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

REPLACED

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Death Carts

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 22, 2017

1. Death Carts Marker Text

Inscription.
Clergymen Richard Allen and Absalom Jones organized their congregations and other free Africans who attended the sick and buried the dead during the raging yellow fever epidemic of 1793. Although misguided, the respected Dr. Benjamin Rush had encouraged their service under the belief that persons of African descent were immune to the deadly disease.

"...the difficulty of getting a corpse taken away was such that few were willing to do it... We then offered our services in the public papers, by advertising that we would remove the dead and procure nurses." (Richard Allen and Absalom Jones)

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

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Disasters • Religion & Religious Structures • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1793.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 57.032′ N, 75° 9′ W. Marker was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It was in William Penn Annex East. It was at the intersection of Market

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Street and South Independence Mall West (6th Street), on the left when traveling west on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 101 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Southeast Pennsylvania. It was also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The Executive Branch (here, next to this marker); Celebrating Independence Throughout the Years (here, next to this marker); Abigail Adams (here, next to this marker); What is Executive Power? (here, next to this marker); Selecting a President (here, next to this marker); Commander in Chief (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Other markers no longer nearby. Promoting the Abolition of Slavery

Death Carts Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 22, 2017

2. Death Carts Marker

(was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Refuge in the country (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named The Executive Branch (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); A Day of Reciprocity (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The opener of the Way (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); "Burn this treaty to Hell!" (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); "I am free now" (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); "We shall come to a civil war" (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); "An Act respecting fugitives from Justice" (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Suppressing the Opposition (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. The marker is highly reflective and

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 22, 2017

3. Death Carts Marker

Exhibit on the exterior of the east wall of The President's House partial reconstruction (marker at far right)

difficult to photograph straight on.

Also see . . .
1. Yellow Fever Attacks Philadelphia, 1793. (Submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Richard Allen and Absalom Jones (1915 article). (Submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and the Early Black Church. (Submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
4. About Absalom Jones [and Richard Allen]. (Submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
5. Yellow Fever. (Submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
6. The Great Fever: Epidemic in Philadelphia, 1793 (PBS American Experience). (Submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,103 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.