1819-07-27 Manumission: Cornelia McLaughlin Kennedy

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01966
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. 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.

The manumission of Cornelia McLaughlin Kennedy was performed in 1819 by William Cooper and Richard M. Cooper, acting as the executors for the estate of Joseph Cooper Esq., who had died in November 1818. The document mentions that the decedent had lived at Cooper's Point in Newton Township, Gloucester County. This refers to the Cooper's Poynt area of present-day Camden in Camden County (it was still part of Newton Township at the time when this document was filed). The certificate of manumission transcribed here does not list Cornelia's age, but she was probably about 21 at this time. See the related event linked below—the will of Joseph Cooper Esq., which mentions that Cornelia McLaughlin should be free at age 21.


GLOUCESTER COUNTY DOCUMENT NUMBER: 42

TRANSCRIPT:

State of New Jersey Gloucester County, to wit:-

We do hereby certify, That on this twenty seventh day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, William Cooper and Richard M. Cooper acting Executors of the last Will and Testament of Joseph Cooper Esquire late of Cooper's point in the Township of Newton and County of Gloucester aforesaid deceased, brought before us two of the overseers of the poor of the said Township and two of the Justices of the peace of said County. Cornelia McLaughlin Kennedy a female Mulatto Slave, belonging to the Estate of the said Joseph Cooper Esquire deceased, who on view and examination appear to us to be sound in mind and nor under any bodily incapacity of obtaining a support and also is not under the age of twenty one years nor above the age of forty years.
In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, the day and year above written

Cornelius Wiltsee ) Overseers of the poor of the
Isaac Webster ) said Township of Newton

Joseph Rogers ) Justices of the peace in and for
Joel Gibbs ) the said County of Gloucester.

27 Aug. 1819

[Verso]

Certificate of two of the overseers of the poor of the Township of Newton and two of the Justices of the peace of the County of Gloucester for Cornelia McLaughlin Kennedy
Received & Recorded 27 Aug. 1819, Book A page 4 of Manumissions.
Hendry Clk
Event Type
Manumission
Keywords
Estate (deceased enslaver)
Date
July 27, 1819
Location of Event
Cooper's Poynt, Camden
Newton (Gloucester & Camden County)
Camden
Preceding Event
1817-11-27 Will (of Joseph Cooper): Cornelia McLaughlin Kennedy
Primary Participants

Cornelia McLaughlin Kennedy (b. ca. 1798)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05467
Role: Manumitted Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Joseph Cooper (1735-1818) {Esq}
Verbatim description from source:
"Cornelia McLaughlin Kennedy a female Mulatto Slave, belonging to the Estate of the said Joseph Cooper Esquire deceased"
Additional Participants

Joseph Cooper (1735-1818) {Esq}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04407
Role: Enslaver, Deceased
Comment: in his last will and testament, gave instructions for freeing Cornelia at age 21

William Cooper (1771-1843)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04408
Role: Executor or Administrator
Comment: nephew of the deceased enslaver

Richard Matlack Cooper (1768-1843)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05413
Role: Executor or Administrator
Comment: second cousin twice removed of the deceased enslaver

Cornelius Wiltsee
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05464
Role: Overseer of the Poor
Comment: Overseer of the Poor of Newton Township

Isaac Webster
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05379
Role: Overseer of the Poor
Comment: Overseer of the Poor of Newton Township

Joseph Rogers
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05465
Role: Judge
Comment: Justice of the Peace for Gloucester County

Joel Gibbs
Person identifier: NJS-PER-05414
Role: Judge
Comment: Justice of the Peace for Gloucester County

Thomas Hendry
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04440
Role: County Clerk
Record Contributor
Kemy Rodriguez
Resource class
Event