"Commonwealth v Benjamin Spencer / a negro man. Indict for a Robbery / Tried & convicted." 4 x 7 1/2 in. (creasing, toning). Benjamin Spencer's case was heard during the July 1810 session. Among the expenses listed for his case are "Clk [clerk]" and "Transcripts."

It is possible that Benjamin Spencer was a free Black man, as the numbers of enslaved men, women, and children were decreasing in Pennsylvania due to the 1780 Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery. Black Pennsylvanians, even if free, were not considered citizens and did not enjoy the full rights of citizenship. They were denied the right to vote and were barred from testifying against white citizens in court. This limitation made it incredibly difficult for Black individuals to mount a defense or pursue legal claims when a white person was the opposing party.