Bradford, John, ?-1726 to Charles Calvert
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07368 Author/Creator: Bradford, John, ?-1726 Place Written: Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 October 1725 Pagination: 2 p. ; 30.6 x 19.3 cm Order a Copy
Discusses two runaway slaves that were brought before him and returned to their masters. In part, "This day was brought before me a Runnaway Negro Woman taken up Near the Head of Mr: [Charles] Carrolls Land on the upper Side of Monockasey In Her way to the Shawan Town she was taken at a fire a Little past the Middle of the Night In Company with Her Husband who In the Dark made his Escape..." Writes that the man [possibly a Native American] who brought one of the slaves in was not happy with his reward of 200 pounds of tobacco, and stated he would not leave his family again to bring in a runaway. Asks the governor to have slaveholders increase the award to 600 pounds of tobacco for runaways taken above the Monockasey River. Feels that with this increase, no runaway slaves would reach the Shawan town, a Native American village of the Shawan or Shawnee Indians. "...I am persuaded if the reward was made six hundred pounds of Tobacco not one Negro hereafter would reach the Shawan Town." Appeals to the governor by saying, "...your Excellency hath Shown a greater Concerne than any Governour heretofore In Your Longe and Troublesome Journey unto the Mountains to Treat with the Indians." Dated under old Julian calendar, 8br stood for October.
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