1780-09-20 Will (of Jonathan Hough Jr.): Peter Thorn, Mintes

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01747
Source
Will of Jonathan Hough, Springfield, Burlington County, NJ

Will of Jonathan Hough, Springfield, Burlington County, NJ, September 20, 1780. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Secretary of State Wills and Inventories, ca. 1670-1900. Image of original will from Probate File 10778C. A copy of the will is also recorded in Vol. 22, p. 235.
Event Description
Jonathan Hough, yeoman, of Springfield, Burlington County, wrote his will on September 20, 1780. In his will, he mentioned two enslaved people, Peter and Mintes. Hough wished Peter to be free upon his death. Mintes, who was a young man or boy at the time when the will was written, would be set at liberty when he reached 23 and a half years of age.

The following is a transcript of the pertinent passage from the will:

"Item I do leave and it is my will that my Servant named Peter is free and set at his own liberty at the time of my decease. And I do leave my Servant named Mintes free and at his own Liberty Eighteen Months before he does arrive to the age of Twenty-five."

The will was witnessed by Daniel Hough (Jonathan's brother), Robert Taylor, and Joseph Hedger.

Hough nominated his brothers Daniel, Samuel, and William Hough to be executors of his estate. Only Daniel and Samuel went on to become executors of Jonathan's estate after his death in 1781, and they were responsible for carrying out Jonathan's wishes (brother William died around the same time as Jonathan). Daniel and Samuel Hough went on to file manumission papers for Peter in 1787.
Event Type
Will
Date
September 20, 1780
Location of Event
Springfield
Following Event
1787-03-17 Manumission: Peter Thorn
Primary Participants

Peter Thorn
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04194
Role: Person Listed in Will
Age category: Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Jonathan Hough Jr. (ca. 1751-ca. 1780)
Verbatim description from source:
"my Servant named Peter"
Comment: to be free upon the testator's decease

Mintes
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04410
Role: Person Listed in Will
Age category: Young Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Jonathan Hough Jr. (ca. 1751-ca. 1780)
Verbatim description from source:
"my Servant named Mintes"
Comment: to be free at 23 and a half years of age
Additional Participants

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

Daniel Hough (1742-1797)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04116
Role: Witness

Robert Taylor
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04411
Role: Witness

Joseph Hedger
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04412
Role: Witness
Record Contributor
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event