Quaw, an African American man from Bladen County, North Carolina, was enslaved by Job Howe. Quaw's name was likely an English version of the Akan name Yaw, which was given to boys born on Thursdays. Quaw's name indicates he might have been have been born in Africa, or born to African-born parents. In 1739 Quaw joined a white convict named John Watson and an enslaved man named Jack and agreed to run away with them to Virginia. Watson was captured when the group tried to rob Hugh Blaning's plantation, but any records indicating whether Quaw and Jack were ever captured have not been located.