This runaway slave advertisement appeared in the columns of the Democratic Inquier of Portsmouth, Ohio, on 16 January 1852. From the notice we learn that Ben "left the Mouth of Big Sandy, on board Steamer Fashion No. 2, on the 1st of January and went to Portsmouth, O., where he was last seen." John Wellman of Wayne County, [West] Virginia, claimed to own Ben and offered $100, to any person who confined him "in any jail in Kentucky or any place so that I can get possession of him." To claim the reward, bounty hunters were directed to contact Morris Wellman of Catlettsburgh, Kentucky. At the time of his escape, Ben was said to have been wearing "a white hat, brown pants and Black cloth coat." Wellman described Ben as being "about 30 yeras old, Black and quite spritly, about 5 feet 10 inches high, has a scar on his neck, large feet and droop shouldered."