Ben
Enslaved by John and Elizabeth Rodgers
Ben saw and helped make history. He worked at this tavern from 1779 to 1781 when John Rodgers held the tavern and ferry licenses on the Cecil County side of the Ferry. He saw American and French forces cross the Susquehanna River during the March to Yorktown in September 1781. Ben also helped to move men and equipment over the river as quickly as possible. Ben and other enslaved individuals lived and worked here. They cooked food, served drinks, cared for travelers and their animals, and ferried people and goods across the Susquehanna River.
The last known mention of Ben in the historical record is in John Rodgers’ 1794 estate inventory. Ben, 30 years old, is listed with six other enslaved individuals.
Associated Keepers
Biographical Information
Born:
Birth place and date unknown
Parents:
Unknown
Spouse:
Marriage status unknown
Children:
Unknown
Lived:
White Clay Creek Hundred in New Castle County, DE;
Susquehanna Hundred, Harford County, MD;
Lower Susquehanna Ferry, Cecil County, MD
Died:
Death date and place unknown
Additional Information
Source Information
Primary Sources
December 22, 1774
John Rogers and his tavern in Harford County, MD mentioned in Road Overseer appointment.
HARFORD COUNTY COURT (Minutes) 1774-1789 CM1367-1 Pg.38 accessed via
https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/coagserm/cm1300/cm1367/000000/000001/pdf/mdsa_cm1367_1.pdf
October 2, 1775
Ben is inherited by Elizabeth Rodgers from the estate of her father Thomas Reynolds.
Delaware Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971. New Castle, Wills, Vol. A-I & K, 1682-1777. Pg. 259-261. (accessed via Ancestry.com)
October 6, 1780
Cecil County Court grants license to John Rogers to keep a Tavern at Susquehanna Lower Ferry. Licenses were typically granted for one year.
Cecil County Court Minutes, 1777-1784. Pg. 75. MSA C635-2
May 24, 1794
Ben is listed with six other enslaved individuals on an inventory of the goods and chattles of John Rodgers.
Cecil County Court Register of Wills (Inventories 1791-1795). Vol. 10, pg. 419. Film Reel: CR34676-1. MSA CM335-14
Secondary Sources
Selig, Robert. "What was he really up to?: An Inquiry into the Revolutionary War Activities of John Rodgers of Rodger's Tavern." Town of Perryville, 2023. see Report Into the Revolutionary War Activities of John Rodgers Now Available
