I Warn all Persons . . .

Slavery died a hard death in Kentucky. There are numerous pieces of evidence that support this fact. One of the most strident though are a number of advertisements that appeared in November and December 1865 in some newspapers in the Commonwealth.

As the last necessary states were in the process of ratifying the 13th Amendment the above notice ran in the November 11, 1865, issue of the Paris Western Citizen. It is obvious that this owner was not willing to give up his command of his slave woman Emma's labor and his rule of her life.

Another ad at this time advised:
"Notice.
I HEREBY give notice that I will enforce the law against anyone employing or harboring my negro man, Anthony. He is of black color, and is about 40 years old. MRS. MARY REDMON"

If these advertisements were in isolation they might be seen as an anomoly, but other similar notice appeared even into December 1865.

One started with an even firmer warning and was endorsed by former U.S. House of Representatives member Brutus Junius Clay. Brutus Clay was a large slaveholder from Bourbon County and the brother of noted emancipationist Cassius Marcellus Clay.

"Violators of Law Attend!  
WE hereby inform all persons who have, or shall hereafter employ, hire, trade with or harbor any slave or slaves of ours - that we will to the full extent of the law, prosecute for every such offense the person who so violates the laws of Kentucky.
B. J. CLAY, WM. CONN, JOHN A. GANO, HORACE BENTON, SIDNEY CLAY, JAS. T. WARE, B.F. FRAKES, Z.M. LAYSON, GEO. MOORE, A. KISER &C.

And yet another ran as late as December 22; a full 3 weeks after the 13th Amendment was ratified. It was much like the former, but stated by an individual rather than a group.
"Violators of Law Attend.
I hereby inform all persons who have, or shall hereafter employ, hire, trade with, or harbor any slave of mine, that I will to the full extent of the law, prosecute for every such offense the person who so violates the laws of Kentucky. PETER BRAMLETT"

As these primary sources bear out, enslaved people were a source wealth, labor, and social status that some owners very reluctantly let go of, even when the institution's end was without doubt.