A story about William Penn as a slaveowner was told as part of “Pennsylvania Profiles,” a weekly series produced for the Sunbury Daily Item, with the above number published on July 26, 1986.
Panel 1 – In 1685 William Penn instructed his steward at Pennsbury, his estate on the Delaware River, to use Black slaves because “they could be held for life.” Pennsylvania’s founder was interested in “regulating their morals and marriages, and the trials and punishments so they could receive proper treatment while in bondage.”
Panel 2- However, in 1700 he urged the yearly meeting of Friends to oppose slavery. Immediately afterwards the Quakers began to free their slaves.
Panel 3 – Penn’s will stipulated “that my negroes John and Jane his wife, shall be set free one month after my decease.” He also bequeathed 100 acres of land to “Old Sam.”
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An explanation of the series “Pennsylvania Profiles” appeared in the Sunbury Daily Item, May 10 1985:
For the stories behind… forgotten but fascinating facts, you’ll want to read “Pennsylvania Profiles,” a weekly feature with vivid illustrations… in this newspaper…. Pennsylvania Profiles delves into the nooks and crannies of the Keystone State’s hectic heritage. [It] is researched, written and illustrated by Patrick M. Reynolds of Willow Street, a town in southern Lancaster County. He is a graduate of Pratt institute, Brooklyn, New York, and Syracuse University, New York. His features are available in books. Reynolds is a Vietnam War veteran and an Army reserve Infantry officer.
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Obtained through Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
[African American]