Broadside for the return of the enslaved man, Arch, to Ignatious Davis: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Broadside advertising a reward for the return of an enslaved man named Arch.

The broadside consists of printed carbon black ink on laid rag paper. In large letters at the top is printed [THIRTY DOLLARS / REWARD.] followed by smaller text, [RAN away, on the 22nd of August last, a handsome Negro Lad, named ARCH,]. The "ARCH" is in large text. This is followed by the details:

[ABOUT twenty years of age - the property of the Subscriber - of a yellow complexion, talks sensible and artful, but if close examined is apt to tremble; he is rather under the size of a man, active-made, with small legs, and has a ridge or scar on the back of his neck. He had on and took with him, a new Russia-sheeting shirt, an old Irish linen, and an old country linen ditto, a pair of old black everlasting breeches, a pair of oznabrig trousers, and an old hat, though he probably will part from his cloaths, and procure others if an opportunity offers.

I live in Maryland, near Frederick-Town, and will pay the above Reward, if the said fellow be taken Sixty miles, or any further distance from hom; or a Half Dollar per mile, for any distance under, in case he be secured in any goal, to that I get him again; and if brought home reasonable charges, by.]

This text is followed by [IGNATIOUS DAVIS.] and is dated [Frederick-County, September 7, 1791]. At the bottom of the sheet, beneath two horizontal lines is [Frederick-Town: Printed by JOHN WINTER.]. There are no marks or inscriptions on the reverse.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1791
• Issued by: Ignatious Davis, American, 1759 - 1820
• Subject of: Unidentified Man or Men
• Type: broadsides
• Medium: black carbon ink on laid rag paper
• Dimensions: H x W: 9 1/2 × 8 in. (24.1 × 20.3 cm)
• Place depicted: Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Fugitive enslaved
• Topic: Self-liberation
• Topic: Slavery
• Object number: 2018.113
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alice Simon/Bernton Family
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Public domain Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.