Dear Ed,

Apologies if you have this already, but I am attachinmg this link from Google Books in case there is a connection:

http://tinyurl.com/4vpongp
If this link is too long to work, go to:

http://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&tab=wp

Then type in: statutes mississippi territory

Then search for Barland in this book. On page 578, William Barland is authorized in 1814 to manumit Elizabeth from slavery, and her 12 children, which he acknowledges as his own, as well as descendants of said children. Doesn't mention Ben, but he could be a child of one of the named children - Andrew, Elizabeth, Margaret, James, William, Adfam, David, George, Alexander, John, Agnes/Anna, and Susanna.

Hope this might help!