Stephen, 1728–1729

Although the runaway slave advertisement announcing his escape accused him of stealing a horse, Stephen likely was not responsible—or if he was responsible, he didn’t use the horse to travel any significant distance. Instead, he hid on the estate of Charles Calvert, a former colonial governor. Although the Black African overseer of Charles Calvert’s plantation was punished for aiding and abetting Stephen in his escape, the Calverts advocated for leniency in the punishment of Stephen. He—with another local runaway named Cora—was sentenced to death in April 1729 for one or more of the “Villanies” he confessed to committing during his month of freedom. Stephen may have committed arson, lighting one or more of the fires that burned down local homes and barns in the weeks after his disappearance, but whatever Stephen’s supposed crimes, he received a reprieve two months later, in June. More than mercy, this stay of execution was likely a means of preserving Carroll’s capital investment in Stephen; if Stephen had been executed, Carroll would receive no compensation from the state for funds he had spent in purchasing, feeding, and clothing the man he claimed as human capital.