From Carolina Watchman, January 7, 1837

$20 reward

RANAWAY from the subscriber on 19th of November, a negro man, named TIM about 45 years of age, black complexion, about five feet four or five inches high, has a stoppage in his speech. He professes to be a very devout Baptist. Having purchased him in Montgomery county, not far from Stokes' Ferry, my opinion is, that he is in that neighborhood. I will give the above reward for his apprehension and delivery to me.Gorman placed this ad in an effort to recover Tim, who had run away. He presumably wanted to include details and descriptions that would help him get Tim back. He chose to include the runaway slave's name, age, complexion, height, speech difficulties, and faith. He also included the location where Tim had been purchased and his own opinion of where Tim might have gone. Except for the details related to Tim's name, his speech and his faith, all of these descriptions pertain to the man's physical appearance, but Gorman also included details that one would only know if Tim interacted with others in public. Perhaps Gorman thought he was likely to talk to other people while escaping or to try to attend a church service or otherwise share information about his faith and hoped that someone reading this ad would, as a result, recognize Tim and turn him in. Gorman does not mention anything about Tim's family, any information about a trade or special skills or any description of the clothing that Tim might have been wearing, so he either didn't know this information or thought it would be irrelevant to the ad. Gorman chose to start and conclude his ad with a statement about the twenty dollar reward, so clearly he thought that the money would be a powerful incentive.

HENRY S. GORMAN.

Concord, Dec 17, 1836 -- 4w22

State of North Carolina, Surry County

Court of Please and Quarter Sessions, Novem-
ber Term, 1836
William Davis, Adm'r & Ex'r Expartae
Pursuant to an order of Court, the subscriber will expose to public sale, at Mount Airy, Surry Co. on the 6th day of January next, on a credit of six months,
TWELVE LIKELY
Negroes,
Consisting of a likely fellow,
two women, and nine well
grown children
The purchasers will be required to give bond with approved securityThis advertisement is very matter-of-fact, mentioning only the circumstances of the sale and a very brief description of the people being sold..

WM. DAVIS Admir of James McCraw, dec's, and Ex'tor of Matthew Davis, deceased

December 17 -- 3w 22

$50 reward

RANAWAY from the subscriber two negro slaves, viz TONEY and JOHN. Toney is about 35 years of age, fife feet nine or ten inches high, dark complexion, square and stout build and had on when he left, a bright drab Petersham overcoat. He was purchased by me of Mr. Richard Brasley (sp?) of Wilmington, and calls himself Toney Montague. John is about twenty years of age, of rather lighter complexion than Toney, about five feet 10 inches high, and is quite stout b____ -- he has a full round face, and has lost two front teeth above and below which is his most distinguishing mark. He had on when he left, a light grey woolen round Jacket and pantaloons.

The above slaves left the camp of the subscriber while on his way to the Western country, eight miles above Lincolnton, on 28t of last month, and will no doubt endeavor to make their way back to Wilmington. The above reward will be given for their apprehension, so that I get them againAs with the advertisement about Tim, the author focuses on physical descriptions. James Moore includes information about Toney and John's names, ages, heights, complexions, builds, and clothing. Hey also mentions that Toney was purchased from Richard Brasley in Wilmington and that he uses the name Toney Montague. He also describes John's missing teeth and the location of the men's escape. Presumably Moore carefully chose this information as the information most likely to be noticed by passersby and to result in the return of these two slaves..

JAMES MOORE.

Dec 10, 1836 -- __21

Cash for negroes

THE Subscriber will purchase any number of likely young NEGROES during the next six months, for which liberal prices in cash will be given.

I wish all letters on business, addressed to me at Germanton, Stokes CountyGlen offers a very succinct statement of his willingness to offer cash for a large number of young slaves over the next six months..

TYRE GLEN.

July 18, 1836 -- __52

Notice.

IN pursuance of an order of the Cabarrus County Court, made at October Sessions 1836, I will sell at the Courthouse door in Concord, on the 3d Monday in February next a Negro Boy named NATHAN, the property of W.P. Stackton, dec'd, for cashThe advertisement is very matter-of-fact, providing only the essential details of the sale..

W.H. ARCHIBALD, Shff. Of Cabarrus County N.C.

Dec 3 1836 -- tf20

Stop the Runaway.

RANAWAY from the subscriber living near Liberty Hill, in Iredell county, N.C., a negro man named

PETER,

Formerly owned by James Cunningham. He is between forty and fifty years old; of a yellowish complexion -- round face and small eyes. He is marked with a scar in one of his ears, which has not grown together; also with a scar on the underside of his heel; which has not _______; he has also a small scar on one of his cheeks and is about five feet, five or six inches in heightCunningham lists the details that he assumes will most likely lead to the capture of Peter -- his name, the name of his previous owner, his age, his complexion, a facial description, a listing of his scars, and his height. We can assume that any information that he didn't include (Peter's family status, any special skills that he may have, his clothing, suspicions about where he might be headed) was either information that he did not have or that he deemed irrelevant..

Any one taking up this negro and lodging him in jail or delivering him to me, shall be reasonably compensated.

HUGH CUNNINGHAM.

Liberty Hill, Iredell co. N. C.
June 11th, 1836 -- __47