Key: The first name is the servant’s name. If there is a second name it is the master’s name.

Goods [such as tools] described were claimed by the master to have been stolen.

In cases of unidentified persons, these were thieves, who, just as the runaway servant was stealing himself from his master were guilty of theft—the second most serious felony of the age next to murder—and would be sentenced to a term of servitude ranging from 7 months to 7 years if caught. Rewards would also be charged against the runaway’s time. Unidentified persons, who were not accused of theft, are presumed to be thieves caught attempting to steal. This may be a simple ruse to justify kidnapping under cover of law, as there were no police, with private citizens charged with capturing runaways.

als. stands for alias, or also-known-as and may indicate the true identity of a kidnapped boy who the kidnapper and/or subsequent master gave another name to as cover for the crime.

Identifying characteristics such as Thomas Lamb’s missing teeth or John Berry’s shackles ironically indicate the brutality of the servant’s lot.

Note, that any clothes worn by the servant other than the trousers, cap and shirt issued annually, which was of such rough clothe as to cause extreme irritation, were regarded as stolen, with the standard issue survival shirt, pants and cap regarded as part of his/her person. It appears that servants were only shoed in cold weather when working on land clearance and other agricultural labors.

DMG = Dunlop’s Maryland Gazette

MG = Maryland Gazette

MJ = Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser

Manning, John MG, 24-31 Dec. 1728

Hancock, John als. Anderson MG, 7-14 Jan. 1728/9

Unidentified tools, stole horse MG, 22-29 Apr. 1729

Unidentified tools, stole horse MG, 22-29 Apr. 1729

Anderson, John MG, 29 Apr.-6 May 1729

Edge, Edward MG, 29 Apr.-6 May 1729

Heath, Robert MG, 3-10 June 1729

Brooks, John MG, 3-10 June 1729

Wood, John als. Charles Oglesby, stole horse MG, 17-24 June 1729

Lamb, Thomas missing teeth MG, 24 June-1 July 1729

Davis, Samuel MG, 8-15 July 1729

Barry, Eleanor MG, 8-15 July 1729

Jones, John (?) MG, 15-22 July 1729

Hancock, John als. Anderson, stole clothes MG, 19-26 May 1730

Smith, William MG, 19-26 May 1730

Pain, Richard MG, 7-16 June 1730

Taylor, Sarah, Stole clothes MG, 24 Nov.-1 Dec. 1730

English, Richard MG, 15-22 Dec. 1730

Evans, John, stole horse MG, 26 Jan.-2 Feb. 1732/3

Lang, James MG, 21-28 Dec. 1733

Lee, Edward als. Mortimer MG, 12-19 July 1734

Tyzard, John MG, 26 July-2 Aug. 1734

Howard, Thomas , stole clothes MG, 26 July-2 Aug. 1734

Unidentified John Gardner, stole clothes MG, 26 July-2 Aug. 1734

Berry, John Anne Arundel Benjamin Tasker iron collar and handcuffs MG, 25 Oct.-1 Nov. 1734

Ward, Christopher MG, 25 Oct.-1 Nov. 1734

Abel, Thomas MG, 25 Oct.-1 Nov. 1734

Unidentified MG, 7 June 1745

Unidentified Negro MG, 7 June 1745

Barker, James MG, 14 June 1745

The five “unidentified” runaways or accused thieves would be enslaved if caught. The Unidentified white and negro men from June 7, 1745, accused of stealing nothing, may just be listings to justify kidnappings.

Benjamin Tasker is a master to watch.