Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Enslavement Data

Public Notices on Enslaved Persons in the Philadelphia Workhouse

Couny jailers in Pennsylvania placed newspaper notices announcing the imprisonment of Blacks arrested as suspected escaped slaves. In Philadelphia, the city Work House also served as a place of confinement for many of these persons. The notices provided descriptions of African Americans arrested and committed to the institution as suspected escaped slaves. Enslavers of such persons, seeing the notices in regional newspapers, were expected to come to the workhouse, provide proof of ownership, and pay the costs associated with keeping, feeding, advertising, and filling out paperwork on the captured esapee.

Workhouse and jailer's notices provide valuable clues regarding the escape routes used by freedom seekers. They also illustrate the dangers faced by free Blacks traveling in areas where they were not known and arrested as suspected escaped slaves. Persons arrested and detained under suspicion of being escaped slaves often faced months in confinement due to delays by the work house keeper or jailer in publishing notices, the allowance of weeks or months for potential enslavers to claim them, and the wait for court dates if no enslaver appeared to pay fees. In worst case instances, free Blacks who were unable to prove their free status could be sold back into enslavement by the city or county to recoup fees and costs.

• Names: Jane Plumb and John, her child; John Philips
  Date of item: 21 May 1782
  Location: Philadelphia
  Item: A woman, child and man abandoned by the British at Yorktown and captured in Philadelphia
  Details/Text: "TAKEN up and delivered to the Work-House of this city, as runaways, a WOMAN about 37 years of age, calls herself Jane Plumb, with a Mulatto child, about four years old, named John; she says she belongs to New-York, and was attempting to go from York, in Virginia, to New-York. A Negro MAN, calls himself John Philips, about 25 years old, 5 feet 3 inches high, stutters in his speech, full faced, well made, has on an old blue coat, brown jacket, tow trowsers, old shoes, says he belongs to James Wynn, of South-Carolina, near Chinkapin river, and was taken away by the British about a year ago, taken to York in Virginia, and from thence came to Philadelphia in December last. -- The owner or owners of the above Negroes are desired to call, pay their expences, and take them away, or they will be sold for the same.
  CLEMENT SMITH, K.W.
  Philadelphia, May 21, 1782."
  Source: The Pennsylvania Journal or Weekly Advertiser, 15 June 1782.

• Names: Sam, Elisha, Bill Wiggins
  Date of item: 12 April 1784
  Location: Philadelphia
  Item: Notice of imprisonment of three men, all claiming to be free.
  Details/Text: "Philadelphia, April 12, 1784.
  THERE is now in the Work-House of this city, the following Negroe Men, viz. SAM, a short chunky fellow, says that he formerly belonged to Mr. Vazal Brooks of the State of Maryland, and that Mr. Brooks set him free, and after that hired him by the year. Likewise, a short slim fellow, named ELISHA, says that he belonged to Mr. Daniel Mifflin, at the Cross Roads, near Dover, and that he set him free in February last. Also, a short thick Negroe fellow named BILL WIGGINS, says that he was born free, and that he lived with Mr. John Gordon, at Williamsburgh, in Virginia, but it is supposed they are all runaway slaves. Their Masters, if any they have, are hereby desired to come, and take them away in six weeks from the date hereof, otherwise they will be sold out to pay their charges.
  CLEMENT SMITH, Work-House-Keeper."
  Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 14 April 1784.

• Names: John McCulleans and Alexander McDanial, both white; John Smith and George Newbett, both black
  Date of item: 20 August 1784
  Location: Philadelphia
  Item: White and Black men imprisoned as suspected escaped servants or slaves.
  Details/Text: "Philadelphia, August 20, 1784.
  There is in the Workhouse of the City the following Persons, taken up on suspicion of being Runaways.
  WHITES.
  JOHN M'CULLEANS, a lad about 15 years of age, 5 feet 5 inches high, fair complexion, short hair; says that he came from Baltimore in July last.
  ALEXANDER M'DANIAL, about 5 feet 6 inches high, 20 years of age, well set, round faced, short brown hair; he says that he came from Snow Hill, in Maryland.
  
  BLACKS.
  JOHN SMITH, 25 years old, 5 feet 7 inches high, very black; says that he lived in Richmond, in Virginia, with Mr. Branch.
  GEORGE NEWBETT, 23 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, very black; he says that he served his time with Mr. William Smith, Wilmington.
  Their masters, if any they have, are desired to come, prove their property within six weeks from the date hereof, otherwise they will be sold out for a time to pay their charges.
  CLEMENT SMITH, Work house keeper."
  Source: The Pennsylvania Packet, 21 August 1784.

• Names: Alexander Hanna and Jacob Patterson
  Date of item: 08 December 1784
  Location: Philadelphia
  Item: White and Black man imprisoned as suspected escaped servants or slaves.
  Details/Text: "Philadelphia, December 8, 1784.
  THERE are now in the work-house the following persons, taken up on suspicion of being run-away servansts, viz. --
  ALEXANDER HANNA, an Irish lad, about 16 or 17 years of age, 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high, says he belongs to Thomas Miffer, in Chester county, near Brandywine; and a Negroe man, named JACOB PATTERSON, about 5 feet 5 inches high, 25 years of age, who says he came from Salem, in New-England, with Capt. Ashby. Their owners, if any they have, are desired to come and take them away, in six weeks from the above date, or they will be discharged, on paying their fees and charges.
  CLEMENT SMITH, Work-house Keeper."
  Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 22 December 1784.

• Names: William Ager, Alley Ansley, both white, James Bawsworth and Tom, both black
  Date of item: 29 January 1785
  Location: Philadelphia
  Item: White and Black persons imprisoned as suspected escaped servants or slaves.
  Details/Text: "THERE is now confined in the Work-House of the city and county of Philadelphia, the following persons, on suspicion of being RUN AWAY SERVANTS, -- viz. WILLIAM AGER, a boy of 14 years of age, says he belongs to John Mathews, near Harris's Ferry, on Susquehanna.
  ALLEY ANSLEY, says that she belongs to Richard Kain, Tavern-keeper in Wilmington.
  JAMES BAWSWORTH, a Negro Man, says that he came from Bartlett county, in Virginia, he is about 5 feet 8 inches high, thin visage, says that he was born free.
  TOM, a Negroe Man, says that he belongs to Robert Peoples, in Shippen's town, in Cumberland county.
  The owners are desired to come, prove property, pay charges and take them away, otherwise they will be sold for thier fees, in six weeks after date. CLEMENT SMITH, Keeper of the Work-House.
  Jan. 29, 1785."
  Source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 02 February 1785.

• Names: George
  Date of item: July 1785
  Location: Philadelphia
  Item: George, sold from the Work House for his charges, escapes again
  Details/Text: "TEN DOLLARS REWARD.
  RAN away from the subscriber on the 5th day of July, 1785, a Negro Man named George, 24 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, well made, very black, large white eyes, and small beard, is apt to repeat his words. -- He has letely been confined in the Work house in Philadelphia, but released on his indenting himself to pay his charges, but has run off about three weeks past, clad in a short broad cloth coat, metal buttons, buckskin breeches, and white shirt.
  Any person securing said Negro so that his master may have him again, shall have the above Reward, and reasonable charges, by appying to Mr. Clement Smith, keeper of the Work house in Philadelphia; or to the subscriber, living near the head of Misgilian [Mispillion] creek, Sussex county, Delaware state.
  COVERDIL COLE."
  Source: The Freeman's Journal or the North American Intelligencer, 02 November 1785.