Selena (b. ca. 1781)
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This person of African descent has 2 related events in the database, listed at the bottom of this page.
- Identifier
- NJS-PER-05416
- Given Name
- Selena
- Birth Date
- 1781
- Sex
- Female
- Biographical Description
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Selena was a Black woman who was enslaved by Dr. Isaac Harris Sr. in Pittsgrove, Salem County, in the early 19th century. Her enslaver was a prominent physician, president of the New Jersey State Medical Society, and one of the most prosperous men in Pittsgrove who owned vast tracts of land in Salem and Cumberland Counties. Dr. Isaac Harris Sr died in 1808, and Selena was mentioned in his will, which stipulated that she should be freed at age 35. Until that age, she was to serve Dr. Isaac Harris Sr's wife Nancy.
By 1816, Selena was in Camden (then considered part of Newton Township in Gloucester County before the incorporation of Camden as a separate municipality and the establishment of Camden County). In Camden, she was manumitted by Dr. Samuel Harris, one of the sons and heirs of Dr. Isaac Harris Sr. It is unclear how long Selena was with Dr. Samuel Harris before her manumission. Her age was not mentioned in her manumission deed in 1816. Her year of birth of 1781 is estimated based on the date of her manumission and the assumption that she was then about 35 years old, as instructed in the elder Dr. Harris's will that provided for her freedom when she reached that age. - Keywords
- African descent person
- Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker
- Linked Events
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Primary Participant in:
- 1807-11-07 Will (of Isaac Harris Sr.): Selena (Role: Person Listed in Will)
- 1816-11-16 Manumission: Selena (Role: Manumitted Person)
- Resource class
- Agent