The following advertisement from the Freedom on the Move database inspired this text:

Herald of Freedom
Edenton, NC
March 27, 1799

RAN away from the Subscriber, AARON, a
stout, likely, black fellow, about 5 feet ten inches
high, and 26 years old. He has been branded,
by a former master, on one side of his face and
commonly ties a small handkerchief under his
chin, to cover the brand. He formerly worked
in the Lebanon Swamp, and has a wife in
Nixonton. If he is not lurking thereabouts, he has
probably got a free pass, and found employment
as a shingle weaver, on the Virginia side of the
Dismal; a Mr. Williams, Mr. Carpron and Mr.
Doughty, are particularly requested to have him
apprehended, if he should apply to them for
work. I will give TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS to
any person who will deliver him to me.

THOMAS FITT
Lazy-Hill, February 20, 1799

Text Authorship:

• by Tsitsi Ella Jaji , copyright © [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

• by Shawn Okpebholo (b. 1981), "Mud song", subtitle: "A folk song" [ voice and piano ], from Songs in Flight, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]

This text was added to the website: 2023-10-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 116