Joseph Coats, Jr., Reward Announcement,
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of a handwritten announcement regarding an enslaved person that ran away from the Cuckooville neighborhood of Louisa County, Virginia. Dated August 3, 1840, this letter describes in detail -- including physical characteristics and temperament -- the escaped 18-year-old named Sam. The author of this document, Joseph Coats Jr., presumably Sam's enslaver, offers a ten dollar reward to "any persons who will deliver him to me at my house, or secure him in such a manner that I get him again."
It is unclear how this written announcement was meant to circulate, whether as a handbill or possibly a submission to the local newspaper.
Dates
- 1840 - 1840
Creator
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish material from the Joseph Coats, Jr., Reward Announcement must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection consists of a handwritten announcement regarding an enslaved person that ran away from the Cuckooville neighborhood of Louisa County, Virginia. Dated August 3, 1840, this letter describes in detail -- including physical characteristics and temperament -- the escaped 18-year-old named Sam. The author of this document, Joseph Coats Jr., presumably Sam's enslaver, offers a ten dollar reward for his capture.
Acquisition Information
The collection was purchased by Special Collections in April 2013.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Joseph Coats, Jr., Reward Announcement was completed in July 2013.
- Title
- Joseph Coats, Jr., Reward Announcement, 1840
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Alexandra Dowrey, Graduate Assistant, and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist
- Date
- © 2013 Virginia Tech. All rights reserved.
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- 2022-10: Updated description to person-first language when discussing enslaved people. adw
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu