1772 – A New England colonial manuscript “Advertisement” offering a ten-dollar reward for the capture and return of a runaway slave from New Milford, Connecticut

Item Details

New Milford, Connecticut, 1772, Unbound

Very Good

This manuscript document measures 8” x 6”. Linen backing, which appears to be about the same age as the document. In nice shape. Light soiling with storage folds; 2” split along one. There are two tiny pinholes in the upper corners.

This document was almost certainly the text of a runaway slave advertisement submitted to a newspaper for publication. The two pinholes suggest that afterward, it was posted to a wall or message board as a public notice.  It reads:

“Advertisement Septr. 14. 1772.

“Run away from Gideon Treat of New Milford in Litchfield County a Negroman Named James of a Light Complexion for one of that Nation being Six foot high if not more about Twenty three years of age & speaks good English had on when he went away a light coloured brown upper Jacket & an under Jacket without sleeves of the same Colour checkd linen shirt Two trowsers, a small old Bever or felt Hat thinnish Shoes & white mettle or pewter buckles.

“Whosoever shall take up said Negro-man and secure him in any of his Majesties Goals & information forthwith make to me the subscriber or deliver him to me shall have Ten dollars for his or their Reward and all necessary Charges paid by me – Gideon Treat / New Milford Septr.”

Samuel Orcutt’s “History of the Towns of New Milford and Bridgewater, (Litchfield Co.) Connecticut, 1703-1882” reports that “Gideon Treat, was born in 1747. . .. He was a very resolute, courageous, working, influential citizen, and successful as a farmer, having one of the best farms in that region of the country. He took an earnest part in establishing the Bridgewater Society, and in building the first meeting-house, and also in supporting the society until his death in 1811. . ..”

(For more information see, “Run away from the Subscriber: Runaway Slave Advertisements 1745-1775, A Selection” online at the National Humanities Center Resource Toolbox.)

An exceptionally scarce colonial runaway slave manuscript handbill that was undoubtedly submitted to a newspaper for publication. At the time of listing, nothing similar is for sale in the trade. OCLC shows seven institutions hold printed newspaper runaway slave advertisements from the 1800s, but no manuscript “subscribers” submissions (from either the 1700 or 1800s) are mentioned in collection descriptions. The Rare Book Hub reports the sale of only one similar runaway slave subscriber “Advertisement,”  a 1752 document from Colchester, Connecticut, which was sold by M & S Rare Books for $12,500 in 1990. 

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