Fugitive Slave Hearings - the Rulings

It's unknown exactly how many "fugitive slave" hearings happened in Independence Hall, but newspaper records detail at least nine cases between 1850 and 1854. The second floor of the building housed a federal courtroom, jury room, clerk's office, and U.S. Marshal's office. The "fugitive slave" hearings took place in the courtroom and accused fugitives awaited their hearings, often for days, detained in the marshal’s office.

Henry Garnet

Date: 10/1850

Presiding court officer: Judge Robert Grier

Ruling: Released

Crowds gathered outside Independence Hall for the city's first case under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Accused of escaping a Maryland slaveholder eight years prior, Garnet was arrested and held in custody in Independence Hall for the duration of the three-day case. After hearing conflicting witness testimony, the court released Garnet. The jubilant crowd outside hoisted Garnet in the air and carried him off.

Adam Gibson

Date: 12/1850

Presiding court officer: Commissioner Edward Ingraham

Ruling: Enslaved

In a case of mistaken identity, "slave-catchers" apprehended who they thought to be Emery Rice, but was in fact Adam Gibson. As a free man, Gibson resisted arrest and the "slave-catchers" brought him at gunpoint to the U.S. Marshal's office in Independence Hall. Under law, Gibson was barred from testifying on his own behalf and the court ruled him to be property. Officers transported him to an awaiting enslaver in Maryland who claimed that he knew Gibson, "but he was not his slave." Gibson returned to Philadelphia and a life of freedom.

Stephen Bennett

Date: 01/1851

Presiding court officer: Commissioner Edward Ingraham

Ruling: Enslaved

After the court ruled Bennett enslaved, friends and abolitionists quickly raised money, hoping to purchase Bennett's freedom while he remained in custody. In the U.S. Marshal's office in Independence Hall, a deal was struck, and Bennett's freedom was bought for $700.

Tamor Williams

Date: 02/1851

Presiding court officer: Judge John Kane

Ruling: Released

Infuriated crowds gathered to hear the case of Williams, a mother of six. An enslaver alleged that Williams escaped enslavement over twenty years prior. Doubting the enslaver could recognize "the girl of fifteen in the woman of forty," the court dismissed the case. To celebrate the court ruling, friends pulled Williams and her children on a wagon through Philadelphia back to their home.

Hannah Dellam

Date: 03/1851

Presiding court officer: Commissioner Edward Ingraham

Ruling: Enslaved

"Slave-catchers" apprehended Dellam and her young son Henry as "runaway slaves." The case sparked public outcry—Hannah was in the advanced stages of pregnancy. If Dellam gave birth in Pennsylvania the child would be free, if born in Maryland they would be enslaved. The court ruled Dellam, Henry, and the unborn child enslaved.

Daniel Hawkins

Date: 07/1851

Presiding court officer: Commissioner Edward Ingraham

Ruling: Enslaved

After news reached a Maryland enslaver that the self-liberated Hawkins had been arrested in Lancaster county for theft, he demanded Hawkins' return to bondage. U.S. Marshals transported Hawkins from a Lancaster jail to Independence Hall in Philadelphia for the "fugitive slave" hearing. The court commissioner ruled in favor of the claimant and sent Hawkins into enslavement.

George Bordley

Date: 11/1852

Presiding court officer: Commissioner Edward Ingraham

Ruling: Enslaved

Enslaver Andrew Pierce of Cecil county, Maryland claimed George Bordley "ran away" seven years prior. Although landless, Pierce hired out Bordley to neighboring farms on a yearly basis. The testimony of those who rented Bordley's labor from Pierce convinced the court to return Bordley to Maryland and a life of enslavement.

Basil White

Date: 06/1853

Presiding court officer: Commissioner Edward Ingraham

Ruling: Enslaved

Basil White found himself arrested shortly after arriving in Philadelphia. Betrayed by a recent acquaintance, White was hauled before the court in Independence Hall and returned to enslavement. According to newspaper accounts, the case lasted "but a few minutes."

William Fisher

Date: 07/1853

Presiding court officer: Commissioner Edward Ingraham

Ruling: Enslaved

William Fisher's case caused a stir in Philadelphia. Arrested on criminal charges, Fisher was released on bail. While free on bail, Fisher was arrested by the U.S. Marshal as a "fugitive slave." Fisher was subpoenaed by the city court, but the Marshal refused to release Fisher from his custody leading to the arrest of the Marshal for contempt of court. In the end, Fisher was ruled to be property and condemned to enslavement.

Read more about freedom on trial in Independence Hall on the main web page that also has links to video resources.

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