On September 17, 1770, Jack, Joseph Homan’s enslaved man, escaped. Homan sought Jack’s capture by publishing descriptions of him in the Boston News-Letter and Essex Gazette for three consecutive issues each. All the advertisements read roughly the same as this from September 25th’s Essex Gazette: “Ranaway [sic] from the Subscriber, on the 17th Inst. At Night, a Negro Man, named Jack, about 6 feet high, near 50 years of age, speaks bad English, and Born in Martinico [Martinique]; had on when he went away, a blue Coat with Mohair Buttons, a blue Jacket with black Glass Buttons, blue Breeches with white metal Buttons, and a red worsted Cap, but may have changed his Cloaths [sic], as he had more at Beverly.-Whoever shall take up said Negro, and deliver him to Mr. Brown, Deputy-Sheriff, in Salem, shall have Two Dollars Reward, and all necessary Charges paid them. All Masters of Vessels, and others, are cautioned against carrying said Negro off, as they would avoid the Penalty of the Law. Joseph Homan. Marblehead, Sept. 22, 1770.”

Bibliography:

Boston News-Letter (published as The Massachusetts Gazette and the Boston Weekly News-Letter), September 27, 1770; October 4, 1770; October 18, 1770.

Essex Gazette, September 25, 1770; October 2, 1770; October 9, 1770.

Boston News-Letter_published as THE Massachusetts Gazette AND THE Boston Weekly News-Letter. October 4 1770

Boston News-Letter_published as THE Massachusetts Gazette AND THE Boston Weekly News-Letter. October 18 1770

Boston News-Letter_published as THE Massachusetts Gazette AND THE Boston Weekly News-Letter. September 27 1770

Essex Gazette, October 2 1770

Essex Gazette, October 9 1770

Essex Gazette, September 25 1770