1786-10-09 Manumission: Scipio Budd

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01715
Source
Burlington County Deed Book A, Folio 167

Burlington County Deed Book A, Folio 167. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Burlington County Clerk's Office, Deeds, 1785-1901 and Indexes, 1785-1921 & 1948 (CBUCL007).
Event Description
Burlington County Deed Book A, Folio 167, contains a manumission record for Scipio, who was released from slavery on 9 October 1786. The manumission document was filed by the Budd family in New Hanover township. Other historical sources indicate that the Budd family lived in the community of New Mills (now known as Pemberton), which was then part of the New Hanover township. The manumission document states that Scipio was an adult between 21 and 35 years old, but the exact age was not recorded.

Scipio had been enslaved by Joseph Budd, who died in 1785, the year before Scipio was set free. The manumission was performed by Abigail Budd (Joseph's widow), William Budd, and John Lacey, who were the three administrators of the estate of Joseph Budd. The manumission document indicates that they acted "in consideration of a charge given us by the s[ai]d dec[ease]d while on his deathbed and also for other good considerations." In other words, shortly before Joseph Budd died, he instructed his family to free Scipio. Joseph Budd did not write out an official will.

The manumission document was entered into the book by the County Clerk (John Phillips) on 9 October 1786. The document was signed by the Overseers of the Poor for the township of New Hanover (Isaac Bullock and Joseph Lamb Jr.) and Justices of the Peace for Burlington County (Thomas Reynolds and Peter Stretch).

The source document was scanned by the New Jersey State Archives, which houses the original deed book.
Event Type
Manumission
Keywords
Estate (deceased enslaver)
Date
October 9, 1786
Location of Event
Pemberton (formerly New Mills)
New Hanover
Primary Participants

Scipio Budd {Sip}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02931
Role: Manumitted Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Joseph Budd (1744-1785)
Verbatim description from source:
"a slave late the property of the s[ai]d Joseph Budd dec[ease]d named Scipio who on view and examination appears to us to be sound in mind & not under any bodily incapacity of obtaining a support and also is not under twenty one years of age nor above thirty five"
Additional Participants

Joseph Budd (1744-1785)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02927
Role: Enslaver, Deceased
Comment: primary enslaver of Scipio, died in 1785

Abigail Shinn Budd (1745-1816)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02930
Role: Enslaver, Executor or Administrator
Comment: widow and administrator of Joseph Budd

William Budd
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02932
Role: Executor or Administrator
Comment: administrator of Joseph Budd

John Lacey
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02933
Role: Executor or Administrator
Comment: administrator of Joseph Budd

John Phillips
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02923
Role: County Clerk

Isaac Bullock
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02934
Role: Overseer of the Poor
Comment: Overseer of the Poof of New Hanover

Joseph Lamb Jr.
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02935
Role: Overseer of the Poor
Comment: Overseer of the Poof of New Hanover

Thomas Reynolds
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02936
Role: Judge
Comment: Justice of the Peace for Burlington County

Peter Stretch
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02937
Role: Judge
Comment: Justice of the Peace for Burlington County
Record Contributor
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event