Mar 31, 2016 - Sale 2408

Sale 2408 - Lot 45

Price Realized: $ 6,750
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,500 - $ 5,000
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) MARYLAND. "$100 REWARD. Ran away from the subscriber, residing in Pleasant Valley, MD on Saturday night 14th int. a MULATTO BOY named MEHLON HOPEWELL, about 22 years of age." Letterpress, runaway slave broadside, 11-1/4 x 13-1/2 inches; creases where folded; some offset from the printing press; two holograph notations added to the address and the owner's name. Chambersburg, PA: T.J. Wright, circa 1850's

Additional Details

An exceptionally descriptive runaway slave broadside. From the language regarding the runaway's description, he is definitely someone the subscriber must have liked. Given this and the fact that he is a 'mulatto' it is possible that he is the owner's son. He is well-dressed, and is even wearing a pair of new boots. The fact that he took a horse and then set it free indicates that he did not want the crime of stealing a horse added to his problems if caught. The owner, Thomas Boteler of Pleasant Valley appears in the 1840 census as having several slaves.