Study Areas

Slavery

The Year of Jubilee (1863)

Summer 1775: Cuff and Penn Escape from Cecil County Enslaver Thomas Savin

SIXTEEN DOLLARS REWARD.
RAN AWAY the 8th day of May last, from the subscriber, living at Elk Ferry, in Cæcil county, Maryland, a negro man, named CUFF, who rowed in the ferry boat at said ferry; he is about five feet three or four inches high, a strait well set fellow, with thick lips, and the letter R marked on one of his cheeks, he has had a scall'd head, which he commonly keeps covered, is artful, and talks a little in the negro dialect: He had on when he went away, a lead coloured jacket and breeches, oznabrigs shirt, old stockings, and no shoes.

Likewise ran-away on the 19th of August instant, a negroe man, named PENN, he is about five feet 6 or 7 inches high, country born, well set, very talkative, and may probably make a great shew of religion, he is a black small eyed fellow: Had on and took with him, a country cloth light coloured upper jacket, a dark flowered flannel under ditto, patched check shirt, an oznabrigs ditto, one pair of tarry canvass trowsers, one pair of oznabrigs ditto, an old small brimmed tarry hat, old shoes, and carved brass buckles; said negro ran away some years ago, and passed himself for a free man by the name of JAMES PEMBERTON, and got a forged pass signed Thomas Franklin, of Baltimore County, Maryland, on account of which he was employed by one Meredith, a tanner, near Correll's Ferry, and afterwards indented himself to another Meredith, a currier in Philadelphia, and as he has been to New York with said Meredith, he may now be making that way; both or either of them, as they have many acquaintances may probably get forged passes. Whoever takes up said negroes and secures them, so that their master may have them again, shall have the above reward, or EIGHT DOLLARS for either of them.
THOMAS SAVIN.

Notes

The man Cuff was probably born in Africa. He is not described by Savin as "country born," meaning born in the American colonies, and he still speaks an African language. It is apparent he has had a difficult life. He bears scars on his head from a severe scalding. The scars are prominent and ugly enough that he keeps them covered. Cuff is branded on his cheek with an "R." This is a punishment for escape attempts that is spelled out in a 1751 Maryland colonial slave law. Cuff's current escape attempt has allowed him to be at large for four months so far, a good sign he is succeeding.

Penn, who was "country born" had escaped several years prior to this recent event, but was recaptured. Savin recounts Penn's earlier attempt wherein he changed his name to James Pemberton and worked for tanners and curriers in Pennsylvania. The Maryland enslaver notes that both men "have many acquaintances" that are sources of support in thier bids for freedom, including the ability to supply forged passes, a crucial component of success for freedom seekers.

Additional Notes

Elk Ferry was an important crossing point of the Elk River in pre-revolutionary Maryland. It connected Oldfield Point at Elk Head to Courthouse Point, named for the establishment of the county court at that location. The ferry landing at Oldfield Point is also where British commander Lord Cornwallis landed trooops at the start of the Philadelphia campaign in August 1777.

Correll's Ferry is Coryell's Ferry, located on the Delaware River connecting Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Pennsylvania landing is in New Hope in modern day Bucks County. During this time it was operated by innkeeper John Coryell.

Covering the history of African Americans in central Pennsylvania from the colonial era through the Civil War.

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