Description:

Pine Forge Iron Plantation -

Lengthy colonial era full inventory and accounting of the Pine Forge Iron Plantation, the earliest Pennsylvania Iron Forge. The Forge supplied munitions to George Washington's Continental Army. Although 67 slaves are listed on the plantation, ultimately the Forge became a center of abolitionism and a stop on the Underground Railroad!

Manuscript document, four pages, 8" x 13", [Bucks County, Pennsylvania, c. 1770], describing the buildings, lands and people of the Pine Forge Iron Plantation, known as Pine Forge Mansion, and in particular, an inventory of 67 "Negroes" residing on the premises. Expected folds, with slight tearing along fold seams. Occasional faint foxing.

A fascinating document listing the specific contents of the five contributing buildings, land sites, and various structures. Inclusive of the stone mansion, or manor house, the stone root cellar and smokehouse, "caretaker's cottage", the garage and small stone "worker's house". Includes a detailed accounting of the occupation and ages of the 67 "Negro" slaves who worked the mansion described in paragraph No. 4 as follows:

"No. 4 Negroes

16 Forgemen

1 Forge Carpenter

1 Black Smith

2 Founders

9 Colliers & Labourers

9 Woman

3 do 16 years old

3 Lads 16 years

6 Boys from 6 to 13 do

11 Girls from 5 to 13 do

10 Children from 1 to 4do

2 Young Children

In all.........67 ~"

It was customary in the North that those who owned furnaces and forges acquired and exploited slaves as an integral part of a strategy to discipline white wage workers and maximize proprietary control over the manufacture of charcoal iron. Making charcoal iron was both capital and labor-intensive. In New England, ironmasters and other capitalists during the seventeenth century had forged unruly white workers into a labor force that suited their needs by relying on a "culture of discipline", northern proprietors never intended to supplant waged labor with that of slaves but instead looked to slavery to make free labor more manageable.

Later, the Forge was used to supply munitions to George Washington's Continental Army. Of further interest, by approximately 1830, the Rutgers, (the owners of the Forge), spoke out against slavery allowing their Forge to become the first stop for the underground railroad for slaves leaving Montgomery County and entering Berks [County]. The trail, which ran from Pottstown to Pottsville, cut through Berks County from Pine Forge to Hamburg.

Pine Forge Mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000