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Enslaved persons, chained together in a coffle, are paraded through the streets of Washington D.C. on their way to the slave market. Detail from a larger print in the Library of Congress.

 

 

Centre County Slaveholders A - Z

Slaveholders Listed on this Page

  1. Benner, Philip (Slaves: George Pencil, Jack Robinson)
    2.

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/.
    1. 1803 advertisement placed by ironmaster Philip Benner to recover escaped slave George Pencil. Slave Name: George Pencil
      Slave Sex: Male
      Slave Age: Not stated, described as a man
      Slave Date of Birth: Not known
      Slave Status: Slave for life
      Slave Description: Described as "servant," indicating enslavement for a term of years instead of for life. This may indicate a year of birth after 1780.
      Slave 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.

      2.  
    2. Slave Name: Jack Robinson
      Slave Sex: Male
      Slave Age: Not stated, described as a man
      Slave Date of Birth: Not known
      Slave Status: Not stated
      Slave Description: "Negro Man"
      Slave 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.