Philadelphia County Slaveholders N - P

1. Nicholson, George (Slaves: Un-named young man and woman)
2. Noarth, George, Colonel (Slaves: Un-named woman and child, two young boys)
3. Noble, John (Slaves: Bristol)
4. Norris, Isaac (Slaves: Un-named man)
5. North, Edward (Slaves: Stafford)
6. North, Joshua (Slaves: Un-named man)
7. Ogden, John (Slaves: Un-named man and female child)
8. Palmer, Anthony, Capt. (Slaves: Two un-named young men)
9. Palmer, Samuel (Slaves: Multiple un-named men and boys)
10. Parker, Alexander (Slaves: Un-named male)
11. Pechin, Christopher (Slaves: Violet)
12. Peel, Anthony (Slaves: Un-named woman and man)
13. Peele, John (Slaves: Un-named man)
14. Petty, John (Slaves: Un-named man and woman)
15. Phillips, John (Slaves: Sampson)
16. Plumsted, William (Slaves: Three un-named men)
17. Powel, Samuel, Jr. (Slaves: Un-named man and woman)
18. Purdon, John (Slaves: Un-named woman and her child)

A Note on Slave Numbers

The listings below represent an ongoing effort to identify slaveholders with an emphasis on documenting as many details about their enslaved persons as possible. This is, however, only a small fraction of Philadelphia's slaveholders and enslaved persons. Published studies by prominent historians reveal that Philadelphia was home to thousands of enslaved people in the colonial period.

Historian Gary B. Nash estimated the total enslaved population of Philadelphia and Southwark during it's peak slaveholding years of 1767-1775, using tax asssessments, census records, burial records and comparisons with other reliable datasets from New York City and Boston, to come up with the following estimates of total enslaved persons in Philadelphia and Southwark in these years:

 1767: 1392
 1769: 1270
 1772: 1069
 1773: 945
 1774: 869
 1775: 672

The figures above clearly show that the listings on this page are far from complete. They also show a steady decline in the rate of slaveholding in Philadelphia due to increased abolition activity and sentiment, a significant increase in the importation of white redemptioners and indentured servants into the province after the Seven Years War, and the combination of a very high mortality rate and very low birth rate among enslaved Blacks.

Source: Nash, Gary B. “Slaves and Slaveowners in Colonial Philadelphia.” The William and Mary Quarterly 30, no. 2 (1973): 223–56. https://doi.org/10.2307/1925149.

• Slaveholder Name: Nicholson, George, Captain
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation:
  Notes: Residence on Lombard Street
  Source:

  1. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: "about 18 Years of Age"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1743
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Fellow"
     Slave Notes: Advertised for sale in August 1761: "To be SOLD, A LIKELY young Negroe Fellow, about 18 Years of Age. Enquire of Capt. GEORGE NICHOLSON, on board the Ship William and Mary, at Hamilton's Wharff, or at his House, near the New-Market."
     Date of Record: 20 August 1761
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 20 August, 3 September 1761.
      
     
  2. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Female
     Slave Age: "about 19 Years of Age"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1742
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Woman"
     Slave Notes: Advertised for sale in October 1761: "To be SOLD, A LIKELY Negroe Woman, about 19 Years of Age, fit for Town or Country Business, and has had the Small-pox and Measles. Enquire at Captain George Nicholson's in Lombard-street, near the New-Market."
     Date of Record: 22 October 1761
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 22 October 1761.

• Slaveholder Name: Noarth, George, Colonel
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation:
  Notes:

  1. Slave Name: Name not provided in ad
     Slave Sex: Female
     Slave Age: Age not given in ad, but is of a child-bearing age
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negro Wench"
     Slave Notes: Offered for sale with her child in November 1782 to liquidate the estate of Colonel George Noarth.

     TO BE SOLD,
     A Negro Wench and Child,
     part of the estate of the late colonel George Noarth. He is under a mortgage and will be sold cheap on that account. Please to apply to WILLIAM GEDDES, administrator.
     Also, to be hired one or two Negro Lads.

     Date of Record: 7 November 1782
     Sources: Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet and General Advertiser, 7 November 1782.

  2. Slave Name: Name not provided in ad
     Slave Sex: Gender not given in ad
     Slave Age: Age not given in ad, but is described as a child
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Undetermined
     Slave Description: "Child"
     Slave Notes: Offered for sale with the mother in November 1782 to liquidate the estate of Colonel George Noarth. See full text of the ad, above.
     Date of Record: 7 November 1782
     Sources: Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet and General Advertiser, 7 November 1782.

  3. Slave Name: Names not provided in ad
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Age not given in ad, but is described as a "lad"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Possibly slaves for life, but may also be term servants
     Slave Description: "Negro Lads"
     Slave Notes: Offered for hire along with the sale of a mother and her child in November 1782 to liquidate the estate of Colonel George Noarth. See full text of the ad, above.
     Date of Record: 7 November 1782
     Sources: Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet and General Advertiser, 7 November 1782.

• Slaveholder Name: Noble, John
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation:
  Notes:

  1. Slave Name: Bristol
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Age not given in ad but described as a man
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life -- runaway
     Slave Description: "Negroe Man"
     Slave Notes: Bristol escaped from Noble as part of a mass escape of enslaved persons from numerous other area owners on October 6, 1733. The slaveholders who lost slaves advertised collectively, posting rewards:

     RUN away from Justice Farmer of Whitemarsh, a Negroe Man named Gloster; from John Petty, Indian Trader, a Negroe Man and Woman; from John Baily of Philadelphia Shoemaker, a Negroe Man named Corke, from the Widow Bird of Philadelphia, a Negroe Man, and from John Noble of Philadelphia, a Negroe Man called Bristol. They all went away last Saturday, and took Guns with them, and have been seen going up Perkiomy Road last Monday Night. Whoever takes up the said Negroes or any of them so that they may be had again, shall have from Justice Farmer Five Pound, from the Widow Bird Three Pounds, and from the other Two Pounds, and reasonable Charges paid by Justice Farmer, John Petty, John Baily, Widow Bird, and John Noble.
     October 11, 1733.

     Date of Record: 11 October 1733
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 18 October 1733.

• Slaveholder Name: Norris, Isaac
  City or Township: Fairhill
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation: Merchant and politician
  Notes: Son of Isaac Norris; Lived 1701-1766.
  Source:

  1. Slave Name: Samuel
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: "Man"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not givfen
     Slave Status: Manumitted as of 13 July 1767
     Slave Description: "Negro Man"
     Slave Notes: Slave to Isaac Norris. Upon Norris' death in June 1766, Samuel was manumitted by Norris' executors, his daughter Mary and wife Sarah:

     KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that we Mary and Sarah Norris joint administratrices of the Estate of Isaac Norris late of Fairhill in the County of Philadelphia Esqr deceased, have granted and agreed that a certain Negro Man named Samuel late the property of their dear Parent the before mention'd Isaac Norris, upon Conditions shall be free, these therefore Witnesseth that for and in Consideration of his faithfull Services to his late honoured Master they do jointly agree that he the said Samuel shall from and after the thirteenth day of July next be free and discharg'd from his Servitude and shall have a bill of Manumission for that purpose in due form of Law. Provided Nevertheless that in the mean while the said Samuel doth faithfully and honestly serve them the said Mary and Sarah Norris on the same Conditions and in the same manner he has hitherto done otherwise this Obligation to be void and of no Effect.
     In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and Seals this eighteenth day of September ANNO DOMINI 1766.
     Mary Norris [Seal]
     Sarah Norris [Seal]
     Sealed & deliver'd in the presence of ] Mary Griffitts, Hannah Harrison, junr

     Date of Record: 18 September 1766
     Sources: "Notes and Queries," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 38, No. 2 (1914), p. 244.

• Slaveholder Name: North, Edward
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation:
  Notes: Residence "in Third-street between Vine and Race-streets"
  Source:

  1. Slave Name: Stafford
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: "about 18 years of age"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1764
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negro Fellow"
     Slave Notes: Escaped from North on September 9, 1782. North placed the following ad to recover him:

     Thirty Dollars Reward.
     RAN-AWAY on the 9th September, from the subscriber, a negro Fellow named STAFFORD, about 18 years of age, thin visage, with pretty large lips and small legs, and in general does not look very pleasant. He is very artful and no doubt will endeavor to pass as a free man: had on when he went away, a small black hat with a samll black feather in it, short brown cloth coat with a red velvet cape, scarlet waistcoat, brown breeches with thread stockings, and a pair of pumps with pinchbeck buckles in them. Whoever will deliver the said Negro to the Warden of the Work-house or the subscriber, living in Philadelphia, in Third-street between Vine and Race-streets, shall have the above Reward and all reasonable Charges paid, by
     EDWARD NORTH.
     Octo. 18.
     N.B. The coat and waistcoat has been turned, which is visible by the button holes.

     Date of Record: 18 October 1782
     Sources: Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet and General Advertiser, 7 November 1782.

• Slaveholder Name: North, Joshua
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation: Tallow chandler
  Notes: Residence on Arch Street
  Source:

  1. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: "between 30 and 40 Years of Age"
     Slave Date of Birth: between 1730 and 1740
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Man"
     Slave Notes: Advertised for sale in March 1770: "TO BE SOLD, A STRONG healthy NEGROE MAN, between 30 and 40 Years of Age, understands Farming well. For Terms, enquire of JOSHUA NORTH, living in Arch-Street."
     North was still advertising to sell the man in June 1770.
     Date of Record: 29 March 1770
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 29 March, 1770.

• Slaveholder Name: Ogden, John
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation: Tanner
  Notes: Business on Chestnut Street

  1. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Not stated, but described as a "man"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Man"
     Slave Notes: Ogden offered for sale in November 1737: "TO BE SOLD, BY John Ogden, Tanner, in Chestnut-Street, Philadelphia, very reasonably, a Negroe Man, that can Work at the Tanners Trade, and some part of the Curriers Trade: And also a Negroe Girl about seven or eight Years old, this Country Born."
     Date of Record: 10 November 1737
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 10 November 1737.
      
     
  2. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Female
     Slave Age: "about seven or eight Years old"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1729 or 1730
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Girl"
     Slave Notes: Ogden offered for sale in November 1737 (see text of ad above). See also the listing of the enslaved girl offered for sale in June of 1740, below.
     Date of Record: 10 November 1737
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 10 November 1737.
      
     
  3. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Female
     Slave Age: "about 11 Years of Age"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1729
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negro Girl"
     Slave Notes: Ogden offered for sale in June 1740: "To be Sold by John Ogden, a likely Negro Girl, about 11 Years of Age, and this Country born." This is possibly the same girl as in the listing above.
     Date of Record: 19 June 1740
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 19 June 1740.

• Slaveholder Name: Palmer, Anthony, Captain
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation:
  Notes: Captain Anthony Palmer?

  1. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Not stated, but described as a "young man"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Young Likely Negroe Men"
     Slave Notes: Palmer offered for sale in June 1734: "To Be SOLD, BY Capt. Palmer, Two young Likely Negroe Men, Country born, bred up in a Farm, and can do all manner of Plantation Work. Also 50 Acres of good Grass Land within two Miles of Philadelphia, to be Sold in 5 Acre Lotts, or the Whole at reasonable Rates."
     Date of Record: 13 June 1734
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 13, 20 June 1734.
      
     
  2. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Not stated, but described as a "young man"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Young Likely Negroe Men"
     Slave Notes: Palmer offered for sale in June 1734 (see text of ad above).
     Date of Record: 13 June 1734
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 13, 20 June 1734.

• Slaveholder Name: Palmer, Samuel
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation: Merchant; factor; slave merchant
  Notes: "House in Third-street, betwixt Market and Arch-streets." In 1749, Palmer served as co-executor for the estate of Thomasin Keith, and advertised to sell three enslaved persons to settle the estate.

  1. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: "about twenty years of age"
     Slave Date of Birth: Circa 1733
     Slave Status: Slaves for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe men"
     Slave Notes: Palmer offered for sale in September 1753: "TO be sold by SAMUEL PALMER, at his house in Third-street, betwixt Market and Arch-streets, two likely Negroe men, about twenty years of age, and a boy about fourteen. Also rum, sugar and coffee."
     Date of Record: 6 September 1753
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 6 September 1753.

  2. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: "a boy about fourteen"
     Slave Date of Birth: Circa 1739
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "boy"
     Slave Notes: Palmer offered for sale in September 1753 (see text of ad above).
     Date of Record: 6 September 1753
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 6 September 1753.

  3. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Age not given in ad, described as a "boy"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Boy"
     Slave Notes: Palmer offered for sale in August 1754: "TO be SOLD, by SAMUEL PALMER, At his house in Third-street, adjoining the house of Mr. Fox, A LIKELY NEGROE BOY, who has had the small-pox."
     Date of Record: 29 August 1754
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 29 August 1754.

  4. Slave Names: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Age not provided in ad. All are described as "boys."
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slaves for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Boys"
     Slave Notes: Palmer offered four enslaved boys for sale in May 1755: "To be SOLD, by SAMUEL PALMER, At his house in Third-street, near Arch-street, FOUR likely NEGROE BOYS. Also Muscovado Sugar."
     Date of Record: 22 May 1755
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 22 May 1755.

• Slaveholder Name: Parker, Alexander
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation:
  Notes: Residence on Arch Street "almost opposite to the Church Burying-ground."

  1. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Not stated, but described as a "fellow"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe fellow"
     Slave Notes: Parker offered for sale in January 1756: "To be SOLD, A LIKELY able Negroe fellow, fit for town or country business. Enquire of ALEXANDER PARKER, almost opposite to the Church Burying-ground, in Arch-street." This ad ran regularly through February 5, 1756.
     Date of Record: 08 January 1756
     Sources: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 08 January 1756.
      
     

• Slaveholder Name: Pechin, Christopher
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation:
  Notes:

  1. Slave Name: Violet
     Slave Sex: Female
     Slave Age: "about 27 years of age"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1749
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Wench"
     Slave Notes: Violet "lived some time with Anthony Hull, tavern-keeper." She ran away from Pechin on May 15, 1776.

     Philadelphia, July 17, 1776.
     TWO DOLLARS REWARD.
     RUN away from the subscriber, the 15th of May last, a Negroe Wench, named Violet, about 27 years of age, she is pretty lusty and fat, she has lived some time with Anthony Hull, tavern-keeper; had on, when she went away, a homespun lincey petticoat, and a coarse geen baize short gown; lost one of her under fore teeth, her two thumbs are remarkably round, short and stumpy; She has been seen about the lower part of the city and Society-Hill. Whoever will take up said Negroe wench, and secure her in the Work-house, or bring her home, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges, paid by CHRISTOPHER PECHIN.
     N.B. All persons are forbid to harbour or conceal said Negroe Wench, as they will be prosecuted with the severity of the law.

     
     Date of Record: 17 July 1776
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 24 July 1776

• Slaveholder Name: Peel, Anthony
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation: Merchant
  Notes: Arch Street; In 1739, Peel advertised for all persons to settle accounts with him because he was "removing" to the country.

  1. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Female
     Slave Age: "about 30 Years of Age"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1708
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Woman"
     Slave Notes: Peel advertised to sell this woman and a man in March 1738:

     TO BE SOLD,
     By ANTHONY PEEL, living in Arch-Street, PHILADELPHIA:
     A LIKELY Negroe Woman, about 30 Years of Age, fit any Sort of Houshold Business. And a Negroe Boy about 20 Years of Age, born in this City. As also Sundry Sorts of Merchant Goods, viz. Ozenbrigs, Currants, Raisins, Gun-Powder both F and FF, Sowing Silks of cloth-and-light-Colours, Ferits, Silk Qualities, Pins, Tapes, Garterings; with Sundry other Sorts. And several Sorts of Choice Houshold Goods. And the House he now lives in, to be LET.

     Date of Record: 07 March 1738; ad ran through March 21, 1738.
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 14 March 1738.
      
     
  2. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: "about 20 Years of Age"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1718
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Boy"
     Slave Notes: Born in Philadelphia. Peel advertised to sell this man along with an older woman in March 1738. See above for full text of the ad.
     Date of Record: 14 March 1738
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 14 March 1738.

• Slaveholder Name: Peele, John
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation: Sea captain
  Notes:

  1. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: "about Twenty-six Years of Age"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1719
     Slave Status: Slaves for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Fellow"
     Slave Notes: Peele advertised to sell this man in December 1745: "To be SOLD, A Likely young Negroe Fellow, about Twenty-six Years of Age, suitable for any Farming or Plantation Business, having been long accustomed to it, and has had the Small-pox. Enquire of John Peele, living in Arch Street."
     Date of Record: 06 December 1745
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 06 December 1745.

• Slaveholder Name: Petty, John
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation: "Indian Trader"
  Notes:

  1. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Age not given in ad but described as a man
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life -- runaway
     Slave Description: "Negroe Man"
     Slave Notes: This person escaped from Petty as part of a mass escape of enslaved persons from numerous other area owners on October 6, 1733. The slaveholders who lost slaves advertised collectively, posting rewards:

     RUN away from Justice Farmer of Whitemarsh, a Negroe Man named Gloster; from John Petty, Indian Trader, a Negroe Man and Woman; from John Baily of Philadelphia Shoemaker, a Negroe Man named Corke, from the Widow Bird of Philadelphia, a Negroe Man, and from John Noble of Philadelphia, a Negroe Man called Bristol. They all went away last Saturday, and took Guns with them, and have been seen going up Perkiomy Road last Monday Night. Whoever takes up the said Negroes or any of them so that they may be had again, shall have from Justice Farmer Five Pound, from the Widow Bird Three Pounds, and from the other Two Pounds, and reasonable Charges paid by Justice Farmer, John Petty, John Baily, Widow Bird, and John Noble.
     October 11, 1733.

     Date of Record: 11 October 1733
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 18 October 1733.
      
     
  2. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Female
     Slave Age: Age not given in ad but described as a woman
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life -- runaway
     Slave Description: "Negroe Woman"
     Slave Notes: This person escaped from Petty as part of a mass escape of enslaved persons from numerous other area owners on October 6, 1733. The slaveholders who lost slaves advertised collectively, posting rewards. See above for full text of the ad.
     Date of Record: 11 October 1733
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 18 October 1733.

• Slaveholder Name: Phillips, John
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation: Sea Captain; rope-maker
  Notes: Residence and ropewalk on Water Street

  1. Slave Name: Sampson
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: "about 40 years of age"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1711
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Man"
     Slave Notes: Sampson escaped from Phillips regularly. Below is an advertisement from a May 1751 escape:

     Runaway from the subscriber, on the 4th of May last, a Negroe man named Sampson, about 40 years of age, a short well-set fellow, much pitted with the small-pox, has a very old look; Had on when he went away, a blue fearnothing jacket, ozenbrigs Shirt and trowsers, and old felt hat; makes a practice of running away, and skulk in woods near plantations, was taken up last year and put into Amboy goal. Whoever takes up said Negroe, or secures him in any prison, so that his master may come to the knowledge of him, shall have Forty Shillings reward, and reasonable charges, paid by his master, JOHN PHILLIPS, of Philadelphia.

     By the date of this ad, Sampson had been away more than five months. This same ad was published in the Pennsylvania Gazette as late as April 1752, the only editing being an increase in the reward from "Forty Shillings" to "Five Pounds." Date of Record: 10 October 1751
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 10 October 1751, 26 April 1752.

• Slaveholder Name: Plumsted, William
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation:
  Notes: Son of Clement Plumsted. William lived 1708-1765. His second wife was Mary McCall, sister of Samuel McCall, Jr. The Plumsted family amassed great wealth, becoming one of the richest in the colonial Middle Atlantic region. William was Mayor of Philadelphia in 1750, 1754 and 1755. He helped found the College of Philadelphia, now University of Pennsylvania.
  In addition to the men advertised below, in 1755 William Plumsted partnered with Samuel Mifflin on a cargo of people brought into Philadelphia on the ship Five Friends: "JUST imported in the Ship Five Friends, Alexander M'Millan, Master, a few likely NEGROES; who are to be disposed of by WILLIAM PLUMSTED and SAMUEL MIFFLIN." (See Pennsylvania Slave Dealers)
  Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 02 October 1755; "Penn & Slavery Project,"

  1. Slave Name: No name provided
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Ages not given, but described as "men"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known, but probably between 1710 and 1715
     Slave Status: Slaves for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Man"
     Slave Notes: William Plumsted offered three men for sale in October 1733: "THREE likely young Negroe Men fit for Town or Country Business To be Sold by William Plumstead."
     Date of Record: 18 October 1733
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 18 October 1733.
      
     
  2. Slave Name: No name provided
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Ages not given, but described as "men"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known, but probably between 1710 and 1715
     Slave Status: Slaves for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Man"
     Slave Notes: William Plumsted offered three men for sale in October 1733: "THREE likely young Negroe Men fit for Town or Country Business To be Sold by William Plumstead."
     Date of Record: 18 October 1733
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 18 October 1733.
      
     
  3. Slave Name: No name provided
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Ages not given, but described as "men"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known, but probably between 1710 and 1715
     Slave Status: Slaves for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Man"
     Slave Notes: William Plumsted offered three men for sale in October 1733: "THREE likely young Negroe Men fit for Town or Country Business To be Sold by William Plumstead."
     Date of Record: 18 October 1733
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 18 October 1733.

• Slaveholder Name: Powel, Samuel, Jr.
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation:
  Notes: Residence or shop was "below the Draw-Bridge." Quaker Samuel Powel, Jr. was a general merchant, importing goods from Europe and the West Indies. He owned the ship Tryall in partnership with Clement Plumsted. He had significant dealings with the Plumsteds and other prominent Quaker families and became quite wealthy, eventually owning over ninety houses.
  Sources: "Biographical Statement," the Powel Family Business Papers, The Winterthur Library, The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera, accessed online 21 October 2023 at http://findingaid.winterthur.org/html/HTML_Finding_Aids/COL0232.htm.

  1. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Male
     Slave Age: Not stated, but described as a "man"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Man"
     Slave Notes: Offered for sale by Powel in April 1745: "To be SOLD: A Likely young Negroe Man and Woman, fit for Town or Country Business. Enquire of Samuel Powel, junior, below the Draw-Bridge."
     Date of Record: 27 October 1743
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 12 April 1745.
      
     
  2. Slave Name: Not named
     Slave Sex: Female
     Slave Age: Not stated, but described as a "woman"
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Woman"
     Slave Notes: Offered for sale by Powel in April 1745: "To be SOLD: A Likely young Negrow Man and Woman, fit for Town or Country Business. Enquire of Samuel Powel, junior, below the Draw-Bridge."
     Date of Record: 27 October 1743
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 12 April 1745.

• Slaveholder Name: Purdon, John
  City or Township: Philadelphia
  County: Philadelphia County
  Occupation: Soap boiler and tallow chandler
  Notes:

  1. Slave Name: Unnamed woman
     Slave Sex: Female
     Slave Age: Not stated, but of childbearing age
     Slave Date of Birth: Not known
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Negroe Wench"
     Slave Notes: Offered for sale in March 1767 along with her two-year-old child. Text of the advertisement placed by John Purdon:

     To be SOLD by the Subscriber,
     A LIKELY Negroe Wench, with a Female Child about 2 Years old, that has had the Small Pox, can do all Kinds of House Work, being used to Town and Country, can be recommended for her Honesty. Sold on Account of its not answering to have a breeding Wench in the Family.
     JOHN PURDON.

     Date of Record: 5 March 1767
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 5 March 1767.
      
     
  2. Slave Name: Unnamed child
     Slave Sex: Female
     Slave Age: "about 2 Years old"
     Slave Date of Birth: circa 1765
     Slave Status: Slave for life
     Slave Description: "Child"
     Slave Notes: Offered for sale in March 1767 along with her mother. See above for the text of the advertisement placed by John Purdon.
     Date of Record: 5 March 1767
     Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 5 March 1767.