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

REMOVED

SEE LOCATION SECTION

"Freedom might be too great a temptation"

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

1. "Freedom might be too great a temptation" Marker Text

Inscription. Hercules, Washington's enslaved chef, asked that his son Richmond be brought to Philadelphia. If Hercules wanted Richmond to witness free people of African descent in Philadelphia, his wish ended after a short period of time. Washington sent Richmond home after writing of his fear; quoted in the letter below, that his enslaved people here would seek freedom. Despite his precautions, Washington's concerns later became reality when Hercules successfully escaped.

"The idea of freedom might be too great a temptation for them to resist. At any rate, it might, if they conceived they had a right to it, make them insolent in a State of Slavery."

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39° 57.018′ N, 75° 9.003′ W. Marker was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It was in William

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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. President's House Site N of Liberty Bell Pavilion. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: 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 markers are within walking distance of this location: Memorial (here, next to this marker); Ona Judge Seizes Her Freedom / Hercules Flees to Freedom (here, next to this marker); History Lost & Found (here, next to this marker); Presidents Washington and Adams on Slavery (here, next to this marker);

"Freedom might be too great a temptation" Marker image. Click for full size.

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

2. "Freedom might be too great a temptation" Marker

Slavery in the British Colonies (here, next to this marker); Enslaved People at the President's House (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (a few steps from this marker); Fighting for Freedom (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Other markers no longer nearby. "…is hereby empowered to sieze such Fugitives" (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Life Under Slavery (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

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

Also see . . .
1. George Washington’s Philadelphia Household, 1793-1794. (Submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Hercules. (Submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. In Search of the Slave Who Defied George Washington.

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

3. "Freedom might be too great a temptation" Marker

On freestanding wall between the President's House partial reconstruction and the Liberty Bell Center.

(Submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
4. The Story of Oney Judge and The Real George Washington. (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.

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 1,013 times since then and 198 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.