Tom - $150 Reward Runaway Slave Notice 1859 Historical Poster

This powerful historical document is a runaway slave reward notice from Lexington, Kentucky, dated June 28, 1859, offering $150 for the capture and return of an enslaved man named Tom. The advertisement provides a detailed physical description: "about 30 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high; of dark color; heavy in the chest; several of his jaw teeth out; and upon his body are several old marks of the whip, one of them straight down the back."

The notice reveals the brutal reality of slavery through its matter-of-fact description of Tom's scars from whipping, evidence of the violence he endured. The detail that he "took with him a quantity of clothing, and several hats" suggests careful planning for his escape. The tiered reward structure—$150 if captured out of state, $100 in any bordering county, and $20 if taken in the same county—reflects the extensive networks used to hunt down freedom seekers.

Historical Context: This notice dates from July 1859, just months before John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry and less than two years before the Civil War. Kentucky, a border state, saw frequent escapes as enslaved people fled north across the Ohio River to freedom. The substantial reward of $150 (equivalent to several thousand dollars today) indicates Tom's monetary value to the enslaver B.L. Boston. Documents like this preserve evidence of individual acts of resistance and the courage required to risk everything for freedom.

This poster honors Tom's brave attempt to claim his liberty and serves as a reminder of the thousands who risked their lives seeking freedom.

Available in multiple sizes with your choice of black or natural wood frame, or unframed for custom display.