1826-05-08 Manumission: Jin Hall, Beth Seiger

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01958
Source
Transcriptions of Early County Records of New Jersey: Gloucester County Series Slave Documents

New Jersey Historical Records Survey Project, Division of Professional and Service Projects, Works Progress Administration. Transcriptions of Early County Records of New Jersey: Gloucester County Series Slave Documents. Newark: Historical Records Survey, 1940.
Event Description
The following manumission record from Gloucester County was transcribed by the Historical Records Survey Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The transcript was originally published in 1940 in the book titled Transcriptions of Early County Records of New Jersey: Gloucester County Series Slave Documents. The transcript is reproduced below as it appeared in that book.

Note that this transcript appears to have some transcription errors, though the original archival document has not been reviewed by the New Jersey Slavery Records team yet to confirm the original text. The two people being manumitted are listed in the WPA transcript as "Jim Hall and Beth Seiger," and their ages and genders are not listed here as they are only called "two Slaves" in the manumission certificate. The name "Jim" is probably an error and should be Jin. This manumission certificate is presumed to be for the two people freed by Richard Wescoat's will, which says "Black Girls Jin and Bet to be set free." Note that, according to the will, which was written in 1825, there was no male named Jim in the Wescoat household, and both males who lived in the household (Charles and Josh, described as "Black boys") were to be sold, not manumitted, per Wescoat's wishes.

Additionally, the name of the executor transcribed by WPA as "Lewis de Walker" refers to the man listed as Lewis M. Walker in the will and probate court documents.

The township listed in the manumission certificate is Hamilton. Richard Wescoat had been a resident of Mays Landing in Hamilton Township, and thus it is presumed that this manumission took place specifically in Mays Landing.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY DOCUMENT NUMBER: 45

TRANSCRIPT:

Gloucester County ss: To wit We do hereby certify that on this Eighth day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Twenty six Lewis de Walker and Daniel Leeds Jun'r; Administrators with the Will annexed to the Estate of Richard Westcot deceased of the Township of Hamilton in said County brought before us two of the overseers of the poor of the said Township and two of the Justices of the peace of the said County two Slaves belonging to said Estate and sett free by the last will and testament of said Richard Westcot deceased named Jim Hall and Beth Seiger who on view and under Examination appears to us to be sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity of obtaining a support and also are not under the age of twenty one years nor over or above the ago of forty years In Witness whereof we have hereunto sot our hands the day and year above written.

Job Gybson )
William Ackley) Overseers of the Poor of said Township ofHamilton County above said

James English )
Philip Emmel ) Justices of the peace in and for the said County of Gloucester

[Verso]

Certificate of Manumission of Beth Seigers and Jim Hall Recorded on Libor A of Manumissions Folio 22 in the Clerks office of Gloucester County

Smallwood Clk

Paid
Event Type
Manumission
Keywords
Estate (deceased enslaver)
Date
May 8, 1826
Location of Event
Mays Landing, Hamilton
Hamilton
Preceding Event
1825-03-09 Will (of Richard Wescoat): Luce Ship, Jin Hall, Beth Seiger, Jill, Eliza Ann, Charles, Josh
Primary Participants

Jin Hall
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05426
Role: Manumitted Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Richard Wescoat (1733-1825)

Beth Seiger
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05427
Role: Manumitted Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Richard Wescoat (1733-1825)
Additional Participants

Richard Wescoat (1733-1825)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01307
Role: Enslaver, Deceased
Comment: testator who freed Jin and Beth by his will

Lewis M. Walker
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05432
Role: Executor or Administrator
Comment: co-executor of the will of Richard Wescoat

Daniel Leeds Jr.
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05433
Role: Executor or Administrator
Comment: co-executor of the will of Richard Wescoat

John Smallwood
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04442
Role: County Clerk

Job Gybson
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05434
Role: Overseer of the Poor
Comment: Overseer of the Poor of Hamilton Township

William Ackley
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05435
Role: Overseer of the Poor
Comment: Overseer of the Poor of Hamilton Township

James English
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05436
Role: Judge
Comment: Justice of the Peace for Gloucester County

Philip Emmel
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05437
Role: Judge
Comment: Justice of the Peace for Gloucester County
Record Contributor
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event