slaveryto
freedom
Study Areas
April 1778: Pompey and Ben jump ship in Philadelphia
RAN-AWAY last Tuesday, from the ship Fanny transport, two NEGRO fellows, one called POMPEY, about twenty years of age, pock-mark'd, with a remarkable short pug nose; about 5 feet high. Had on a small cock'd hat and light short coat with brown trowsers. The other is called BENJAMIN or BEN. About 18 years old, 5 feet 4 inches high. Had on a round hat with gold button and loop, with a redish faded surtout coat, and a drab pea jacket under, a pair of fearnought trousers, a pair of new shoes and a pair of new brass buckles. Whoever secures them, or either of them, and gives intelligence to the printer of this paper, shall have THREE DOLLARS REWARD.
Notes
This ad ran for several weeks in this Tory newspaper. British forces were in control of Philadelphia during this time and the city was experiencing considerable chaos and higher rates of disorder due to the flight of thousands of patriots and the infusion of thousands of British soldiers. With the usual social order upset, escaping slaves found more favorable conditions for hiding out. Pompey and Benjamin, above, jumped from the transport ship Fanny while in port, having just arrived from Liverpool with a load of supplies and troops.
Sources
The Pennsylvania Ledger, or the Philadelphia Market Day Advertiser, 08 April 1778.
Covering the history of African Americans in central Pennsylvania from the colonial era through the Civil War.
Support the Afrolumens Project. buy the books on Amazon:
The Year of Jubilee, Volume One: Men of God
The Year of Jubilee, Volume Two: Men of Muscle