William Penn Annex East in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

"…is hereby empowered to sieze such Fugitives"

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 23, 2017

1. "...is hereby empowered to sieze such Fugitives" Marker Text

Inscription. Nobody with dark skin could live without fear of the kidnappers who operated under a virtual man-hunter's license provided by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. For free Philadelphians of African descent, fear always stalked the streets as man-stealers seized possible fugitives as well as free people of color, hustling them southward to enslavement.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Civil Rights • Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1793.

Location. 39° 57.021′ N, 75° 9.002′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in William Penn Annex East. Marker is at the intersection of Market Street and South Independence Mall West (6th Street), on the right when traveling east on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: President's House Site N of Liberty Bell Pavilion, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Memorial (here, next to this marker); "Freedom might be too great a temptation" (here, next to this marker); History Lost & Found (here, next to this marker); a different marker also

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named History Lost & Found (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (a few steps from this marker); Life Under Slavery (a few steps from this marker); "I and my household" (a few steps from this marker); Awarding a Peace Medal (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

More about this marker. The marker is highly reflective and difficult to photograph straight on.

Also see . . .
1. Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. (Submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. The Question of Slavery. (Submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Fugitive Slaves, Fugitives from Labor. (Submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. A defence for fugitive slaves, against the acts of Congress, February 12, 1793.. (Submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

"...is hereby empowered to sieze such Fugitives" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 23, 2017

2. "...is hereby empowered to sieze such Fugitives" Marker

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 23, 2017

3. "...is hereby empowered to sieze such Fugitives" Marker

Marker at left, on freestanding wall between the President's House partial reconstruction and the Liberty Bell Center.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 554 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.