In 1813 Thomas Ewell disagreements and conflicts with the Navy Department became public when he wrote: Conclusion of the Evidence of the Corruption of the Chief Clerk of the Navy Department followed in 1814 by his broadside: The subscriber owes it to his detestation of slandering and to his regard for truth, to offer a few remarks on the guilt of the chief clerk of the Navy Department in both of which he defends his own conduct while attacking that of Charles W. Goldborough, Chief Clerk, Navy Department over allegations of irregularities in Dr. Ewell's production & purchase of gunpowder, his medical practice & apothecary business.

Dr.Ewell resigned from the Navy in 1815 after a series of business failures at his gun powder factory and repeated conflicts and disputes with Commodore Tingey and other Washington Navy Yard employees.

He was married to Elizabeth Stoddert (1785-1859) of socially prominent Maryland family.
Two of their sons Benjamin Stoddard Ewell and Richard Stoddard Ewell later became Confederate Generals.

For apprehending my Mullato man SIMON,
who went off last night, it is supposed to
Alexandria where he formerly worked. He had
on a much worn beaver hat and an old black coat;
carried with him his bed clothes and one or two
suits of home spun. He is bright mullato color
about 5 feet 6 inches high, speaks rather short and
with emphasis sometimes stammering. I bought him
of Mr. Scott, of Prince Georges County Maryland;
and will pay the above reward for his delivery to me,
or one of the neighboring jails.

For apprehending and securing in jail, my
negro man SIMON, who absconded about
nine months ago, and was seen on the 16th
of last month near Marlboro. He is a bright
mulatto, rather broad shoulders, quick in his
speech, and called himself Geo. Dorsey. When
last seen, he had on a blue coat, and lacy
colored, pantaloons, patched on the knees.
He had agreed to go with one Capt. Jenkins,
who sailed from the Eastern Shore to Baltimore;
but the vessel sailing without him, he last engaged
to boat a scow with wood in St. Mary's county
for Baltimore.

I will pay the above reward for lodging him in any
neighboring jail, and will give one -third of it for such
evidence of his having been harbored or concealed from
me as convicts in court the person employing this slave.
He formerly called himself Simon West.
I purchased him of a Mr. Scott of Prince George's
county.

Also he will have in a few days a women with fine
likely children of very promising qualities.
Those servants will be sold for half the sum which
was refused for them last year; and they are lonely
to be sold to pay debts which can not be postponed

A preference will be given to purchasers who will
carry them westward where plenty of produce
lessens the pains of slavery.

RANAWAY from the Subscriber on Saturday 27^th
of December, a Negro Women named DAPHNE,
has a husband ( now in jail) belonging to Sock or
Stock. She is about 41 years of age, five feet two or
three inches high, thickset and bulky, but well
proportioned. Has a very dark olive cloth twilled
dress, with a skirt to the body like a jacket line
apron, checked muslin handkerchief black silk
bonnet blue cloth shawl. She was raised in
Georgetown by the family of G. French. She was
concealed in Georgetown four years ago for several
months and advertised by Dr. Ewell. I think she is
about town at this time. Any person taking her and
lodging her in jail shall receive the above reward on
application to

Dr. Thomas Beale Ewell 178 - 1826       for biography see above " Biography

Dr. Ewell and his slaves appears to have had repeated problems with runaway slaves. He lived on Lafayette Square, where 734 and 736 Jackson Place are located today near the White House or as it was then known "the President's House". Two other of Ewell's slaves identifiable from his time as U.S. Navy physician as they are listed on the 1808 Muster Rolls of the Ordinary - Washington Navy Yard. These two young men are brothers, George Brown and Henry Brown numbers 43 and 44 on the Muster Roll respectively.
1808 Muster Rolls of the Ordinary - Washington Navy Yard.

1820 US Census: Ewells' Lafayette Square household contained five enslaved African Americans, 2 males and 3 females all under the age of 14, and 11 white people.

Selling Slaves: Thomas Ewell not only owned slaves, but he also on occasion bought and sold enslaved people apparently to resolve his financial affairs, see Daily National Intelligencer for January 31, 1820.

Ewell House: A remarkable audio tour of the Thomas Ewell house with some information regarding his slaves and slave dealing is at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/sites/southern-region/decatur-house/ewell-house.html

Simon West AKA George Dorsey, Simon made two attempts to gain his freedom. In both instances Simon West was moving toward the Baltimore a logical choice for slaves seeking to move further north or find employment among that cities large Afro-American population

Daphne Slaughter: Worked for Dr. Ewell for number of years she apparently fled and was hidden by her husband in Georgetown. Her destination in her second escape was probably to the same immediate area where presumably she was known and had family and friends.

Runaway slaves: see John Hope Franklin & Loren Schweninger Runaway Slaves: Rebels on the Plantation Oxford University Press New York 2000 228-233