Researching a Runaway Slave Database, compiled of classified advertisements in the Arkansas Gazette, reveals evidence of physical abuse, the intellectual capacity, foresight and planning, and marketable skills among runaway slaves.
Physical Abuse of Runaway Slaves
Roughly forty percent of the ads in the Runaway Slave Data Base of the Arkansas Gazette indicate what could be interpreted as physical abuse towards the slaves. A few were ‘cropped,’ the practice of cutting off a body part, usually a portion of the ear. This was instituted as a punishment by the French when they ruled the lower Mississippi Region in the 18th century. The website, Mississippi Slave Laws Summary and Record – Slavery in America, states: “The French introduced some extremely barbaric measures to punish wayward blacks. The Code Noir called for cropping ears, branding, and the hamstringing of runaways. Similar punishments would reappear in nineteenth-century American slave laws.”
An ad placed in The Arkansas Gazette on July 1, 1823, says Isaac was “branded with the letter C on one cheek, and with an S on the other, and cropped.” On June 14, 1843, a runaway slave named Bob was described as having “both ears cut off, or one off and the other cropped.”
Intellectual Capacity of Slaves
Dr. Sydney Bolton, of the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, found evidence of the intellectual capacity of Arkansas runaway slaves. In his essay, Fugitives From Injustice: Freedom-Seeking Slaves in Arkansas, 1800-1860, Dr. Bolton says, “Daniel could read and write.” Daniel was captured and turned over to the authorities in Helena, Arkansas. Dr. Bolton writes about attempts to prevent slaves from learning to read and write. This suggests the intellectual capacity of the slaves to be able to learn to read and write. The August 12, 1820, issue of the Arkansas Gazette reports a runaway slave named Phil who could read print, and has a bible and a book of psalms with him.”
Some runaway slaves were multi-lingual. Bill, who was reported as a runaway in the Arkansas Gazette on October 12, 1831, could speak Chickasaw, as could the woman and children with him, presumably his family. David, a runaway reported in the Arkansas Gazette on November 15, 1836, reportedly was fluent in both French and Spanish. Basil was reported as a runaway in the Arkansas Gazette on April 7, 1821. Basil reportedly spoke both English as well as French.
Evidence of Marketable Skills
Being able to develop a marketable skill usually goes along with intellectual capacity. It shows an individual is capable of learning, and capable of earning their own in life. Dr. Sidney Bolton suggests that the runaway slaves with such training had “extra advantages as fugitives.” He refers to a runaway slave named Jerry. Jerry was “an experienced carpenter and ‘very handy at most kinds of work required about a plantation.’” Dr. Bolton also mentions Harry, a runaway slave, also advertised for in the Arkansas Gazette, who was a “blacksmith by trade.” There was also, “Edmond, ‘a blacksmith by trade,’ who left Beatties’ Prairie in the Cherokee Nation in June 1839, and was assumed to be returning to Tennessee.”
The April 30, 1822, issue of The Arkansas Gazette reports a runaway slave named Peter, who was “a shoe-maker by trade.” A female runaway slave was reported in the Arkansas Gazette on August 7, 1835. Eve was described as a good seamstress. Reuben was a “pretty good steam boat engineer,” so the advertisement said in The Arkansas Gazette of February 2, 1836.
Evidence of Foresight and Planning
It takes intellectual capacity to think things through, and plan ahead. Many runaway slaves did exactly that. This could suggest that the slaves’ living conditions were much worse than anyone wanted to acknowledge. The runaway slaves had to thoughtfully consider the pros and cons of attempting an escape. If they got caught, the punishment could be worse than the lifestyle, and the lifestyle could become worse as a result. If they did not get caught, where could they go to be safe? How could they support themselves and their families?
“Two Negro fellows, named MOSES and WILLIAM . . . may have obtained passes before they ran away,” as reported in the December 23, 1829, Arkansas Gazette. Obtaining passes certainly could not have been an impulsive act. One runaway slave family even took a feather bed with them, as reported by The Arkansas Gazette on February 1, 1832.
The Slave Database of the Arkansas Gazette provides evidence of certain characteristics possessed by slaves. They exhibited intelligence, foresight, and skills, and often used those attributes to escape from physical abuse. These advertisements, and articles like Dr. Bolton’s, help us remember our history so that we are not doomed to repeat it.
Robin Egerton - Robin is new to the free-lance scene. She started her homeschooling blog in January of 2010, walking "Newbies" through the beginning ...
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