1787-03-17 Manumission: Peter Thorn

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01732
Source
Burlington County Deed Book A, Folio 247

Burlington County Deed Book A, Folio 247. 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 247, contains a manumission record for Peter Thorn, who was released from slavery on 17 March 1787 in Springfield. Peter Thorn's primary enslaver, Jonathan Hough, had died in 1780. The manumission was performed by Jonathan's surviving brothers, Daniel Hough and Samuel Hough, who were the executors of Jonathan's estate. The manumission document indicates that Daniel and Samuel were carrying out Jonathan's wishes as recorded in his will. The manumission document states that Peter Thorn was an adult between 21 and 35 years old at the time of the manumission in 1787, but his exact age was not recorded.

The document was entered into the book by the County Clerk (John Phillips) on 27 November 1787). The manumission record was signed by the Overseers of the Poor for the township (Caleb Earl and Benjamin Hough) and Justices of the Peace for Burlington County (Thomas Reynolds and Peter Stretch). Additionally, John Lacey and Job Lippincott signed the deed of manumission as witnesses.

The source document was scanned by the New Jersey State Archives, which houses the original deed book.

Page 248 in the same book indicates that Samuel Hough (acting on his own behalf) also manumitted a woman named Phillis on the same day.
Event Type
Manumission
Keywords
Estate (deceased enslaver)
Date
March 17, 1787
Location of Event
Springfield
Preceding Event
1780-09-20 Will (of Jonathan Hough Jr.): Peter Thorn, Mintes
Related Event
1787-03-17 Manumission: Phillis
Primary Participants

Peter Thorn
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04194
Role: Manumitted Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Jonathan Hough Jr. (ca. 1751-ca. 1780)
Verbatim description from source:
"Mulatto Male Slave Named Peter Thorn"
Additional Participants

Jonathan Hough Jr. (ca. 1751-ca. 1780)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04115
Role: Enslaver, Deceased

Daniel Hough (1742-1797)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04116
Role: Executor or Administrator
Comment: Co-executor of the estate of Jonathan Hough

Samuel Hough (1746-1815)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04117
Role: Executor or Administrator
Comment: Co-executor of the estate of Jonathan Hough

John Lacey
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04193
Role: Witness

Job Lippincott
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04118
Role: Witness

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

Caleb Earl
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04084
Role: Overseer of the Poor

Benjamin Hough
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04085
Role: Overseer of the Poor

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