Slaveholders Listed on the Page
- Benner, Philip (Enslaved persons: George Pencil, Jack Robinson)
- DeWees, William P. (Enslaved persons: Primus Stanton)
- Patton, John (Enslaved persons: John, Flora)
Enslavement Data
- Slaveholder Name: Benner, Philip
City or Township: Rock Ironworks
County: Centre County
Occupation: Ironmaster
Notes: Benner established the Rock Ironworks at the Rock on Spring Creek. A good biography of Benner is at https://centrehistory.org/article/philip-benner/.
Enslaved Person's Name: George Pencil
Gender: Male
Age: Not stated, described as a "man"
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Slave for life (see below)
Description: Described as "servant," indicating enslavement for a term of years instead of for life. This may indicate a year of birth after 1780.
Notes: Escaped from the ironworks on Sunday, May 16, 1802. Text of advertisement placed by Benner to recover him:
Thirty Dollars Reward.
RAN away from the Subscriber, at Rock Ironworks, in Centre county, on Sunday, the 16th May last. A Negro Man, named George Pencil, about 5 feet 9 inches high, and stout made; Had on and took with him, a Sailor's new blue Jacket and Overalls, edged with red, a striped Waistcoat, a new black wool Hat, a white ditto, half worn, and probably other working clothes. He is well acquainted with farming Business, and driving a Team.
Whoever secures said Servant in any Jail, in this State, shall have the above Reward, all and reasonable Charges, from
PHILIP BENNER.
Date of Record: 08 March 1803
Sources: Lancaster Intelligencer, 08 March 1803.- Enslaved Person's Name: Jack Robinson
Gender: Male
Age: Not stated, described as a man
Date of Birth: Not known
Status: Not stated
Description: "Negro Man"
Notes: Escaped from the ironworks in 1805. Text of advertisement placed by Benner to recover him:
30 Dollars Reward.
RANAWAY from the subscriber, living near Bellefonte, Centre County, a negro man named
JACK ROBINSON,
about five feet five or six inches high stout built, by trade a Forge-man -- he is very thick lip'd and has a mark on the side of his face, occasioned by a bruise; he had on and took with him two pair of nankeen, and two pair of tow trowsers, a blue nankeen sailor jacket, a white dimity jacket, and several other apparel not remembered -- Probably he will change his name, being a very active, loquacious fellow. Whoever will take up said runaway, and lodge him in any jail in the United States, so that the owner may get him again, or if bro't home, shall receive the above reward and all reasonable charges, paid by
PHILIP BENNER,
Rock Iron Works.
12th Aug. 1805.
Date of Record: 12 August 1805
Sources: Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, PA), 20 August 1805.
- Slaveholder Name: DeWees, William Potts, Dr.
City or Township: Philipsburg
County: Centre County
Occupation: Physician
Notes: Noted physician specializing in obstetrics. His 1824 publication on midwifery became a standard reference work in the United States in the mid-1800s.
Source: "William Potts Dewees, M.D.," American Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques, https://www.medicalantiques.com/civilwar/Medical_Authors_Faculty/Dewees_William_P.htm, accessed 15 July 2024.
- Enslaved Person's Name: Primus Stanton
Gender: Male
Age: "about 16 years old"
Date of Birth: Circa 1799
Status: Not determined, may be an indentured apprentice or may be a slave to age 28 (see notes).
Description: "Mulatto Apprentice Lad"
Notes: Stanton escaped from DeWees on December 15, 1815. DeWees placed the following ad to recover him:
Philipsburgh, Centre County, Dec. 16, 1815
Thirty Dollars Reward.
RANAWAY on the 15th inst. from the subscriber living in Philipsburgh, Centre County, a Mulatto Apprentice Lad named PRIMUS STANTON, about 16 years old, very stout for his age, full faced, with agreeable regular features and a pleasant countenance, white handsome teeth; on the lower part of one of his cheeks a small scar. Had on and is supposed to have taken with him, some shirts made of homespun linen partly bleached, one pair of trowsers and a round-about coat made of good blue and white cotton striped bed ticking, one pair of light ribbed kerseymere pantaloons, also another pair of pantaloons, with feet, made of blue linsey striped with red, an old blue round-about coat patched with light; also a long superfine broad cloth coat; whether he has taken boots as well as shoes is unknown. He went off in company with a white boy named JAMES CAFFERTY, or M'CAFFERTY, about 14 years old, with sandy or reddish coloured hair. Thirty Dollars Reward is offered for securing the said Primus Stanton so that I shall get him again; and reasonable charges will be paid if he be delivered to me at my residence in Philipsburg.
WILLIAM P. DEWEES.
Stanton's bound status is described by DeWees in the above ad as an "apprentice." The amount of the offered reward is more typical of that offered to capture an escaped slave.
Date of Record: 16 December 1815
Sources: Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, 17 February 1816.
- Slaveholder Name: Patton, John
City or Township: Centre Furnace
County: Centre
Occupation: Ironmaster
Notes:
- Enslaved Person's Name: John
Sex: Male
Age: 22a
Date of Birth: 1777 (calculated)
Status: Runaway
Description: "Negro man"
Notes: Text of runaway ad:
Twenty Dollars Reward. RAN-AWAY on the 25th inst. a Negro man named JOHN, about 22 years of age, 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high, round face, with a short turned up nose, speaks good English has good address, and is talkative. Also a Negro girl named FLORA, about 18 years old, slender made, speaks bad English, and a little French, has a scar on her upper lip, and letters branded on her breast. Took with them a quantity of good Clothes, such as Muslin, Chintz and Callico Gowns, and Petticoats. Whoever secures the said runaways in any Jail, or place where their Master can get them again shall have the above reward and reasonable charges paid by JOHN PATTON.
Centre Furnace.
Date of Record: August 10, 1799
Source: Lancaster Journal
- Enslaved Person's Name: Flora
Sex: Female
Age: 18a
Date of Birth: 1781 (calculated)
Status: Runaway
Description: "Negro girl"
Notes: See text of runaway ad under notes for John, above. Flora spoke at least two languages, "bad English and a little French." Most notably she bore the scars of torture, having "letters branded on her breast."
Date of Record: August 10, 1799
Source: Lancaster Journal
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Enslavement
