April
1832:
Tom escapes from Senator George Poindexter in Washington, D.C. to join
his wife in Ohio
250
Dollars
Reward.
The subscriber will give the above reward for the apprehension and delivery
to him, in this city, of his mulatto man slave, named Tom, who eloped from
his service, without the slightest provocation, on the 23d of April last.
He will give one hundred and fifty dollars if said slave is secured in
any jail in the United States, so that he is thereby enabled to reclaim
him.
Tom
is a tall dark mulatto, upwards of six feet high, straight built, and
not inclined to be fleshy. At the time of his elopement, he wore large
black whiskers, which, I am informed, he has since shaved off. His
dress, as my coachman, was a livery of dark gray cloth, with a red
cape and cuffs on the coat; red cassimere waistcoat, and grey cloth
pantaloons. He has also a drab great coat, and other clothing not particularly
recollected. These articles of clothing he will probably change to
prevent detection.
I
have been informed that he went off with a free mulatto woman, who
furnished him with the free papers of her husband, whose name is Washington
Williams. With these papers, and by this name, it is probable that
he will attempt to pass, but of this I am not certain. He was born
and raised in Albemarle county, in Virginia, but it is believed that
he will attempt to pass through Pennsylvania into Ohio, as his wife,
a free mulatto woman, was sent by him to Cincinnati a few years past,
with the intention of seeking some opportunity to follow her. He smiles
when spoken to, speaks very softly, and has a deceitful countenance.
He is very artful and cunning, and will no doubt use every precaution
to avoid detection.
Besides
the above mentioned reward, I will pay all reasonable expenses of his
transportation to this city, or to my plantation in Mississippi, from
any place at which he may be taken.
Geo.
Poindexter.
Washington, JUne 6.
Source:
Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, D.C.),
Wednesday, 22 August 1832. |
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Notes:
George Poindexter was serving in the U.S. Senate from Mississippi at
the time that Tom escaped. Prior to his senatorial service, Poindexter
served as the Governor of Mississippi from 1820-1822.
Covering
the history of African Americans in central Pennsylvania from the colonial
era through the Civil
War.
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