Founded by abolitionist Quaker Thomas Rutter, Pine Forge Mansion and Industrial Site, also known as Pine Forge Iron Plantation, is a historic iron plantation and mansion and national historic district; the forge supplied munitions to George Washington's Continental Army, and the property was used during the closing days of slavery as a terminal for the Underground Railroad. Lengthy Colonial inventory and accounting manuscript from the Pine Forge Iron Plantation in Berks County, Pennsylvania, four pages on two adjoining sheets, 8.25 x 13.25, no date but circa 1770. The manuscript is numbered into four sections, and lists and describes the various buildings, lands, and inhabitants of the plantation, with focus on the five contributing buildings and sites, including: the stone mansion or manor house, stone root cellar and smokehouse, a caretaker's cottage, garage, and small stone worker's house. The fourth section of the inventory, headed "Negroes," remains the most significant given its mention of the estate's 67 slaves, including: "16 Forgemen, 1 Forge Carpenter, 1 Black Smith, 2 Founders, 9 Colliers & labourers, 9 Women, 3 Do 16 Years old, 3 Lads 16 Years, 6 Boys from 6 to 13, 11 Girls from 5 to 13, 10 Children from 1 to 4, 2 Young Children, In all…67." Some of the more notable structures of the Pine Forge inventory include: "A Stone Coal house 44 by 100 Convenient to the Forge, A Country Mill 20 by 20 wants repairing but may be set to work at a small expence, A Saw Mill which will cut about 500 feet per day…A Black smiths Shop and Tools, A Grist Mill 33 by 43 Three Story high of Stone & Brick…A Brick compiling house 14 x 14, A Framed Milk house, Meal house, Shoe Makers Shop etc, A Well of good water & Well House Near the Kitchen door." In very good to fine condition, with scattered soiling and splitting along the hinge.
