Rutgers-Aggregation

Items

• 1807, Dick, Freedom seeking (Resistance)

  Dick ran away from the house of his enslaver Alpheus Freeman on Thursday evening, July 16, 1807. Dick was aged about 17 or 18 at this time. Since Alpheus Freeman owned multiple properties in New Brunswick, it is difficult to know for certain where Dick resided prior to running away. Dick may have lived (and ran from) the large building on the corner of George Street and Prince (Bayard) Street which was one of Freeman's properties. Freeman was an alumnus of Queen's College (now Rutgers University) and an attorney. Alpheus Freeman offered a 20 dollar reward for the capture and return of Dick and published a detailed description of Dick's physical appearance, scars, and meager apparel in the local newspaper called Guardian, or, New Brunswick Advertiser. The following is a complete transcript of the runaway advertisement, copied from the November 12, 1807, issue of the newspaper: "Twenty Dollars Reward Ranaway from the subscriber on Thursday evening the 16th inst. a mulatto boy, named Dick, a slave of the subscriber, about 17 or 18 years of age, short and thick, with very bushy hair, has one or two scars in the forehead, the sinews of one of his hams a little contracted from a burn when an infant, the scar of which still remains, a scar on the top of one of his feet from an ulcer, an another scar on one of his great toes, occasioned by its being split open with an axe; had on when he went away a pair of tow trousers and shirt, an old great coat an old hat, no shoes or any other wearing apparel. Whoever will take up and secure said boy in any gaol, so that the subscriber may get him again, shall be entitled to the above reward with reasonable expenses. Alpheus Freeman New Brunswick (N.J.) Aug. 22, 1807"
• 1807, John Annin, Sale

  In 1807, when John Annin (or Jack) was 10 years old, his enslaver Joseph Annin of Somerset County, NJ, sold him to James Parker Jr. (1776-1868) of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, NJ. At the time of the sale, James Parker Jr. promised to manumit John Annin when the boy reached the age of 25. Information about John Annin's sale comes from his deed of manumission, signed by Parker in 1822 and recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk.
• 1807, Phillis, Birth

  Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 23 Child: Phillis Mother: Patty Enslaver of mother and child: James Schureman, Esquire Location: North Brunswick, NJ Birth date: May 1, 1807 Reported date: July 29, 1807 Clerk: William Philips Deare
• 1808, Sojourner Truth, Probate

  The inventory of the estate of Charles Hardenbergh (1765-1808) was taken on May 12, 1808, and filed with the Surrogate of Ulster County on January 2, 1810. Page 5 of the inventory lists four enslaved persons who were part of the estate of Charles Hardenbergh. The following is a transcript of their names and the monetary values assigned to them by the inventory: "Negro slave Sam $100 Negro wench Bett $1 Negro wench Isabella $100 Negro boy Peet $100" The name Isabella refers to Sojourner Truth (Isabella was her birth name). Bett refers to her mother, Betsey Baumfree. Peet likely refers to Sojourner Truth's brother Peter. The inventory does not state the ages of these enslaved individuals, but according to The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, at the time of Charles Hardenbergh's death, she was nine years old: "Isabella and Peter, her youngest brother, remained, with their parents, the legal property of Charles Ardinburgh till his decease, which took place when Isabella was near nine years old." (Narrative of Sojourner Truth, p. 17)
• 1808, Sojourner Truth, Sale

  Sojourner Truth was sold at an auction by the executors of the estate of Charles Hardenbergh (1765-1808), who was Sojourner Truth's enslaver until his death in 1808. The executors of the estate were Isaac LeFever, Samuel DuBois, and Peter LeFever. Hardenbergh's will stipulated that all his "real and personal property" should be sold and the proceeds divided among his heirs, thus consigning Sojourner Truth and her family to the auction block. She was sold together with a flock of sheep for $100 to John Nealy of Ulster County, NY. Sojourner Truth was 9 years old and was known as Isabella at the time of these events. She recalled the auction, and the ensuing family separation, as the first major traumatic event of her life. The following passages from her 1850 book, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, recall the circumstances of the auction sale. "Isabella and Peter, her youngest brother, remained, with their parents, the legal property of Charles Ardinburgh till his decease, which took place when Isabella was near nine years old. After this event, she was often surprised to find her mother in tears; and when, in her simplicity, she inquired, 'Mau-mau, what makes you cry?' she would answer, 'Oh, my child, I am thinking of your brothers and sisters that have been sold away from me.' And she would proceed to detail many circumstances respecting them. But Isabella long since concluded that it was the impending fate of her only remaining children, which her mother but too well understood, even then, that called up those memories from the past, and made them crucify her heart afresh." (Narrative of Sojourner Truth, p. 17) "At length, the never-to be-forgotten day of the terrible auction arrived, when the 'slaves, horses, and other cattle' of Charles Ardinburgh, deceased, were to be put under the hammer, and again change masters." (Narrative of Sojourner Truth, p. 18) "At this memorable time, Isabella was struck off, for the sum of one hundred dollars, to one John Nealy, of Ulster County, New York; and she has an impression that in this sale she was connected with a lot of sheep. She was now nine years of age, and her trials in life may be dated from this period. She says, with emphasis, 'Now the war begun.'" (Narrative of Sojourner Truth, p. 26)
• 1808, Sojourner Truth, Will

  On January 4, 1808, shortly before his death, Charles Hardenbergh (1765-1808) signed his last will and testament in Hurley, Ulster County, NY, in the presence of witnesses William Hutchins, Cornelia Hardenbergh, and John C. Hardenbergh. The will was proved by the Surrogate of Ulster County on May 10, 1808, following Charles Hardenbergh's death. In this document, Hardenbergh declared his wish for his estate to be liquidated and the proceeds divided among his heirs, writing "it is my will and desire that all my real and personal property shall be sold by my executors herein after named within a convenient time after my decease." Hardenbergh did not mention any specific enslaved people in his will, but an inventory of his estate revealed that Hardenbergh's "real and personal property" included four enslaved individuals: Sojourner Truth (known as Isabella at the time), her mother Betsey, a boy named Peet (likely referring to Sojourner Truth's brother Peter), plus another man named Sam. According to The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, at the time of Charles Hardenbergh's death, she was nine years old: "Isabella and Peter, her youngest brother, remained, with their parents, the legal property of Charles Ardinburgh till his decease, which took place when Isabella was near nine years old." (Narrative of Sojourner Truth, p. 17)
• 1808, Will, Labor

  An enslaved man named Will performed construction labor for the first permanent building for Queen's College (later Rutgers). The building is now known as Old Queens. Will's enslaver Jacob Dunham hired out Will to the college to work at the construction site. Around September 1808, Will worked to lay the foundation for the building. On September 28, 1808, Abraham Blauvelt, chairman of the Queen's Building Committee, recorded a payment for $5.60 to Jacob Dunham for Will's labor on the foundation. Blauvelt's accounting record does not provide further details, but based on the cost of labor, one might estimate that the payment of $5.60 was for about one to two weeks of work.
• 1809, Abraham Glasgow, Manumission

  Abraham Glasgow was manumitted by Andrew Kirkpatrick (1756-1831) of North Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Andrew Kirkpatrick was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey and a prominent Rutgers trustee. The certificate of manumission noted that the man was a "slave commonly called Glasgow, but who call himself Abraham Glasgow." The document stated that Abraham Glasgow was examined in court and met the eligibility requirements for manumission in New Jersey, i.e. the person was 21 to 40 years old and was "sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity" of obtaining a livelihood. Abraham Glasgow's exact age was not recorded in the document, however, the judges stated that his aged was confirmed "as manifestly appears from his certificate of baptism, and from his own representation," thus revealing that Abraham Glasgow has been baptized as a child. This certificate of manumission was signed by the Overseer of the Poor of North Brunswick (John Van Nuis) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (Asa Runyon, Thomas Hance) on April 29, 1809. The certificate was recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) on the same day. Two days later, on May 1, 1809, Andrew Kirkpatrick issued a deed of manumission for Glasgow. In this document, Kirkpatrick wrote that he decided to set free Glasgow "especially for and in consideration of his faithful services to me heretofore rendered." This document was witnessed by Anna Maria Bayard and Mary Ann Kirkpatrick and then notarized by judge Jacob Van Wickle. The deed was recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk on the same day it was issued.
• 1809, Will, Labor

  An enslaved man named Will performed construction labor for the first permanent building for Queen's College (later Rutgers). The building is now known as Old Queens. Will's enslaver Jacob Dunham hired out Will to the college to work at the construction site. Around November 1809, Will worked on the building's masonry. On November 30, 1809, Abraham Blauvelt, chairman of the Queen's Building Committee, recorded a payment for $39.88 to Jacob Dunham for Will's labor on the masonry. Blauvelt's accounting record does not provide further details, but based on the cost of labor, one might estimate that the payment of $39.88 was for at least a month and a half of work.
• 1811, Ambo Harris, Marriage

  Mark Harris Sr. and Ambo were married on September 8, 1811, by Rev. Joseph Clark of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick. A notation in the pastor's register of marriages for 1811 reads thus: "Sept. 8 Mark a black man belonging to Capt. Taylor, to Ambo a [black] woman [belonging to] Col. John Neilson $2.50"
• 1811, Mark Harris Sr., Marriage

  Mark Harris Sr. and Ambo were married on September 8, 1811, by Rev. Joseph Clark of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick. A notation in the pastor's register of marriages for 1811 reads thus: "Sept. 8 Mark a black man belonging to Capt. Taylor, to Ambo a [black] woman [belonging to] Col. John Neilson $2.50"
• 1812, Clara Harris, Birth

  Clara Harris was born on September 14, 1812, in New Brunswick, the daughter of Ambo and Mark Harris Sr. Ambo's enslaver John Neilson reported Clara's birth to the Middlesex County Clerk. The following is a transcript of Clara's birth record in the County Clerk's register: "I John Neilson of the city in in of New Brunswick in the township of North Brunswick in the county of Middlesex State of New Jersey, certify that a female negro child called Clara was born of my slave Ambo at the place aforesaid on the 14 day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred twelve. - Witness my hand at New Brunswick aforesd. John Neilson. - Recd. December 19, 1812 recorded. -"
• 1812, Peter, Birth

  Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 51 Child: Peter Mother: Hannah Enslaver of mother and child: Abraham Blauvett Location: North Brunswick, NJ Birth date: January 29, 1812 Reported date: January 29, 1812 Clerk: William Philips Deare The document indicates that the enslaver was a printer.
• 1814, Ann Harris, Birth

  Ann Harris was born on June 23, 1814, in New Brunswick, the daughter of Ambo and Mark Harris Sr. Ambo's enslaver John Neilson reported Ann's birth to the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare). The following is a transcript of Ann's birth record in the County Clerk's register: "I certify that Ann, Daugr of Ambo, my colored servant woman (by Mark her husband) was born the 23d day of June 1814. - New Brunswick County of } Middlesex New Jersey. - } John Neilson Received May 3d 1820. Recorded by Deare Clk"
• 1814, Grace, Sale

  Grace was sold by the executors of the estate of the Rev. Joseph Clark (late pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick) in 1814 to a man named Mr. Linn. Clark had left his estate to wife Margaret Clark and his children, naming several prominent members of his church as executors of his will. On April 21, 1814, John Neilson and John Pool, two of the executors of Clark's estate, placed a sale advertisement for two Black women in the New Brunswick newspaper the Fredonian. The ad also mentioned that buyers could inquire with "P. I. Clark" which refers to Joseph Clark's son Peter Imlay Clark, although he was not one of the executors of his father's estate. The text of the ad was as follows: "For Sale, TWO BLACK WOMEN, Belonging to the estate of Rev. Dr. J. Clark, dec— one in her 25th the other in her 18th year. They are sober, honest, and industrious. For terms enquire of JOHN NEILSON, JOHN POOL, Executers. Or of P.I. CLARK. Also for sale— A CHAIR AND HARNESS. April 21." Although the ad did not mention the women's names, we are able to identify the women as Grace and Dine based on related receipts that were preserved in the Neilson Family Papers at Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives. Since Grace is known to have given a birth to a son in 1806, we can be certain that Grace is the older of the two women mentioned in the ad, being aged 24 to 25 when the sale took place. Grace was sold to Mr. Linn sometime between April 21 and August 4, 1814, for the sum of 150 dollars. On August 4, 1814, John Neilson delivered the payment of 150 dollars for Grace's sale to Margaret Clark, the widow of Joseph Clark. Neilson obtained a receipt from Margaret Clark, which was actually signed by Margaret's daughter Hannah Clark on Margaret's behalf. The following is a transcript of the receipt: "New Brunswick 4 August 1814 Received from John Neilson one hundred & fifty dollars which he received from Mr. Linn for a black girl Grace belonging to the estate of the late Revd Doctr Clark sold to the said Mr. Linn. Margaret Clark by Hannah Clark"
• 1814, Patty, Manumission

  Patty, aged 39, was manumitted by John Croes D.D., of North Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey. (The Reverend John Croes was the rector of Christ Church in New Brunswick at this time and would be elected first Episcopal Bishop of New Jersey the following year.) At age 39, Patty was on the brink of aging out of the possibility of manumission. New Jersey law held that enslaved persons aged 40 and above were too old to earn a livelihood on their own and were at a high risk of becoming paupers; thus the law held that they should be supported by the enslaver in their old age and could not be manumitted and sent away from the household where they had toiled for decades. The certificate of manumission for Patty was signed by the Overseer of the Poor of North Brunswick (Moses Guest) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (Thomas Hance and Asa Runyon) on April 22, 1814. The document stated that Patty was examined in court and met the eligibility requirements for manumission in New Jersey, i.e. the person was 21 to 40 years old and was "sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity" of obtaining a livelihood. The deed of manumission was signed on April 22, 1814, by John Croes. These documents were recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) four and a half years later on October 6, 1820.
• 1814, Teunis, Sale

  Enslaver Joseph Baldwin of Newark, NJ, sold 26-year-old Teunis to James Neilson (1784-1862) of New Brunswick, NJ, for the sum of $175. We can infer that this sale caused a relocation of Teunis from Newark to New Brunswick. The Bill of Sale was signed on April 20, 1814, in the presence of John Guild.
• 1814, Unnamed Black woman [Freeman], Sale

  In January 1814, William B. Parker and Joseph W. Scott, the administrators of the estate of Alpheus Freeman, began advertising the sale of a Black woman, aged 24, who was enslaved to the late Alpheus Freeman of New Brunswick, NJ. The same advertisement listed 8 buildings for rent in New Brunswick. The advertisement continued running in the local paper at least until April of 1815. The advertisement stated: "For Sale, A BLACK WOMAN, slave for life, about 24 years of age, stout, active and healthy."
• 1815, Dine, Sale

  Dine was sold by the executors of the estate of the Rev. Joseph Clark (late pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick) in 1815 to George Farmer. Clark had left his estate to wife Margaret Clark (who died shortly after him in 1814) and his children, naming several prominent members of his church as executors of his will. On April 21, 1814, John Neilson and John Pool, two of the executors of Clark's estate, placed a sale advertisement for two Black women in the New Brunswick newspaper the Fredonian. The ad also mentioned that buyers could inquire with "P. I. Clark" which refers to Joseph Clark's son Peter Imlay Clark, although he was not one of the executors of his father's estate. The text of the ad was as follows: "For Sale, TWO BLACK WOMEN, Belonging to the estate of Rev. Dr. J. Clark, dec— one in her 25th the other in her 18th year. They are sober, honest, and industrious. For terms enquire of JOHN NEILSON, JOHN POOL, Executers. Or of P.I. CLARK. Also for sale— A CHAIR AND HARNESS. April 21." Although the ad did not mention the women's names, we are able to identify the women as Grace and Dine based on related receipts that were preserved in the Neilson Family Papers at Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives. Dine was the younger of the two women, aged approximately 17 when the ad was published. It took approximately a year for the executors to complete Dine's sale. George Farmer paid 75 dollars for Dine to John Neilson. On April 17, 1815, John Neilson delivered the payment of 75 dollars for the sale to Hannah, the daughter of the late Joseph Clark. This was part of Hannah's inheritance. Hannah Clark issued John Neilson a receipt for the money. The following is a transcript of the receipt: "New Brunswick 17th April 1815 Received from John Neilson seventy five dollars received by him as Excr of the est. of Revd. Docr Jos. Clark from George Farmer for black girl Dine sold by the Executor to the said Geo Farmer Hannah Clark"
• 1815, Elizabeth, Sale

  Elizabeth, a Black woman, was sold by the Middlesex County sheriff at a public auction as a result of a lawsuit. It appears that Elizabeth's enslaver John Powers was indebted to Staats Van Deursen (treasurer of Queen's College). Staats Van Deursen brought a lawsuit against John Powers, and a Writ of Execution was issued ordering the sheriff to sell Elizabeth at public auction. Sheriff Abraham Van Arsdalen sold Elizabeth to James Neilson (trustee and benefactor of Queen's College, later Rutgers University) on January 3, 1815, for the sum of 250 dollars. On January 23, 1815, James Neilson paid the sheriff for the sale and took possession of Elizabeth, as shown in a receipt issued by the sheriff on that date. --- The following is a transcript of the receipt: "Rec'd New Brunswick 23d January 1815 from Mr. James Neilson two hundred & fifty Dollars in full payment of a certain Negro Woman named Elizabeth, belonging to the personal estate of John Powers, sold by me on the 3d day of January Inst by Writ of an Execution at the suit of Staats Van Deursen which negro I do hereby deliver to his possession. $250 Abrm Van Arsdalen Sheriff"
• 1815, Prince, Sale

  On May 25, 1815, Cornelius C. Vermeule sold Prince to John Neilson (1745-1833) for 150 dollars. Prince was about 23 years old at this time. The buyer and seller both lived in New Brunswick, NJ. The terms of the Bill of Sale suggest that there was some prior indenture agreement between Prince and Cornelius C. Vermeule that set September 1, 1819, as the expected manumission date for Prince. Vermeule sold Prince to Neilson for the remainder of Prince's "unexpired time" which was listed as 4 years, 3 months, and 6 days. The Bill of Sale was signed in the presence of witness John Guild.
• 1816, Eliza Harris, Birth

  Eliza Harris was born on July 2, 1816, in New Brunswick, the daughter of Ambo and Mark Harris Sr. Ambo's enslaver John Neilson reported Eliza's birth to the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare). The following is a transcript of Eliza's birth record in the County Clerk's register: "I certify that Eliza, Daugr of Ambo, my colourd servant woman (by Mark her husband) was born in New Brunswick 2d day of July 1816. - New Brunswick County of Middlesex State of New Jersey. - John Neilson - Received May 3d 1820. Recorded by Deare Clk"
• 1816, Mark Harris Sr., Sale

  Benjamin Taylor sold Mark (Mark Harris Sr.) to James Neilson for $200 on October 15, 1816. The buyer and seller both lived in New Brunswick, NJ. William P. Deare and Joseph Dunn signed the bill of sale as witnesses. The bill of sale describes the enslaved man as a "mulatto slave" and does not list Mark's last name. Other archival documents indicate that Mark's family name was Harris. Mark was approximately 25 years old at this time. As part of the slave sale contract, James Neilson promised to manumit Mark "at the expiration of five years from the date 12 March 1816." The mention of the 5-year term suggests that Mark probably entered into a 5-year agreement with Benjamin Taylor and was promised his freedom before he was sold to James Neilson. Five years prior to this sale event, Mark Harris Sr. married to Ambo, an enslaved woman in the Neilson household. Ambo and Mark Harris had several children together. When James Neilson purchased Mark Harris, the Harris family was unified in the Neilson household, and Mark could come live with his wife and children who also served the Neilsons. --- The following is a complete transcript of the bill of sale: [FRONT PAGE] Know all men by these presents, that I Benjamin Taylor Junr of the city of New Brunswick in the state of New Jersey, Mariner, for the sum of two hundred dollars to me in hand paid by James Neilson of the city and State aforesaid, Merchant, have and do bargain and sell unto the said James Neilson his executors administrators and assigns my mulatto slave called and known by the name Mark aged about twenty five years; To have and to hold the said slave Mark to the said James Neilson his executors administrators and assigns forever; and I have this day delivered the said slave into the posesion of the said James Neilson and I do warrant and will defend the said James Neilson in the peaceable posesion of said slave against me and all persons whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen. Benjn Taylor Sign sealed & delivered in the presence of } Wm P. Deare [BACK PAGE] I do hereby covenant and engage to and with the written named Benjn Taylor Jnr his executors administrators & assigns that at the expiration of five years from the date 12 March 1816 I will manumit and set free the written named Mark from slavery and servitude. —Witness my hand & seal this fifteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen. James Neilson Sign sealed & delivered in the presence of } Joseph Dunn
• 1817, Ben, Removal

  In 1817, James Smith of Middlesex County, NJ, sold Ben to a man named Jacob Klady, a New Brunswick landholder who was getting ready to move to Ouachita Parish in Louisiana to establish a plantation. Klady took Ben to Louisiana with him. Ben was aged 18 at this time. On September 23, 1817, James Smith brought Ben to the Court of Common Pleas of Middlesex County to obtain a removal certificate authorizing Jacob Klady to take Ben to Louisiana where Ben would serve Klady as his new enslaver. The certificate was signed by two judges (Thomas Hance and John Fitz Randolph). The document stated that Ben was examined by the judges and consented to move with Jacob Klady to Louisiana. It additionally stated that Ben had no parents living in the state of New Jersey (i.e. parental consent was not obtained for Ben's move). The certificate was recorded by the County Clerk (William P. Deare) on October 8, 1817.
• 1817, Dinah, Removal

  In 1817, William Van Deursen, a physician in New Brunswick and a graduate of Queen's College (now Rutgers University) sold Dinah to a man named Jacob Klady, a New Jersey landholder who was getting ready to move to Ouachita Parish in Louisiana to establish a plantation. Klady took Dinah to Louisiana with him. Dinah was aged 22 at this time. Before Klady was allowed to take Dinah out of the State of New Jersey, Dinah had to appear in court and give her consent to move with Klady. It appears that Dinah used this as an opportunity to negotiate with Klady for her freedom before giving her consent. On August 30, 1817, William Van Deursen brought Phillis to the Court of Common Pleas of Middlesex County to obtain a removal certificate authorizing Jacob Klady to take Dinah to Louisiana where she would serve Klady as her new enslaver. According to this removal certificate, Klady promised to manumit Dinah if she served him obediently for 15 years in Louisiana. The certificate was signed by two judges (Thomas Hance and John Fitz Randolph). The certificate was recorded by the County Clerk (William P. Deare) on October 8, 1817. A complete transcript of the removal certificate follows: "Dinah } State of New Jersey } Middlesex County } On the 30th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen Dinah the female servant of Doctor William Van Deursen of the city of New Brunswick, in the county and State aforesaid, being a slave for life, was privately examined before us Thomas Hance and John Outcalt two of the Justices of the Peace, and Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for sd County, which sd slave Dinah upon her sd examination did say that she was near twenty two years of age, that she is perfectly satisfied and willing to leave the place of her present residence and remove with Jacob Klady to the State of Louisiana and that she prefers to serve the said Jacob Klady to the service of her present master – all which we do hereby certify and that the said Dinah is a slave for life – and that the said Jacob Klady has and does hereby promise and engage that if the sd slave Dinah shall behave in an obedient and orderly manner and serve him honestly and faithfully for the space of fifteen years from the date hereof she shall at the expiration of that time be manumitted & set free. – In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names the day and year above written. – Thos. Hance Jno. Outcalt – Received October 8, 1817 recorded by Deare clk"