Negro Convict Escape, VA 1862 Richmond

Linda Davis  honeychi@flash.net

"I have a old newspaper;

Daily Richmond Examiner dated June 3, 1862. In this paper I found the following regarding slaves and freedmen.

	'The Following Free Negro and Slave Convicts who made their escape from the custody of their guard at Drary's Bluff on Friday night the 30th of May 1862 viz;

	GEORGE FOLSOM, sentenced by the County Court of Accomac to 5 years imprisonment in the penitenitary of Virginia for house breaking and larceny, was rec'd the 16th of June 1860. he is 5'11 1/2" high, 27 years old dark color, black hair and eyes and a scar on the outside of his left leg oppisite the knee joint.

	CHARLES FOREMAN, sentenced by the county court of Glouster county to 5 years inprisonment for burglery. He was rec'd the 10th day of June 1861, is 24 years old mulatto, black hair and eyes one small scar on the thumb and forefinger of his right wrist and one on his left wrist and one on the left side of the hand.

	ROBERT, a slave, comdemmed by the Hastings Court to sale and transportation for attempting to kill a white man. He is 26 years old, 5 ft 4 inchs high, two scars one on each side of the left shin just below the knee and one on the right wrist bone where it joins the hand. Rec'd here the 21th of Nov 1859.

	HENRY, condemmed by the county Court of Halifax to sale and transport for killing his wife, rec'd Dec 7, 1859. He is a mulatto, black hair and eyes, 34 years old 5 '5 small scar on the right side of the forehead, one small scar on the left cheek and one small scar on the right hand just above the first joint on the thumb finger.

	GEORGE, condemmed by the Hastings court of Richmond City to sale and transport for burglary. He was rec'd July 26th 1858, is 23 years old, 5'5" high, black complexion,black hair and eyes. Small scar on each arm above the wrist, small bumps on each side of the face over the jawbone, somewhat like warts, mostly on the right side.

	PHIL, condemmed by the County Court of James City to sale and transportation for burglary and larceny, and rec'd here the 4th day of Feb 1862. He is 23 years old 5'3 1/2", black color hair and eyes. A small on the left shin. To be returned to the penitenitary to Col James Pendleton.'

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Also in this same paper is:

	'$50 REWARD -Ran away on the night of Sunday last the 26th inst. 5 negros cutting wood in Chesterfield Co for the Virginia Iron Manufacturing Co.

	CARTER, is about 35 years old, abt 5' 7" and of gingerbread color 

	ARCHER, is abt 30 years of age, abt 6' high, very black, thick lips, and has a feminime voice.

	JACOB, is abt 28, 5'6", yellow and quite stout. 

	WILLIAM, is abt 25 years of age is nearly 6' high and speaks in a low tone.

	WALKER is 45, 6' of a gingerbread color and inclined to stoop while walking.

	A reward of $10.00 a piece will be paid for each one of the above if delivered to either to Mr J.D Gardner at Friend's farm in Chesterfield Count or to M P O'Neil at Westham Iron Works, lock #3 J R and A Canal.

		THOMAS H WINN, President and agent, 
		Virginia Iron Works

I hope they all made it away."

Contributed by: spice3@juno.com (Susan S. Buckley)