A. E. Jonas’ Advertisement for the Return of his “Negro Man,” Tom Matthews, shortly after March 2, 1856

HEAVY REWARD.

THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD. — Ran away from the subscriber, residing near Bladensburg, Prince George's county, Maryland, on Saturday night, the 2d of March, 1856, my negro man, Tom Matthews, aged about 25 years, about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, dark copper color, full suit of bushy hair, broad face, with high cheek bones, broad and square shoulders. stands and walks very erect, though quite a sluggard in action, except in a dance, at which he is hard to beat. He wore away a black coat and brown pantaloons. I will give the above reward if taken and brought home, or secured in jail, so that I get him.

E. A. Jonas, near Bladensburg, Md.

SOURCE: William Still, The Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters &c., p. 324