Philadelphia Gazette & Daily Advertiser. Sept 22, 1800. Complete in 4pp. 13x20.
At the bottom of the fifth column on the last page, the advertisment reads: “MARCUS. One of the house servants at Mount Vernon, Absconded on the second instant, and since has not been heard of. He is a young lad, about 16 years of age, a bright mulatto, dark blue eyes, long black hair, about 5 feet 4 or 5 inches high, and of a slender make. He had on when he left this place a coat and jacket of dark mixture, black and white, and black breeches – but having various suits, one of black, and another of very light drab, it is uncertain which of these he now wears. Originally, his name was Billy and possibly he may resume the same. It is very probable he may attempt to pass for one of those negroes that did belong to the late Gen. Washington, and whom Mrs. Washington intends in the fall of this year to liberate – the public are therefore warned against any such imposition, as he is one of those negroes which belongs to the estate of Washington P.Custis Esq. and held by right of dower by Mrs. Washington during her life. I will give Ten Dollars Reward to any person who shall apprehend the said negro and lodge him in some safe gaol…and will also pay all reasonable charges…for the delivery of him to me at this place. Ship Masters are hereby forewarned not to take on board Marcus; and those who are found to secret or harbor him, will be punished as the law directs. JAMES ANDERSON [Mount Vernon]”. Washington died in December 1799, leaving a will that provided for freeing 123 Mt. Vernon slaves upon the death of his wife, Martha. But another 153 slaves were his widow’s property only during her lifetime, acquired by her first marriage and held in trust for Custis, her first husband’s grandson. Anderson, the plantation manager, was responsible for keeping these duly enslaved until Martha’s death in 1802. Marcus and the Mt. Vernon butler, both of mixed race, were among the eight favored slaves who had attended the General’s funeral. There seems to be no historical record of who fathered Marcus with a Black cook named Betty – nor whether he made good his escape from Mt. Vernon to freedom.