1830-04-16 Manumission: Matilda Stockton Thomas

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01892
Source
Somerset County Register of Black Children and Manumissions, Book B, Page 142

Somerset County Register of Black Children and Manumissions, Book B, Page 142. Archival location: Somerset County Clerk's Office. Manumission and Register of Blacks, Book B.
Event Description
Somerset County Register of Black Children and Manumissions, Book B, Page 142, contains a manumission deed and certificate for Matilda, who was released from slavery in 1830 in Montgomery township. Matilda was manumitted by Dr. Ebenezer Stockton, a medical doctor who resided in Princeton (a portion of which was then within the boundaries of Montgomery township). The manumission document states that Matilda was an adult between 21 and 40 years old, but her exact age was not recorded.

Dr. Ebenezer Stockton signed the deed of manumission on 16 April 1830, with Helen Stockton and Asbhel Green Jr serving as witnesses. Subsequently, Matilda was examined by county officials on 14 June 1830, and a manumission certificate was signed by the Overseers of the Poor for the township of Montgomery (Henry Duryea and Cornelius Kershow) and Justices of the Peace for Somerset County (John Lowrey and William Cruser).

The documents were then entered into the book by the County Clerk (Isaac Southard) on 15 June 1830.
Event Type
Manumission
Date
April 16, 1830
Location of Event
Princeton
Montgomery
Primary Participants

Matilda Stockton Thomas {Matty}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04840
Role: Manumitted Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Ebenezer Stockton (1760-1837)
Verbatim description from source:
"female slave named Matilda"
Additional Participants

Ebenezer Stockton (1760-1837)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-03503
Role: Enslaver, Manumitter

Helen Stockton
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04838
Role: Witness
Comment: witnessed the signature of Dr. Ebenezer Stockton

Isaac Southard (1783-1850)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-03397
Role: County Clerk

Ashbel Green Jr.
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04839
Role: Witness
Comment: witnessed the signature of Dr. Ebenezer Stockton

Henry Duryea
Person identifier: NJS-PER-03428
Role: Overseer of the Poor

Cornelius Kershow
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04208
Role: Overseer of the Poor

John Lowrey
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04158
Role: Judge
Comment: Justice of the Peace for Somerset County

William Cruser
Person identifier: NJS-PER-03014
Role: Judge
Comment: Justice of the Peace for Somerset County
Record Contributor
Kelsey Heflin
Resource class
Event