PA County Index

PA Enslavement FAQs

A series of pages exploring
various aspects of enslavement in Pennsylvania

Northumberland County

Miscellaneous Enslavement Items

Enslaved Persons in Items Below

1. Brit, escaped from New Jersey to Shamokin or Wyoming

Enslavement Items

• Name: Brit or Britt
  Sex: Male
  Age: "about 30 years of age" varies with version of ad
  Date of Birth: circa 1739
  Slave Status: Self-emancipated
  Description: "Negroe man slave"
  Notes: Britt first appears in escape ads in 1769:

  TWENTY DOLLARS Reward, for taking up and delivering to his master, at Elizabeth Town, a negroe man slave, named BRITT, this country born, about 30 years of age, near 6 feet high, a well set fellow; or Ten Dollars will be given, if taken up and secured in Northampton goal, so that his master, the Subscriber, may have him again; he was formerly the property of Nathaniel Salmon of Springfield, in the borough of Elizabeth, Essex county, and province of New Jersey, who was taken in execution by William Barnett, Sheriff of said borough and county, and was sold at public vendue, for the benefit of said Salmon's creditors, unto the Subscriber, and is supposed to be taken off by his former master, and gone to Lahnawanack or Wyoming, as he was seen, with said Salmon, travelling on that road. These are therefore to forewarn all persons from habouring, entertaining, or buying said Negroe, on their peril, as they may depend on being prosecuted, as the law directs (in such cases) for detaining, or keeping said slave from his master's service. JACAMIAH SMITH.

  Jacamiah Smith again advertised for this man in 1771 as follows:

  TWENTY DOLLARS Reward.
  RUN away about 18 months since, from Springfield, near Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, a certain negroe man, named Brit: He is about 30 years old, near 6 feet high, stout and well made: He was taken by execution at the suit of Elias Desbrosses, Esq; of New York, and sold at vendue by the Sheriff of Essex County, and purchased by Jecamiah Smith. The said fellow is supposed to be harboured at Wyoming, by his former master, Nathaniel Salmon. All persons therefore are forbid to harbour or entertain said negroe, and any person that will take him up, and bring him to the subscriber, shall have the above reward, or 10 dollars if taken and sent to any goal in the Province of Pennsylvania, New Jersey or New York, so that he may be had.
  JECAMIAH SMITH.

  Smith must have recovered Brit, but the man got away again on 13 March 1773. The slaveholder, Jacamiah Smith, then placed the following runaway ad:

  THIRTY DOLLARS Reward.
  RUN away from the subscriber, the 13th of March last, a Negroe man slave, named Brit, is the same fellow that the Salmons has had at Wyoming for 3 years, he is a very stout well made fellow, near 6 feet high, about 33 years of age; had on, when he went away, a red great coat, half worn, a blue coat, and a blue kersey jacket, with flat white metal buttons, buckskin breeches, black and white stockings; he can read and write, and it is supposed he will forge a pass. Whoever will secure him in Philadelphia or Easton goals, so that his master may get him again, shall have the above reward, and all reasonable charges for bringing him to the subscriber, near Elizabeth Town, in New Jersey. Whoever takes him up are desired to be very careful in pinioning him, as he will undoubtedly make his escape if he can. All persons are forbid harbouring or entertaining said slave, as they will do it at their peril; he is supposed to be gone in the back parts of Pennsylvania, to Shamokin or Wyoming, where he is well known; he was seen to cross Delaware the Monday after he run away. JACAMIAH SMITH.

  Date of Record: 7 April 1773
  Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 26 October 1769; 7 April 1773

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