When Attucks was 16 years old he was sold to Deacon William Brown. Eleven years later he escaped slavery on September 30, 1750. "As a ran-away slave he used the alias Michael Johnson." (Crispusattucksmuseum) For ten years he worked in a whaler, and then became a sea merchant for another ten years, while continuing to make ropes on the side.
The slave keeper tried finding him, and put up signs stating "Ran