Slaveholders Listed on this Page
- Nichols, William (Enslaved Persons: Pompy)
- Nicholson, George (Enslaved Persons: Un-named young man and woman)
- Noarth, George, Colonel (Enslaved Persons: Un-named woman and child, two young boys)
- Noble, John (Enslaved Persons: Bristol)
- Norris, Isaac (Enslaved Persons: Peter, Samuel)
- North, Edward (Enslaved Persons: Stafford)
- North, Joshua (Enslaved Persons: Un-named man)
- Ogden, John (Enslaved Persons: Un-named man and female child)
- Oliphant, Horatio (Enslaved Persons: Prince Cage)
- Ord, George, Captain (Enslaved Persons: Un-named young man)
- Orr, Dunlope and Glenholme Company (Enslaved Persons: Un-named boy)
- Palmer, Anthony, Capt. (Enslaved Persons: Two un-named young men, other enslaved persons)
- Palmer, Samuel (Enslaved Persons: Multiple un-named men and boys)
- Pare, Edward (Enslaved Persons: Un-named female)
- Parker, Alexander (Enslaved Persons: Un-named male)
- Parvin, Silas (Enslaved Persons: Sampson, Sam, Tom)
- Pascalis, Felix (Enslaved Persons: Joseph Brown)
- Pechin, Christopher (Enslaved Persons: Violet)
- Peel, Anthony (Enslaved Persons: Un-named men and a woman)
- Peele, John (Enslaved Persons: Un-named man)
- Peller, James (Enslaved Persons: Un-named man)
- Pemberton, Joseph (Enslaved Persons: Charles Case)
- Penrose, Mary and Joseph (Enslaved Persons: Un-named man and woman)
- Pettit, Charles (Enslaved Persons: Un-named teenaged boy)
- Petty, John (Enslaved Persons: Un-named man and woman)
- Peyton and Adcock, Merchants (Enslaved Persons: Un-named girl)
- Phillips, John (Enslaved Persons: Sampson)
- Pine, Widow (Enslaved Persons: two un-named persons)
- Plumsted, William (Enslaved Persons: Three un-named men)
- Polgreen, Thomas (Enslaved Persons: Un-named young man)
- Potts, David (Enslaved Persons: Ann)
- Powel, Samuel, Jr. (Enslaved Persons: Un-named man and woman)
- Pruden, Thomas, Captain (Enslaved Persons: Un-named man)
- Purdon, John (Enslaved Persons: Un-named woman and her child)
- Purdy, Robert (Enslaved Persons: Un-named woman)
Enslavement Data
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: Nichols, William, Captain
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Nichols served in the Revolutionary War as Quartermaster of the 6th Pennsylvania, and Captain of the 7th Pennsylvania regiment. An attorney, he later served as clerk of the Philadelphia Orphans Court and its Court of Quarter Sessions. As US Marshall, Nichols was dispatched in February 1799 from Philadelphia to Bethlehem in Northampton County to serve arrest warrants for those resisting federal tax assessors. The resulting uprising against the arrests became known as Fries Rebellion. Pennsylvania militia troops from Philadelphia were called in to quell the rebellion.
Notes: Residence on Front Street below Walnut. The first Census of the United States, 1790, recorded no enslaved persons in his Philadelphia household. Nichols died in 1804.
Sources: Biographical information from "Founders Online," National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-06-02-0061, accessed 09 July 2024; Grubb, Patrick, "Fries Rebellion," Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/fries-rebellion/, accessed 09 July 2024.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Pompy
Sex: Male
Age: "about twenty five or thirty years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1750-1755
Status: Slave for life, self-emancipated in September 1780
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Pompy escaped from Nichols on September 16, 1780. Nichols placed the following ad in the local newspaper to recover him:
Philadelphia, September 18, 1780.
Five Hundred Dollars Reward.
RANAWAY, on the night of the 16th inst. from the Subscriber, a likely Negro Man, named POMPY, about five feet six inches high, square built, about twenty five or thirty years of age, had on when he went away, a round old hat, red jacket, drilling short coat, and tow linen trowsers.
Whoever takes up said Servant, and secures him in any goal of the United States, or returns him to his master in Front below Walnut street, shall receive the above reward, and grateful acknowledgment from
WILLIAM NICHOLS.
N.B. All master of vessels are forbid carrying him off at their peril.
Note the high dollar amount offered for a reward, compared to ads from other decades. With the beginning of the Revolution, the Continental Congress printed paper dollars, known as "Continentals," tied in value to the Spanish dollar instead of the British pound. Wartime inflation combined with shortages of goods and raw materials soon took a toll on the value of the Continental Dollar and by 1780 it took sixty Continental Dollars to buy one dollar in specie. That rate would increase to 167 to 1 several months into 1781.
Date of Record: 18 September 1780
Sources: Dunlap and Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser, 19 September 1780.
- Slaveholder Name: Nicholson, George, Captain
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation:
Notes: Residence on Lombard Street
Source:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: "about 18 Years of Age"
Date of Birth: circa 1743
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Fellow"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Female
Age: "about 19 Years of Age"
Date of Birth: circa 1742
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Woman"
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:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Name not provided in ad
Sex: Female
Age: Age not given in ad, but is of a child-bearing age
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro Wench"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Name not provided in ad
Sex: Gender not given in ad
Age: Age not given in ad, but is described as a child
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Undetermined
Description: "Child"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Names not provided in ad
Sex: Male
Age: Age not given in ad, but is described as a "lad"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Possibly slaves for life, but may also be term servants
Description: "Negro Lads"
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:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Bristol
Sex: Male
Age: Age not given in ad but described as a man
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life -- runaway
Description: "Negroe Man"
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:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Peter
Sex: Male
Age: "
Date of Birth:
Status: Slave for life; escaped
Description: "Negroe-man"
Notes: Peter escaped from Norris at the end of February 1728. Norris placed the following ad to recover him:
RUN away from Isaac Norris, 4 Weeks past, a Negroe-man named Peter, this Country born, about 30 Years of Age, (having Variety of Cloaths, 'tis uncertain which he may be found in) but went away in a New Leather Jacket and Breeches, a brown Kersey Loose Coat, shoes and stockings. Whoever shall bring him to me, or secure him in the Worke House of Philadelphia, shall be duly rewarded for so doing, by Isaac Norris.
Date of Record: 28 March 1728
Sources: American Weekly Mercury (Philadelphia), 28 March 1728.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Samuel
Sex: Male
Age: "Man"
Date of Birth: Not given
Status: Manumitted as of 13 July 1767
Description: "Negro Man"
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:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Stafford
Sex: Male
Age: "about 18 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1764
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro Fellow"
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:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: "between 30 and 40 Years of Age"
Date of Birth: between 1730 and 1740
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
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
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Not stated, but described as a "man"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
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
BR>Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 10 November 1737.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Female
Age: "about seven or eight Years old"
Date of Birth: circa 1729 or 1730
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Girl"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Female
Age: "about 11 Years of Age"
Date of Birth: circa 1729
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro Girl"
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: Oliphant, Horatio
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Prince Cage
Sex: Male
Age: "about 22 years old"
Date of Birth: circa 1773
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Cage escaped from the ship Polly on November 27, 1795 while at Port Penn, Delaware. Oliphant placed the following escape notice in Philadelphia newspapers:
Three Pounds Reward.
RANAWAY, from on board the Brig POLLY, Captain WRATH, on Friday the 27th inst. off Port-Penn, A NEGRO MAN, named PRINCE CAGE, about 22 years old, 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, pretty well built, turns in his shoes, one of his big toes off -- can work on a farm. he took along with him one blue jacket, 1 pair of blue trowsers, a pair of stockings, one shirt, and a blanket.
I do hereby forewarn all masters of vessels, or any person, from harbouring the said PRINCE CAGE; and whoever takes him up, and secures him, shall receive the above reward, and reasonable charges paid by me,
HORATIO OLIPHANT.
Dec. 2.
Date of Record: 02 December 1795; ad ran through January 07, 1796.
Sources: Aurora General Advertiser, 02 December 1795.
- Slaveholder Name: Ord, George, Captain
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Ship Chandler, location on Second Street "between South and Shippen"
Notes: Privateer captain during Revolutionary War
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named in ad
Sex: Male
Age: "about eighteen years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1762
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro lad"
Notes: Ogden offered for sale in August 1780:
TO BE SOLD.
A HEALTHY Negro lad, about eighteen years of age, remarkable for his strength, with an extraordinary character, used to house work, and to take care of horses. Enquire of Capt. George Ord, in Second-street, between South and Shippen streets, Philadelphia.
Date of Record: 08 August 1780
Sources: Dunlap and Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser, 08 August 1780.
- Slaveholder Name: Orr, Dunlope and Glenholme Company
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Merchants; Business located on Fishburn's Wharf
Notes: Andrew Orr, George Dunlop, William Glenholme. All company assets placed up for public auction, including an enslaved boy, in April 1769.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named in ad
Sex: Male
Age: Age not reported in ad, but described as a "boy."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe boy"
Notes: Advertised for public auction on April 6, 1769 as part of the assets of this company: "Also, a very likely negroe boy." Complete text of auction notice:
To be SOLD, by public VENDUE, On Thursday, the 6th of April next, at 9 o'clock in the morning, at the house of Messieurs Orr, Dunlope and Glenholme, on Mr. Fishburn's wharf, and opposite Mr. Reese Meredith's,
ALL said Orr, Dunlope, and Glenholme's houshold furniture, consisting of feather beds, mahogany chairs and tables, a mahogany desk and book-case, looking glasses, pictures, carpets, andirons, and a variety of other house and kitchen furniture, too tedious to mention, -- A parcel of very choice English rigging, and 3 machines for cleaning of flaxseed, in compleat order; also a very likely negroe boy. Attendance will be given, by Benjamin Fuller, Randle Mitchell, John Pringle, James Craig, and John Boyle, Assignees to the creditors of Messieurs Orr, Dunlope, and Glenholme.
The Assignees desire those indebted to said company, to settle their respective accounts with them, to prevent further trouble; and those who have any demands against said company, are desired to furnish the Assignees with their accounts.
To be sold by said Assignees, at private sale, the famous horse NORTHUMBERLAND.
Note that the enslaved boy was to suffer the indignity of a public auction, while the racehorse "Northumberland" was to be sold in a more discrete private sale. In separate ads, the complete genealogy, breeders, race history and purses won by the horse were listed, while the enslaved boy's name and age were not considered important enough to include in the auction ad.
Date of Record: 23 March 1769
Sources: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 23 March 1769; The Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, 13 April 1769.
- Slaveholder Name: Palmer, Anthony, Captain
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation:
Notes: Captain Anthony Palmer?
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Sex not specified in ad
Age: Ages not stated in ad
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slaves for life
Description: "Negroes"
Notes: Palmer offered for sale in May 1729: "FOUR likely Negroes, to be Sold by Capt. Anthony Palmer."
Date of Record: 15 May 1729
Sources: The American Weekly Mercury (Philadelphia), 15 May 1729.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Not stated, but described as a "young man"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Young Likely Negroe Men"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Slave Sex: Male
Age: Not stated, but described as a "young man"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Young Likely Negroe Men"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: "about twenty years of age"
Date of Birth: Circa 1733
Status: Slaves for life
Description: "Negroe men"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: "a boy about fourteen"
Date of Birth: Circa 1739
Status: Slave for life
Description: "boy"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Age not given in ad, described as a "boy"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Boy"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Names: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Age not provided in ad. All are described as "boys."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slaves for life
Description: "Negroe Boys"
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: Pare, Edward
City or Township: Philadelphia, North Ward
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation:
Notes: Edward Pare seems to have been born in and a resident of Barbados, owning substantial property there. He appears in records as "Hon. Edward Pare," and "Edward Pare, Gent." He may have been in Philadelphia only temporarily, on business.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Female
Age: Not stated, but described as a "wench"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro Wench"
Notes: Pare offered this woman for sale in June 1749, advertising her as a bargain due to his need to "speedily" leave Philadelphia:
Philadelphia, June 15, 1749.
AS EDWARD PARE intends shortly to Barbados, he now give Notice: That the Negro Wench which he offer'd for sale some Time ago, on Conditions, he will now Dispose off out and out in fee for 80 Pounds Philadelphia Currency, altho' he might have had 100 £ York Currency, but was not then determined to leave the Norward so speedily; and she so fit a Wench for all Manner of Houshold Affairs.
Date of Record: June 15, 1749
Sources: The Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, 15 June 1749.
- Slaveholder Name: Parker, Alexander
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation:
Notes: Residence on Arch Street "almost opposite to the Church Burying-ground." Died circa 1769.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Not stated, but described as a "fellow"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe fellow"
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; this ad was published through February 5, 1756.
Sources: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 08 January 1756.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Tom Tony
Sex: Male
Age: "about thirty-five years of age" (at time of escape from Joseph Watkins)
Date of Birth: circa 1734
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe man"
Notes: Sold to Joseph Watkins, Jr., at some point. Tom Tony escaped from Joseph Watkins, Jr. on November 13, 1769:
RUN away from the Subscriber, of Philadelphia, on the thirteenth of this instant November, a NEGROE man, named TOM TONY, about thirty-five years of age, tall and slender; had on, a new felt hat, a wollen cap, a light coloured nap coat and jacket, a great coat of the same colour, half worn buckskin breeches, and white yarn stockings. He formerly belonged to the late Alexander Parker. Whoever secures said Negroe, so that his master may have him again, shall have Four Dollars reward, and reasonable charges, paid by
JOSEPH WATKINS, junior.
In December 1769, Lancaster jailer George Eberly advertised the capture of a man that he thought was Tom Tony, but Eberly's description of the man in his custody differs significantly in physical description and clothing from that provided here by Joseph Watkins, Jr. See Eberly's ad here for comparison. Dates of Records: 23 November 1769
Sources: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 23 November 1769.
- Slaveholder Name: Parvin, Silas
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Shallop man; Innkeeper (Cohansey Bridge, later Bridgetown, Cumberland County, New Jersey)
Notes: Silas Parvin's land claims in Cohansey Bridge were in dispute due to an old survey. This may explain why he also owned a farm outside of Philadelphia and maintained a residence in the city.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sampson
Sex: Male
Age: "about 50 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1697
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe man;" "has some Indian blood in him"
Notes: Sampson and his son Sam escaped from Cohansey Bridge, in western New Jersey on September 20, 1747:
RUN away, on the 20th of September last, from Cohansie Bridge, a very big Negroe man, named Sampson, about 50 years of age, has some Indian blood in him, is hip-shot, and goes very lame; he has taken his son with him, a boy about 12 or 14 years of age, named Sam; he was born of an Indian woman, and looks much like an Indian, except in his hair; both belonging to Silas Parvin of Philadelphia, and are both well clothes, only the boy is barefoot; they have taken with them a gun and ammunition, and two rugs; can both talk Indian very well, and it is likely they have dressed themselves in Indian dress, and gone towards Carolina. Whoever secures said slaves, so that their master may have them again, shall have Five Pounds reward, and all reasonable charges, paid by
SILAS PARVIN.
Date of Record: 01 October 1747
Sources: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 01 October 1747.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sam
Sex: Male
Age: "about 12 or 14 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1733 or 1735
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Boy;" "born of an Indian woman, and looks much like an Indian"
Notes: Sam and his fathre Sampson escaped from Cohansey Bridge, in western New Jersey on September 20, 1747. See the entry for Sampson, above, for complete text of the escape notice placed by Parvin.
Date of Record: 01 October 1747
Sources: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 01 October 1747.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Tom
Sex: Male
Age: Not stated, but described as a "fellow"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro fellow"
Notes: Tom escaped from Parvin in the late summer of 1750:
RUN-away from Silas Parvin, of this City, a Negro fellow Named Tom, about five Feet six Inches high, a thick well-set fellow, very large legs and Arms, much pitted with the small Pox; talks good English, and is so smooth Tongu'd that he is almost capable to make any Body believe all he says: He took with him when he went away, two good oznabrigs Shirts, two good pair of Trowsers, an oznabrigs and a good cloth Jacket, a brown cloth Coat, old Hatt, old Shoes with brass Buckles, and blue worsted Stockings. Whoever takes up said Negro, and brings him to his Master shall have Twenty Shillings Reward, and reasonable Charges paid by SILAS PARVIN.
Date of Record: 13 September 1750 (ad ran in various newspapers through February 1751.)
Sources: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 13 September 1750, The Pennsylvania Journal or Weekly Advertiser, 01 November 1750.
- Slaveholder Name: Pascalis, Felix
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Physician, cleric
Notes: Felix Pascalis (1762–1833) arrived in Philadelphia during the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 and treated those afflicted with the deadly disease. He was not a slaveholder, and his inclusion here is only to document the details of Joseph Brown, below, an indentured servant. While living earlier in Haiti, Pascalis observed plantation slavery firsthand and spoke out publicly against it. Later in life he supported the American cultivation of mulberry trees to raise silkworms for the domestic production of silk, a plan supported by many abolitionist leaders as a substitute for slave-produced cotton.
Source: Biographical information at Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-15-02-0256, accessed 11 July 2024.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Joseph Brown
Sex: Male
Age: "aged 17 years"
Date of Birth: Circa 1783
Status: Indentured
Description: "Mulatto Boy"
Notes: Brown's relative freedom status is unclear. The runaway ad below suggests he is an indentured servant, contracted as a teenager. He may have been born free or living free when Pascalis acquired him. He escaped on the evening of September 28, 1800.
Stop Thief!
THIRTY DOLLARS REWARD.
RAN-AWAY from the subscriber, on Sunday 28th inst. late in the evening, an indented Mulatto Boy, aged 17 years, engaged by the name of Joseph Brown, saying himself to be from Lancaster or that neighborhood; he is stiff set, has a round face, short hair, large mouth, smiling countenance, dull speech, big hands and feet, and he has no beard. He may dress himself with a genteel coat of light drab colour, white buttons, and black cape. He wears a good round black hat.
He has stolen from the subscriber upwards of 100 dollars in cash and value of other objects. Whoever will apprehend and secure him with as much value about him will receive the above reward, and 10 dollars is the young villain can only be brought to condign punishment.
FELIX PASCALIS,
No. 70 South Street
Sept. 29.
Date of Record: 29 September 1800
Sources: Gazette of the United States and Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia), 29 September 1800.
- Slaveholder Name: Pechin, Christopher
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Violet
Sex: Female
Age: "about 27 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1749
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Wench"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Age not given, but described as a "man"
Date of Birth: Not knonw
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Offered for sale in August 1733: "To be SOLD, BY Capt. Anthony Peele, in Mulberry-Street (commonly called Arch-Street) in Philadelphia, a lusty likely Negro Man, for for City or Country."
Date of Record: 23 August 1733
Sources: The American Weekly Mercury (Philadelphia), 23 August 1733.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Female
Age: "about 30 Years of Age"
Date of Birth: circa 1708
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Woman"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: "about 20 Years of Age"
Date of Birth: circa 1718
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Boy"
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:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: "about Twenty-six Years of Age"
Date of Birth: circa 1719
Status: Slaves for life
Description: "Negroe Fellow"
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: Peller, James
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Age not specified in ad, but described as a "man."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slaves for life
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Peller advertised to sell this man in June 1742: "To be SOLD, A NEGRO Man a Sail-maker, and a good Saylor, by James Peller."
Date of Record: 03 June 1742
Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 03 June 1742.
- Slaveholder Name: Pemberton, Joseph
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Merchant, grazier
Notes: Joseph Pemberton, son of Israel Pemberton, was one of Philadelphia's wealthiest Quaker merchants. His Georgian mansion, built in 1774 next to Carpenter's Hall, was re-constructed in the 1960s as part of Independence National Historical Park, and may be viewed today.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Charles Case
Sex: Male
Age: "about twenty-six years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1750
Status: "Servant"
Description: "Mulatto Servant Man"
Notes: Case escaped from the Pemberton household on September 29, 1776. Pemberton advetised him as a "servant," he apparently having been sentenced to an indenture to pay fines for thefts (see ads, below). The following ad appeared in a local Philadelphia newspaper:
Philadelphia, 5th of Tenth Month, 1776.
EIGHT DOLLARS Reward.
RAN away from the subscriber, on the 29th of the Ninth Month, a MULATO servant man named CHARLES CASE, about five feen nine or ten inches high, near twenty years of age, well made, when in haste to speak, stammers.
He had on a felt hat, old homespun shirt patched, a striped jacket without sleeves, new homespun trousers, one leg has been paced near the bottom, a pair of blue and white cotton stockings. He stole forty-five shillings, and has bought a new check shirt, and a new pair of shoes, and will likely lay out the rest for small trifles. Whoever secures the said servant, so that his master may have him again, shall have the above reward and reasonable charges.
JOSEPH PEMBERTON, grazier.
N.B. It is likely that he will get a pass forged, as he has done time past, the reason of his being a servant is, his repeated thefts, though he declared to me that it was sickness.
Another ad appeared in a different newspaper about two months later. The details of his clothing, amount of money and additinal items taken is different enough to suggest that Case was apprehended shortly after the September escape but made another escape in November.
TEN DOLLARS Reward.
RUN-AWAY from the Subscriber, a Mulatto Servant MAN named CHARLES CASE, about twenty-six years of age, five feet ten inches high, well made, when accused stutters, had on a felt hat, blue coat and west-coat, homespun shirt, old leather breeches, homespun trowsers, blue and white cotton stockings, new shoes, steel buckles, stole Three Pounds in cash from the servants, one snuff coloured coatee with yellow basket buttons, one white fusten jacket without sleeves, yellow basket buttons, five shirts, two new stripe ticken trowsers, three ditto of homespun, new silk handkerchief, three pair of shoes, three pair of buckles, three pair of stockings, three pair of mittons, three blankets, one fur'd cap made out of cat and musrat skins, twenty-three musrat skins, one small box, and a large batteau branded P. and K.
Whoever brings home the said Servant shall have the above Reward and reasonable charges, paid by
JOSEPH PEMBERTON, Grazier.
N.B. He is apt to change his clothes if he has a chance of steeling more.
Case left the Pemberton household well equipped for an extended period on the road in winter, taking extra clothing, shoes, mittens, hat and blankets. He also took cash, a supply of animal pelts (muskrat skins) and seems to have made an escape in small water craft, a batteau. His second escape may have been successful, as the October ad for his capture continued to be published through February 1777.
Date of Record: 05 October 1776, 30 November 1776
Sources: The Pennsylvania Evening Post, 05 October 1776, (ad ran through February 1777); The Pennsylvania Ledger or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Weekly Advertiser, 30 November 1776.
- Slaveholder Name: Penrose, Mary and Joseph
City or Township: Penrose Island, Passyunk Township; also in Philadelphia city
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation:
Notes: In March 1763, Joseph Penrose advertised as living "in Front-street near the Drawbridge." The "subscribers" of the October ad are "Mary Penrose, Joseph Penrose."
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Age not given in ad but described as a man
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
Notes: Offered for sale in March 1763, then again at the end of a larger descriptive ad for a country farm and estate: "To be SOLD, A LIKELY Negroe Man and Woman, fit for Country Work only." (March 1763); "Also a Negroe Man and Woman; the Man understands all Sorts of Country Work, and is a very good Market-man; the Woman a good Dairy-woman." (October 1763)
Date of Record: 17 March 1763; 13 October 1763
Sources: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 17 March, 13 October 1763.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Female
Age: Age not given in ad but described as a woman
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Woman"
Notes: Offered for sale in March 1763, then again at the end of a larger descriptive ad for a country farm and estate: "To be SOLD, A LIKELY Negroe Man and Woman, fit for Country Work only." (March 1763); "Also a Negroe Man and Woman; the Man understands all Sorts of Country Work, and is a very good Market-man; the Woman a good Dairy-woman." (October 1763)
Dates of Records: 17 March 1763; 13 October 1763
Sources: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 17 March, 13 October 1763.
- Slaveholder Name: Pettit, Charles
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Merchant, politician
Notes: See entries under Reed and Pettit Company for persons enslaved by Pettit's mercantile company.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named in ad
Sex: Male
Age: about Sixteen Years of Age"
Date of Birth: circa 1745
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Lad"
Notes: Advertised for sale in September 1761: "To be SOLD, A LIKELY Negroe Lad, about Sixteen Years of Age, fit for Town or Country Business. Enquire of CHARLES PETTIT, in Front-street."
Date of Record: 03 September 1761
Sources: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 03 September 1761.
- Slaveholder Name: Petty, John
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: "Indian Trader"
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Age not given in ad but described as a man
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life -- runaway
Description: "Negroe Man"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Female
Age: Age not given in ad but described as a woman
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life -- runaway
Description: "Negroe Woman"
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: Peyton and Adcock
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Merchants
Notes: John Peyton and (William ?) Adcock
- Enslaved Person's Name: Name not given in ad
Sex: Female
Age: Age not given in ad, but described as a "girl."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Girl"
Notes: Advertised for sale in July 1764: "TO BE SOLD, A Likely NEGROE GIRL. Enquire of PEYTON and ADCOCK, at the Corner of Market and Second-streets."
Date of Record: 05 July 1764
Sources: Pennsylvania Gazette, 05 July 1764.
- Slaveholder Name: Phillips, John
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Sea Captain; rope-maker
Notes: Residence and ropewalk on Water Street
- Enslaved Person's Name: Sampson
Sex: Male
Age: "about 40 years of age"
Date of Birth: circa 1711
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
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 skulking in Woods near Plantations, was taken up last Year and put into Amboy Gaol. 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: Pine, Widow
City or Township: Philadelphia, Society Hill
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Widow
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Names not given in ad
Sex: Not mentioned in ad
Ages: Ages not given in ad.
Dates of Birth: Not known
Status: Slaves for life
Description: "Negroes"
Notes: Two enslaved persons advertised for sale in April1762:
April 15.
A COUPLE of Negroes are to be sold at the Widow Pines, on Society-Hill, opposite the free Wharf; one is fit for any Business, the other is fit for house Business, or for to wait on the Table or on Gentlemen: And you may depend upon it, they are Sold for no bad Faculty.
Date of Record: 15 April 1762
Sources: The Pennsylvania Journal, 29 April 1762.
- 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,"
- Enslaved Person's Name: No name provided
Sex: Male
Age: Ages not given, but described as "men"
Date of Birth: Not known, but probably between 1710 and 1715
Status: Slaves for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: No name provided
Sex: Male
Age: Ages not given, but described as "men"
Date of Birth: Not known, but probably between 1710 and 1715
Status: Slaves for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: No name provided
Sex: Male
Age: Ages not given, but described as "men"
Date of Birth: Not known, but probably between 1710 and 1715
Status: Slaves for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
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: Polgreen, Thomas
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation:
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: "about 15 Years of age"
Date of Birth: Circa 1708
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Young Negro Lad"
Notes: Offered for sale by Polgreen in August 1723: "A Likely young Negro Lad about 15 Years of age, to be Sold by Thomas Polgreen in the Front Street over against the Platter."
Date of Record: 15 August 1723
Sources: The American Weekly Mercury (Philadelphia), 15 August 1723.
- Slaveholder Name: Potts, David
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Merchant (Philadelphia), Ironmaster (Valley Forge)
Notes: Son of ironmaster John Potts. Part owner of Mount Joy Forge (Valley Forge) in modern day Montgomery County.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Ann
Sex: Female
Age: Exact age not recorded in bill of sale, but described as a "wench," a term that covers a broad age range, from very young girl to about middle-aged woman. The Philadelphia capture notice from July 1778 describes her as "about twenty years of age."
Date of Birth: circa 1758
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro Wench"
Notes: Ann escaped from James Crawford of Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, in late spring or early summer of 1778 but was captured in Philadelphia and placed in the city jail. The capture notice below was published in a Philadelphia newspaper by Thomas Dewees as the city jailer:
WAS committed to Philadelphia jail in June last, a Negro wench named ANN, about twenty years of age, on suspicion of being a runaway slave, and has confessed she belongs to a certain James Crawford living in Pequea township, Lancaster county; she likewise says that said Crawford bought her of a certain Benjamin Merrat, near Port Penn on Delaware. Her master is desired to apply to mr. John Reynolds, at the sign of the White Horse in Elbow-lane, or to the subscriber the upper end of Fourth-street, Northern Liberties.
THOMAS DEWEES. July 23.
Crawford, within a year of her capture, "granted, bargained and sold 1 Negro Wench" to Thomas Dewees (spelled "Dewers" in record), who in 1780 subsequently sold her to David Potts of Philadelphia. The Dewees and Potts families shared many family and business connections.
Dates of Records: 25 July 1778 (Philadelphia capture notice); 24 July 1779 (Bill of sale, Crawford to Dewers (Dewees).
Sources: Lancaster Historical Society, African American Records Collection, MG-240, Folder 5, "Bill of sale of Negro woman, Nann (Ann)," quoted in Historic Rock Ford, "Completing the Picture: Slavery and Servitude in Early Lancaster County," online at https://www.historicrockford.org/slavery-and-servitude-in-early-lancaster-county-copy, accessed 03 December 2024; The Pennsylvania Evening Post (Philadelphia), 25 July 1778.
- 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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Not named
Sex: Male
Age: Not stated, but described as a "man"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Man"
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.
- Slave Name: Not named
Sex: Female
Age: Not stated, but described as a "woman"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Woman"
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: Pruden, Thomas, Captain
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Ship's captain
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Unnamed man
Sex: Male
Age: Not stated, but described as a "man."
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe man"
Notes: Offered for sale in November 1729. Text of the advertisement placed by Captain Pruden: "A VERY likely Negroe man, (who speaks good English) to be Sold on board the Sloop Real Design, now lying at Richard Clymers Wharf; by Capt. Thomas Pruden, very Reasonable."
Date of Record: 13 November 1729 (ad ran through December)
Sources: The American Weekly Mercury (Philadelphia), 13 November 1729.
- Slaveholder Name: Purdon, John
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation: Soap boiler and tallow chandler
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: Unnamed woman
Sex: Female
Age: Not stated, but of childbearing age
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negroe Wench"
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.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Unnamed child
Sex: Female
Age: "about 2 Years old"
Date of Birth: circa 1765
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Child"
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.
- Slaveholder Name: Purdy, Robert
City or Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia County
Occupation:
Notes: Located on Water Street
- Enslaved Person's Name: Unnamed woman
Sex: Female
Age: "About 18 years old"
Date of Birth: Circa 1764
Status: Slave for life
Description: "Negro Wench"
Notes: Offered for sale in November 1782. Text of the advertisement placed by Purdy: "TO BE SOLD, A likely Negro Wench, About 18 years old, for no fault but for want of employ. Inquire of ROBERT PURDY, in Water-street, four doors below Chesnut-street."
Date of Record: 12 November 1782
Sources: The Independent Gazeteer (Philadelphia), 12 November 1782.
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