Freedom Seekers: Stories of Black Liberation in the Am. Rev.
LightNews LightNews
banner
freedomseekers.bsky.social
Freedom Seekers: Stories of Black Liberation in the Am. Rev.
@freedomseekers.bsky.social
840 followers 170 following 110 posts
A growing resource of short stories of enslaved people who attempted to seize their freedom by escaping.

Based at UW-Madison, partnered with scholars and institutions all over.

Discover more at www.freedom-seekers.org
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Freedom Seekers: Stories of Black Liberation in the Am. Rev.
freedomseekers.bsky.social
Robert Thomas was a proud and capable man. According to his enslaver he spoke “deliberately” and was “more correct in conversation than person of his color usually are.” In the summer of 1808, he seized his freedom.

Read his story as told by our intern Mia Pyle: freedom-seekers.org/story/robert...
January 29, 2026 at 4:24 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
Robert Thomas was a proud and capable man. According to his enslaver he spoke “deliberately” and was “more correct in conversation than person of his color usually are.” In the summer of 1808, he seized his freedom.

Read his story as told by our intern Mia Pyle: freedom-seekers.org/story/robert...
January 29, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Freedom Seekers: Stories of Black Liberation in the Am. Rev.
freedomseekers.bsky.social
By the time Joe escaped his enslaver, he had seen much of the revolutionary Atlantic world. Born in Guadeloupe he traveled to New York and S. Carolina before landing in Philadelphia.

Read the surprising story of Joe’s escape as told by our intern Molly Laughlin: freedom-seekers.org/story/joe-au...
An 18th century runaway advertisement for an enslaved freedom seeker named Joe. The advertisement is in front of an picture of the Guadeloupe coastline, and shows the edges of a beach and a thick forest of trees.
January 26, 2026 at 3:45 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
By the time Joe escaped his enslaver, he had seen much of the revolutionary Atlantic world. Born in Guadeloupe he traveled to New York and S. Carolina before landing in Philadelphia.

Read the surprising story of Joe’s escape as told by our intern Molly Laughlin: freedom-seekers.org/story/joe-au...
An 18th century runaway advertisement for an enslaved freedom seeker named Joe. The advertisement is in front of an picture of the Guadeloupe coastline, and shows the edges of a beach and a thick forest of trees.
January 26, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by Freedom Seekers: Stories of Black Liberation in the Am. Rev.
freedomseekers.bsky.social
“Runaway advertisements often seethe with anger, but few expose the emotional unraveling of an enslaver as vividly as James Hutchings’ notice for a freedom seeker named Sarah.”

So writes our intern Anika Feinsilver in her unflinching telling of Sarah’s story: freedom-seekers.org/story/sarah-...
Runaway newspaper advertisement in front of a painting of a river with a wooden ferry holding a carriage and several people.
January 20, 2026 at 4:36 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
“Runaway advertisements often seethe with anger, but few expose the emotional unraveling of an enslaver as vividly as James Hutchings’ notice for a freedom seeker named Sarah.”

So writes our intern Anika Feinsilver in her unflinching telling of Sarah’s story: freedom-seekers.org/story/sarah-...
Runaway newspaper advertisement in front of a painting of a river with a wooden ferry holding a carriage and several people.
January 20, 2026 at 4:36 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
Virginians like Jefferson and Washington are often mentioned in histories of the American Rev. But revolutionary Virginia also offered opportunities for enslaved people like Will to pursue freedom.

Read Will’s story as told by our undergrad intern Gabe Corro: freedom-seekers.org/story/will-a...
Newspaper advertisement for a freedom seeker in front of an oil canvas depicting a church and gathered parishioners in revolutionary-era Virginia.
January 16, 2026 at 6:31 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
In the aftermath of the American Rev. Southern planters rebuilt their plantation economy by importing thousands of enslaved Africans like Venture. But Venture refused to remain in bondage.

Read Venture’s story as told by our undergrad intern, Clarissa Brown: freedom-seekers.org/story/ventur...
Runaway newspaper advertisement in front of a scene from the South Carolina Lowcountry country, showing dense and lush foliage surrounding a dirt road.
January 12, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Freedom Seekers: Stories of Black Liberation in the Am. Rev.
pennpress.bsky.social
If you're attending #AHA26, stop by our booth in the book exhibit tomorrow, Sunday January 11, where we'll be giving away our display copies to graduate students and contingent scholars between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. (limit one book per person)!
January 10, 2026 at 10:14 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
This past fall seven UW undergraduates worked as interns with our project team to compose freedom seeker stories of their own. Over the next few weeks we will be sharing their brilliant work. And in the meantime, meet all our amazing undergraduate interns: freedom-seekers.org/undergraduat...
Undergraduate Interns
freedom-seekers.org
January 7, 2026 at 6:36 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
Today is the deadline for submissions for our graduate writing prize, the Anansi Prize! If you’ve been working on a story for Freedom Seekers you can submit your work here:

freedom-seekers.org/anansi_prize/
Anansi Prize
freedom-seekers.org
December 31, 2025 at 5:46 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
In November 1771, Jack and Venus made their way to the Great Dismal Swamp. After laboring there 2 years under John Washington (brother of George) they hoped this site of their enslavement would now offer refuge.

Read Tony Bly’s brilliant telling of their story: freedom-seekers.org/story/jack-a...
Black and white newspaper clipping of a runaway advertisement in front of an image of Virginia’s Great Dismal Swamp. The image shows green murky water and a lush forest landscape.
December 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
Born and raised in Africa, Solomon had been in North America only a couple of years when his relentless drive to be free began.

Read @simonatmadison.bsky.social ’s latest work, exploring the many escapes of Solomon during the American Revolution: freedom-seekers.org/story/solomo...
Newspaper advertisement for a freedom seeker named Solomon. Behind the clip is an illustrated depiction of the port of Baltimore.
December 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Freedom Seekers: Stories of Black Liberation in the Am. Rev.
coryjamesyoung.bsky.social
I have examined hundreds of advertisements for refugees from slavery--many of which sheepishly acknowledge Black surnames--but I have never seen one before that explicitly states it was Black people who insisted on using them.

From the 15 July 1807 Virginia Argus. fotm.link/a/3e54788f-6...
A screenshot of a yellowing excerpt from a runaway slave advertisement in the July 15, 1807 issue of the Virginia Argus, a Richmond paper: Ten Dollars Reward. RUN AWAY from the Subscriber, on the 28th of April, a Negro Man JOE, and Woman named FANNY, but called by the black people FANNY KENNY, which eloped on the 11th of June. The man is a bright mulatto, about 28 years of age, straight and well built, and has a very brisk walk, and is a very handy, sensible ...
December 4, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Freedom Seekers: Stories of Black Liberation in the Am. Rev.
revwar250.bsky.social
3 DECEMBER 1775, MOUNT VERNON, VIRGINIA: Lund Washington, George Washington’s steward (and relative), writes to George about his fears of how Mt. Vernon’s enslaved population will react to Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation, which promises freedom for slaves who escape rebel enslavers:
December 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
On December 2, 1773 an advertisement appeared in the Virginia Gazette for a freedom seeker named Abel. The 40 year-old man had learned to read and write and play the violin. He had traveled to England and back. But what he sought most was freedom.

Read Abel’s story: freedom-seekers.org/story/abel/
Newspaper advertisement for a freedom seeker named Abel
December 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
We are still accepting submissions for our Anansi Prize! For more information, visit our website: freedom-seekers.org/anansi_prize/
Anansi Prize
freedom-seekers.org
December 2, 2025 at 7:42 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
What connected people in early America? We can only imagine what ties existed between Pero, Jack, and Isaac — freedom seekers who fled slavery in Rhode Island in November, 1765. What ultimately drew them together was a shared ambition to be free. Read their story: freedom-seekers.org/story/pero-j...
Runaway newspaper advertisement, featuring a woodcut image of a Black person with a walking stick. Background is the coastal area around Tiverton, Rhode Island.
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
How might we today visualize the appearance of people who fled enslavement? We asked a modern artist, Adrienne Mayor, to imagine and sketch Jack, who took flight from slavery in Virginia in 1730.

Read Billy Smith’s telling of Jack’s story: freedom-seekers.org/story/jack/
Color illustration of a man of African Descent named Jack. He is wearing typical 18th century clothing, including breeches, a striped waistcoat, and a tan jacket. In front of Jack is a copy of a newspaper advertisement noting his escape.
November 19, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Freedom Seekers: Stories of Black Liberation in the Am. Rev.
freedomseekers.bsky.social
In November 1767, an enslaved man “addicted to be funny in his Talking” and “particular in shaving true his Forehead” escaped slavery in Rhode Island. His story offers a powerful alternative vision of liberty during the era of the American Rev.

Read this story: freedom-seekers.org/story/name-u...
Newspaper advertisement for an unnamed enslaved runaway in an 18th century newspaper.
November 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
In November 1767, an enslaved man “addicted to be funny in his Talking” and “particular in shaving true his Forehead” escaped slavery in Rhode Island. His story offers a powerful alternative vision of liberty during the era of the American Rev.

Read this story: freedom-seekers.org/story/name-u...
Newspaper advertisement for an unnamed enslaved runaway in an 18th century newspaper.
November 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
250 years ago today Virginia governor Lord Dunmore declared martial law and promised freedom to the enslaved who would join his ranks.

For enslavers like Mark Bird this was a nightmare. But for Cuff Dix this was an opportunity for freedom.

Read Cuff’s story: freedom-seekers.org/story/cuff-d...
Runaway newspaper advertisement from an 18th century newspaper
November 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
In February 1766, Hercules escaped slavery in Charleston, South Carolina, fleeing by sea, across the Atlantic, to London.

Read Simon Newman’s telling of Hercules’ incredible story here: freedom-seekers.org/story/hercul...
Runaway advertisement in front of a painting of 18th century London.
November 3, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Freedom Seekers: Stories of Black Liberation in the Am. Rev.
freedomseekers.bsky.social
In the fall of 1773 an Indigenous man named Buck escaped enslavement, running away from Warwick, Rhode Island.

Read @simonatmadison.bsky.social’s telling of Buck’s story here: freedom-seekers.org/story/buck-o...
Newspaper advertisement from 18th century publication seeking the return of a freedom seeker named Buck
October 28, 2025 at 2:54 PM
freedomseekers.bsky.social
In the fall of 1773 an Indigenous man named Buck escaped enslavement, running away from Warwick, Rhode Island.

Read @simonatmadison.bsky.social’s telling of Buck’s story here: freedom-seekers.org/story/buck-o...
Newspaper advertisement from 18th century publication seeking the return of a freedom seeker named Buck
October 28, 2025 at 2:54 PM