Slave Dennis Woods Runs Away Five Times From His Maryland Master

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017

An interesting antebellum Maryland court document, 2 1/2pp. folio, dated Feb. 5, 1858 in which Frederick County Farmer John Cover, identified as "the petitioner", requests the help of Judge Madison Wilson in extending the term of service of his errant slave Dennis Woods over repeated escape attempts, reading, in very small part: "…the petitioner as John Cover…of Frederick County…states that he is the master and owner of a negro slave…named Dennis Woods…purchased from William R. Steele executors…it will appear that the said negro is the slave of your petitioner until the 1st day of May the year 1861. Your partitioner further states that the said negro & slave has absconded and run away…five [?] times…the first time in…July 1856 when your petitioner recaptured and brought him back to his service and on the same day succeeding his recapture the said negro & slave again absconded and was again recaptured…after he had been gone about one week…making his way to…Pennsylvania…in the year 1857 he again absconded and was arrested in the city of Baltimore and committed to jail…[continues on listing each escape attempt]…your petitioner further states that he has been subjected to expenses in the several recaptures…amounting to fifty six dollars…and…was occupied in hunting…to find said slave…about twenty five days…your petitioner who is a tanner and farmer and whose whole time is necessary to his business. Your petitioner further claims to your honor that he has been compelled to confine the said slave every night since his last recapture to prevent his again absconding…your petitioner therefore urges your honor to adjudge and extend the term of service of said negro & slave to a longer term so as [to] fully compensate your petitioner for all expenses and loses accrued by the said abscondings of said slave…". Signed and made official by Cover's attorney and Maryland court witness, William Batzell. Minor toning, else VG

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