I ran from Dr. William M. Byars, then living in Washington County, Texas, in April 1854. Byars would later move to Colorado County, Texas after recapturing me. My name is UNKNOWN.

I left the Upper Marlboro, MD plantation of John Grimes in April 1854, planning to visit my relatives who lived nearby within Prince George’s County. I had several living at Dr. Benjamin Lee’s about 9 miles north in Queen Anne. I called myself JOHN JOHNSON.

I didn’t return from an errand on this day in April, 1854, in New Orleans, LA when I was about 7 years old. I must have been returned to Stephen Herriman before his death in June 1854, as I was listed in his estate inventory with my mother and siblings. My name was JIM BROWN.

On the night of April 25th, 1854, I slipped away from the schooner Swan in Baltimore, MD. I may have been hired out to the captain of the ship by Levi Howarth, a farmer in Somerset County, MD. I hoped to find freedom in Baltimore. I was called ISAAC or TOM. #freedomseekers

I ran from the Bayou Maringouin sugar plantation of Charles Davis and J. Duralde in March 1854. I may have headed back to Jefferson Parish, but New Orleans, about 66 miles to the northwest, offered more opportunities. I was called ABNER but called myself JOHN.

I ran from the Camp Street house of John Ermon in New Orleans, Louisiana in March 1854; I was going to go see my wife, Clementine, down the coast. He caught me in May, but I ran again in June and he was still looking for me in July 1854. My name was HENRY.

I ran from William B. Whitehead’s sugar plantation in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana about April 1854, and might have headed to New Orleans. Sugar production was brutal work and I wanted to survive, and be free. My name was GEORGE BARRETT. #freedomseekers

I ran from the Panola County, TX farm of lawyer William G. Anderson about April 1854, and headed north, maybe hoping to get to Texarkana or the Choctaw Nation. But I only went about 30 miles before being caught, and taken to the Harrison County jail. I called myself HIRAM.

I ran from the Jefferson City, Louisiana home of A.F. Neal in March 1854. He had bought me from steamboat captain Newman Robirds of St. Louis, and my family was still back in Missouri–I may have headed back there. Neal was still looking for me in June 1854. My name was SARAH.

I ran from the Baltimore, MD boarding house where Benedict Gough was staying, on this day in April 1854. I most likely went to my family for a few days; Gough found me and brought me back, but I ran again on May 1, 1854 and took some money this time. I was called GERALDINE.

I ran from Joseph Lang’s office at 17 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, LA in April 1854. I had been sold to him by lawyer J. Tissot, who lived on the Right Bank south of the river; my friends and family were in that neighborhood, and I knew I could hide there. My name was ROBERT.

On this day in April 1854, I ran from the farm of Ann W. Walter on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Her husband James had died recently and I took the opportunity to flee before she could sell me. I might have headed to DC or Baltimore, or to the North. My name was JOSHUA.

In April 1854,when I was about 14 years old, I ran from the Blue Pump Tavern and traveled more than 9 miles east to Baltimore. The proprietor of the tavern, Englishman James Brayshaw, had heard I’d been seen on Baltimore Street. My name is UNKNOWN. #freedomseekers

I left Lewis Roberts’ farm in northern Baltimore County on this day in April 1854, and headed north. My relatives, free people of color, lived next door to him in 1850, and may have left for Pennsylvania before I did. My name was JOHN SMITH. #freedomseekers

I ran from Dr. Gilbert H. Wootten of Clarksville, TX on this day in April 1854, taking a horse and riding west. Somewhere in Lamar County I changed horses and kept going, possibly towards the Choctaw Nation. My name is UNKNOWN.
#freedomseekers

I ran from James A. May in February 1856 while we were staying at Charles Abercrombie’s plantation in Walker County, TX. I might have been enslaved by Robert Mays of Alabama; Abercrombie was from Macon County, AL. They were still looking for me in May 1856. My name was JESSE.

I was captured and jailed in Bexar County, TX in April of 1856. I told them I’d run from a Mr. Stell, about 150 miles east in San Felipe, in November of the previous year. I was 25 years old and may have been headed for Mexico. My name was JOHN.

On this day in April 1856, I ran from “Okeley,” the Fairfax County, Virginia plantation of Dr. Richard C. Mason, near Alexandria. Unfortunately I was traced immediately to Washington DC and apprehended. I was 22 years old when I ran. My name was ROBERT.

I ran from Thomas Henthorn in April 1856. Henthorn was an Irishman who ran a carting business from 250 Lee Street in Baltimore, MD, and I did not want to work for him any more. My name was ABRAHAM JONES.

I took a horse and left William Z. Beall’s plantation in Upper Marlboro, MD on April 16, 1856. I may have been heading to see relatives near Rockville. I returned or was returned to Beall before his death in 1858, but he freed me in his will. I called myself FREDERICK THOMAS.