Benjamin Orme (b. circa 1794 - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-050707
War of 1812 Deponent, Prince George's County, Maryland

Biography:

    Ben Orme was born about 1794 to an enslaved mother and a white man named William Orme.¹ Ben was enslaved at the home of Tilghman Hilleary near Bladensburgh in Prince George's County.² He had a sister Nelly Orme Arnold and several nieces and nephews who were also enslaved by the Hilleary family.³

    Ben Orme attempted to escape from Tilghman Hilleary at least two times. In his first attempt in 1812, Ben was caught and taken back.⁴ In 1814, while America was at war with the British, Ben was persuaded to runaway by two enslaved men Peter and Andrew Ridout, who were brothers.⁵ Fearing capture, Ben refused to leave with the Ridout brothers but watched as they escaped from Tilghman Hilleary.⁶ Ben did attempt to flee on his own in 1815. However, his owner Tilghman Hilleary placed a run away ad in Daily National Intelligencer and Ben was captured and returned to his owner.⁷

    In the years following the War of 1812, Maryland slave owners submitted claims under the Treaty of Ghent for the loss of their property to the British.⁸ In 1828, Ben's owner Tilghman Hilleary filed a claim against the British for the loss of his two enslaved men, Andrew and Peter Ridout.⁹ In the claim Ben Orme gave a  deposition stating that the Ridouts had persuaded him to escape, and that he had seen them ride off with the British.¹⁰ Orme's deposition was submitted as evidence that the Ridout brother's escaped which helped Tilghman Hilleary get $280 in reperation for each of his escaped slaves.¹¹ When Tilghman Hilleary died in 1835, he bequeathed Ben Orme to Thomas Hilleary.¹² 

^{1.    "100 Dollars Reward," Daily National Intelligencer, 28 October 2015, pg. 1.}

^{2.    PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY LEVY COURT (Assessment Record) 1833, Election Districts 1-3, Personal Property, [MSA C1163-10]}

^{3.    Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum. "Plummer Family Diary." Last Modified March 19, 2012. http://anacostia.si.edu/Plummer/Plummer_Diary.htm}

^{4.    Fifty Dollars Reward", Frederick Town Herald, 18 July 1812, pg. 3.}

^{5.    Claim of Tilghman Hilleary, Prince George's County, Case No. 635, Case Files. Ca. 1814-28, 3.5 ft., entry 190, Record Group 76, National Archives, College Park.}

^{6.    ibid.}

^{7.    "100 Dollars Reward," Daily National Intelligencer, 28 October 2015, pg. 1.}

^{8.    Claim of Tilghman Hilleary, Prince George's County, Case No. 635, Case Files. Ca. 1814-28, 3.5 ft., entry 190, Record Group 76, National Archives, College Park.}

^{9.    ibid.}

^{10.    ibid.}

^{11.    Definitive List of Slaves and Property/, compiled ca. 1827 - ca. 1828/* ARC Identifier 1174162 / MLR Number PI 177 192*. National Archives, College Park.}

^{12.    PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Wills) 1833-1854, Tilghman Hilleary, Liber PC [MSA C1326-7], pg. 36.}

Return to Benjamin Orme's Introductory Page

This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user. Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website! Archives' Home Page    |    Maryland Manual On-Line    |    Reference & Research    |    Search the Archives    |    Students & Teachers    |    Archives of Maryland Online Governor     General Assembly    Judiciary     Maryland.Gov

© Copyright March 15, 2013 Maryland State Archives