Ben, an African American man residing in Perquimans County, North Carolina, was enslaved by John Thatch. Ben had run away or self emancipated himself by July 1759, when Francis Ervin caught Ben in Charles Jordan's house trying to steal an assortment of items. Ben tried to resist Ervin by biting him, but was eventually subdued. Placed in jail, Ben briefly escaped before being recaptured. Ben stood trial in August 1759 and was found guilty of theft. The court ordered that Ben have one ear cut off and that he receive fifty lashes as punishment. Any further information regarding this individual has not been located.