Black Pete- Dauphin Co, PA:

“BLACK PETE.”

A few years since, search was made by a prominent citizen of Harrisburg for the grave of “Black Pete,” who died near Linglestown about forty years ago, with a view of marking it with a stone. He found the house in which Pete died, but no one knew where he was buried. It has since been ascertained that he lies in the graveyard of the Dauphin county almshouse. It may be interesting to know who “Black Pete” was, and why he was deemed worthy of a tombstone. Peter Bung, or Nathan, as he called himself- “Black Pete” as everybody else called him- was a slave belonging to Jacob Awl, and one of those whom the emancipation act of Pennsylvania left in bondage for life, but was permitted by his master to go free with the rest, Mr. Awl binding himself to keep Peter off the county. Peter was a genius in his way, and a handy man in the neighborhood- being an excellent cook, a neat housekeeper and an expert at pulling and breaking flax. He never was married, and for many years kept bachelor’s hall in a small log house in the woods near Paxtang church, of which establishment he was the sexton. At this time there lived hard by a Dutchman who was very fond of whisky. Peter often employed this man to dig graves for him, the compensation being a few drinks. This good understanding was at last broken off by the following circumstance: One of the Awl family died and Pete sent for his man to dig the grave. He came. Pete marked off the ground, gave minute directions as to the digging, told the Dutchman where the bottle was, and then went to attend the funeral in capacity of mourner. When the cortege arrived, everything was right, but the Dutchman was so drunk that fears were entertained by many that he might fall into the grave. Pete took in the situation at a glance, but held his voice until the family moved away from the grave and were out of hearing, when he administered a severe rebuke to his assistant, ordered him out of his sight, and declared that if this was not the grave of one of his own family he would pitch the scoundrel in and cover him up. When the woods around Pete’s house was cleared away, the house itself was taken down and he removed to the neighborhood of Linglestown, but always paid a semi-annual visit to the valley, ostensibly to see “the folks,” but in reality to collect a supply of provisions, which were always given before he asked. On one occasion he mentioned that he was out of lard, and when asked whether there was no lard about Linglestown, declared very emphatically- that there was not lard enough in that whole region to grease your little finger with. I have said that “Black Pete” was a handy man, but it was his mental powers that gained him celebrity. He was a man like Mr. Shandy of whom “Nature could stand up and say,” This man is eloquent.’” He was entirely unlettered; but his imagination was vivid, his powers of description wonderful and his invective severe. Many of his sayings are still quoted, one in particular is often heard, viz: “There is nothing cuts like the truth.” This idea is much older than Pete’s but was nevertheless original with him. He was moreover gifted with the power of song, having a voice much like that of a woman. These qualities always gained him a hearing, and contributed not a little to his support in his latter days. He never “came upon the county” until after death, nor was he ever considered “a charge” by any individual.

W. Frank Rutherford

Egle’s Notes and Queries, First and Second Series, volume 2, Pages 264-265

NOTE- W. Frank Rutherford was Dr. Hiram Rutherford's nephew. The man who wanted to find the grave and erect a tombstone on it was Dr. William Wilson Rutherford, who was Hiram's brother and whom Hiram studied under for 2 years prior to attending Jefferson Medical College. The one he sent to find the grave was Hiram when he was staying with him in Harrisburg.
Hiram could not find the grave.