1718[Untitled advertisement]1778-07-17T00:00:00New Bern, N.C. : North Carolina GazetteNorth Carolina Gazette [New Bern], 1768-1778New BernCravenNCState of North Carolina, Craven County, ss. BY ALEXANDER GASTON and RICHARD ELLIS, Esquires, two of the Justices of the said County. WHEREAS complaint hath been made to use by Fredreick Fonville, that a negro slave named Peter, black fellow, aged about 44 years, about 5 feet 5 inches high, ran away in December last. These are therefore to command to said slave forthwith to surrender himself, and return home to his said Master. And we do also require the sheriff of the said County to make diligent search and pursuit after the said slave, and him having found, to apprehend and secure, so that he may by conveyed to his said Master, or otherwise discharged as the law directs. And the said to raise and take with him such power of his County as he shall think fit, for apprehending the said slave. And we do hereby, by virture of an act of assembly of this state concerning servants and slaves, initmate and declare, if the said slave doth not surrender himself, and return home, immediately, after the publicaiton of these presents, that then any person may kill or destroy the said slave, by such means as he or they may think fit, without accusation or impeachment of any crime or offence for so doing, or without incurring any penalty or forfeiture thereby. ALEX GASTON. RICHARD ELLIS. N.B. Whoever apprehends the said slave, and delivers him to me, shall have 10 dollars, or 20 dollars for his head. FREDRICK FONVILLE.NCCRACraven412/1/1777Alex GastonPlacing AdRichard EllisPlacing AdPeterSlaveFrederick FonvilleSlaveholderCravenNC