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
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. A significant historical year for this entry is 1793.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39° 57.021′ N, 75° 9.002′ W. Marker was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It was in William Penn Annex East. It was 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 was at or near this postal address: President's House Site N of Liberty Bell Pavilion, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
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 8 other
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. "Freedom might be too great a temptation" (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Life Under Slavery (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); The Dirty Business of Slavery (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).
More about this marker. The marker is highly reflective and difficult to photograph straight on.
Also see . . .
1. Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. PBS "Africans in America" website entry (Submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Fugitive Slaves, Fugitives from Labor. National
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 23, 2017
2. "...is hereby empowered to sieze such Fugitives" Marker
3. A defence for fugitive slaves, against the acts of Congress, February 12, 1793.. Library of Congress website entry (Submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Additional commentary.
1. Removal of signs, exhibits, and educational materials.
The March 2025 executive order EO 14253 "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" initiated the removal of signs, exhibits, and educational materials at Washington D.C. monuments and national park sites. This order targeted content deemed to "inappropriately disparage" American history, leading to the removal of information on slavery, Native American history, and climate change.
— Submitted March 22, 2026.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 23, 2017
3. "...is hereby empowered to sieze such Fugitives" Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 754 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
