge Chronicle on April 2, 1825. Keene described Jack as having a "yellow complexion, talks fast, and can tell a very plausible story, dress a lie and give it a good appearance; he has followed the water several years, and has been in the coasting business."2 Keene made a strong attempt to locate Jack by highlighting Jack's interest and insinuating that he may have escaped from slavery via the water by boat. Keene continued his description of Jack by stating that "he is spare made, about five feet high, and had on when he went away, a kersey jacket and trowsers, tow linen shirt, yarn stockings and old shoes."3
Keene headlined the ad with a "forty dollar reward"
for Jack. For the person who apprehended him, Keene would pay a
"reward of ten dollars if out of the county, twenty dollars if out of
the state, and forty dollars to be paid on the delivery."4 Keene also warned that "all persons are forbid harboring or taking said boy on board of any vessel."5
Jack seemed to have a knowledge of the waterways and the
"coasting business," which is why Keene felt obligated to forewarn all
potential harborers. Keene noted that the runaway advertisement
was to repeat until Jack was found.
Endnotes:
1. "Forty Dollars Reward." Cambridge Chronicle. April 2, 1825.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2014.
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