© by Tsitsi Ella Jaji
Four Martins
Language: English
For Isaac Martin, dark and slender, scar across the chest [ ... ]
This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.
The following advertisements from the Freedom on the Move database inspired this text:
RUNAWAY. -- Was committed to the jail of Ebenadoah calling himself ISAAC MARTIN, about 5 feet 8 3-4 inches high--slender made--very dark complexion-about 23 years old-when spoken to, speaks very quick-bus a long narrow scar across the breast--says he belongs to John Ryan, but does not know the country or State where he resides. He further states that Mr Frank Carter, Mr James Corter, Mr Brown and Mr Wm. Lee are neighbours and that South Boston is the nearest town. It is four weeks since be left home. The owner of said slave is requested to come and prove his property, pay the charges, and take him away, or he will be dealt with according to law. CHRISTIAN MILLER, jailer Oct. 5 1838
TWENTY DOLLARS' REWARD RANAWAY, from the undersigned, in July last, a negro man by the name of Martin. He is of a dark yellow complexion, five feet 9 or 10 inches high, about nineteen or twenty years of age. Any person apprehending said negro and confining him in any safe jail in this State, shall receive the above reward, or twenty-five dollars for the delivery of said negro to the subscriber, two miles from Pope's Ferry in Monroe county. It is believed that he is in the neighbourhood of Milledgeville, as he was raised near that place, and his mother is in town. ANDERSON REDDING. Dec 20-24
$50 Reward. RUNAWAY on the 8th inst. a little yellow fellow, called HARRY, 23 years of age, very low and well built; weighing from 115 to 130 lbs. left handed, very flat feet, his hair lately cut short, inclined to be straight; he is very polite, artful and cunning, being raised a house servant, though for the last two years worked in the crop. His clothes are such as field hands work in, probably a grey round Jacket of coarse cloth, one of white yarn, and one of yellow cotton, though he may have exchanged them for finer clothes; he took off a new three point blanket. He will no doubt endeavour to pass as a free man, & in travelling keep the most public road, as he did about two years ago on a trip to Wilmington, when he called himself Martin Fog. I will give the above reward to any one that will deliver him to John Kiteral, who lives on my plantation 7 miles south of this place, provided he is taken without the limits of this state; and $20 if taken, secured &c. within its limits. JOSEPH HAWKINS. Raleigh, N.C. Oct. 10th 1825. 198 The Fayetteville Observer and Hillsboro' Recorder will insert the above three times and forward their accounts to this office, for payment.
$500 REWARD. RANAWAY from the subscriber early in March, a negro man named PETER, (known as Peter Croom,) formerly belonging to Wm. Croom, of Long Creek. Said negro is aged about 24, color dark mustee, height 5 feet, 6 to 8 inches, weight about 140 lbs, eyes small and close together. He has been lurking in the Long Creek neighborhood until lately; it is supposed he is seeking work at some of the salt works on the Sound. I will give the above reward for his delivery to me or the Jailer of New Hanover county. S. B. ZIMMERMAN. Wilmington, May 14th 210-5t
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), "Four Martins", subtitle: "A dirge" [ voice and piano ], from Songs in Flight, no. 11 [sung text checked 1 time]
This text was added to the website: 2023-10-04
Line count: 20
Word count: 87