Newspaper Advertisement for Eve, 1782

An advertisement in The Virginia Gazette, dated February 2, 1782, reports the escape of an enslaved woman named Eve and offers a reward for her return

Historical Period

The American Revolution and A New Nation

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12 Analysis questions 4 Vocabulary Words

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TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD

FOR apprehending EVE, a Negro woman slave, who left York after the surrender; she is about
forty years old, very black and slender, has a small mouth for a Negro, and a remarkable mole
on her nose: She has since been seen on her way to Hampton. She carried with her a variety
of striped and checked Virginia cloth clothes. Whoever delivers her to the subscriber in Rich-
mond, shall receive the above reward.

HARRISON RANDOLPH.

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About

This advertisement, published in The Virginia Gazette on February 2, 1782, reports the escape of an enslaved woman named Eve. It was placed by Harrison Randolph on behalf of his aunt, Elizabeth Randolph. Eve had escaped the Randolphs’ Williamsburg home after the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. This copy of the ad was kept by St. George Tucker, a neighbor who knew her. Eve had a son named George, who reportedly left with her. Ads about escaped enslaved persons reveal the choices that enslaved people made and highlight their courage, resilience, and agency. They also show how enslavers used newspapers to track escapees and how slavery was publicly reinforced through the press in 18th-century Virginia.

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Newspaper Advertisement for Eve, 1782

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Analysis Questions

Foster inquiry and understanding with these source-specific questions, designed to be accessible even for those with limited background knowledge.

say hello to the source

1

Look over the document, without reading it closely. What do you notice?
2

Read the advertisement. Note that at this time, the letter “s” was often printed in a way that looks like the letter “f”. What questions do you have about the ad?

make observations

3

Who is the “subscriber” referred to in the ad?
4

What is meant by the “above reward,” and what does someone have to do to receive it?
5

Based on this primary source, is it known whether Eve was recaptured or remained free?
6

How would you summarize the ad to another student who doesn’t have access to this primary source?

interpret what you see

7

Based on what you read, what do we know about Eve? Why do you think these details were included in the ad? What don’t we know about Eve?
8

What conclusions can you draw about the person who wrote this advertisement? What makes you say that?
9

The “surrender at York” refers to the pivotal battle in Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, where the British surrendered and the American Revolution was won. Why might Eve have chosen to flee at that time?
10

How reliable do you think this advertisement is as a source for understanding Eve? What makes you say that?

use it as evidence

11

What does this advertisement tell you about the role of print media, like newspapers, in the system of slavery?
12

Why might advertisements for escaped enslaved persons be helpful sources for historians?

Vocabulary

Use these related vocabulary terms to build students’ understanding and support more meaningful discussions and learning outcomes in your classroom.

Definition

to catch or arrest someone, especially someone who is trying to escape

Example

The police were able to apprehend the suspect after a short chase.

Definition

a small, dark spot or mark on the skin, usually harmless

Example

Eve had a mole on her nose that might have made her easy to recognize.

Definition

considered a dated, offensive term today, the term historically referred to someone of Black African heritage

Example

“The Negro Speaks of Rivers” was written by Langston Hughes in 1921, not long after he graduated from high school.

Definition

a person who signs up to receive or support something regularly, like a newspaper or magazine

Example

As a subscriber to the newsletter, Jamal receives a new issue in the mail every month.

Citation & Details

Citations

Creator: “The Virginia Gazette”
Date Created: February 2, 1782
Point of Origin: Virginia
Citation Label: Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Sources used to create the analysis questions include:

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. (2025, March 31). Escaping to Freedom. Colonial Williamsburg. https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/18th-century-people/stories-of-women/escaping-to-freedom

Museum of the American Revolution. (n.d.). St. George Tucker’s letter to Fanny Tucker [Virtual exhibit, Finding Freedom]. https://www.amrevmuseum.org/virtualexhibits/finding-freedom/pages/eve-st-george-tucker-s-letter-to-fanny-tucker

Museum of the American Revolution. (n.d.). Eve – Peyton Randolph’s will. https://www.amrevmuseum.org/virtualexhibits/finding-freedom/pages/eve-peyton-randolph-s-wil