Enslavementto
freedom
A series of pages exploring various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Enslavement Data
Jailer's Notices of Captured Slaves
Published jailer notices provide information on local, state and out of state African Americans arrested and committed to the county jail as suspected escaped slaves. Enslavers of such persons, seeing the notices in regional newspapers, were expected to come to the jail, provide proof of ownership, and pay the costs associated with keeping, feeding, advertising, and filling out paperwork on the captured esapee.
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Name: Tamor Norwood
Date of item: 30 July 1811
Location: Harrisburg Borough
Item: Notice of escape
Details/Text: "10 Dollars Reward.
ESCAPED from the gaol in this town, on Monday last, a black woman named
TAMOR NORWOOD,
aged about 30 years; very thin built, about five feet two inches high; had on when she escaped, an old faded calico gown nearly white, and a large pair of hoop'd earrings -- She has a down, dejected countenance, a great talker and very fond of smoaking -- She has a husband named Isaac Norwood, residing at Sunbury. The above reward and reasonable charges will be paid to any one taking up and securing said runaway, so that I can get her again.
SAMUEL ELDER
Gaoler of Dauphin County.
Harrisburgh, July 30, 1811."
Notes: Tamor's reason for being jailed is not specified. Note also that Tamor has a husband in Sunbury, Northumberland County.
Source: The Oracle of Dauphin, 03 August 1811.Name: Francis Deneman
Date of item: 08 August 1811
Location: Harrisburg Borough
Item: Notice of escape
Details/Text: "Twenty Dollars Reward.
ESCAPED over the prison wall yesterday evening, a black man named
Francis Deneman,
a convict at hard labor, aged about 40 years, about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, very black and has a remarkable sullen behavior and appearance, and is very stout and strong made, much marked with the small pox, and has uncommon thick lips.
Had on when he escaped, a red flannel sailor's jacket, ley colored tow trowsers, an old wool hat and a coarse linen shirt.
The above reward and every reasonable charge will be paid for securing said convict, so that i get him again.
SAMUEL ELDER,
Gaoler of Dauphin county.
Harrisburgh, August 8, 1811.
N.B. It is expected that he is now in company with a negro woman who made her escape last week."
Notes: Jailer Elder believes that Deneman has joined up with the escaped Tamor Norwood, advertised a week previously (see entry above).
Source: The Oracle of Dauphin, 17 August 1811.