John Neilson (1745-1833)
- Guidance
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This white person has 19 related events in the database, listed at the bottom of this page.
This person is related to Rutgers University history. See our research guide Rutgers University & Slavery for more information about finding university affiliates and archival sources in our database.
- Record Title
- John Neilson (1745-1833)
- Identifier
- NJS-PER-00001
- Given Name
- John
- Family Name
- Neilson
- Birth Date
- 11 March 1745
- Death Date
- 3 March 1833
- Sex
- Male
- Biographical Description
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Colonel John Neilson was an early trustee and benefactor of Queen's College (later Rutgers University). His parents were John Neilson (c. 1710s-1745) and Joanna Coeymans. His father died shortly before Neilson was born. Consequently, Neilson was raised by his uncle, the New Brunswick merchant James Neilson (1700-1783), from infancy and worked in his uncle's shipping business trading between Madeira, the Dutch West Indies, and New Jersey.
Neilson became the heir to his uncle's mercantile business and estate, which included several enslaved persons. Neilson bought and sold many enslaved persons throughout his life.
During the American Revolution, John Neilson served as a colonel in command of the New Jersey militia in the northern part of the state. He served in the New Jersey legislature during and after the Revolution. A statue of John Neilson reading the Declaration of Independence was erected in Monument Square in New Brunswick in 2017. - Keywords
- white person
- enslaver
- Rutgers University history
- Organization
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Rutgers University
- Relationship to Rutgers
- Trustee (1782-1833)
- Benefactor
- Enslaver of
- Ambo Harris
- Ann {daughter of Flora}
- Ann Harris (b. 1814)
- Clara Harris (b. 1812)
- Eliza Harris (b. 1816)
- Flora
- Mark Harris Jr. (b. 1818)
- Phillis Neilson (b. 1780s)
- Prince (b. 1792)
- Tony
- Unnamed Black man captured from the enemy {Neilson household}
- Child of
- John Neilson (d. 1745)
- Spouse of
- Catherine Schuyler Voorhees Neilson (1753-1816)
- References
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Boyd, Kendra, Miya Carey, and Christopher Blakley. "Old Money: Rutgers University and the Political Economy of Slavery in New Jersey." In Scarlet and Black: Vol. 1, Slavery and Dispossession in Rutgers History, edited by Marisa J. Fuentes and Deborah Gray White, 43–57. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1k3s9r0.6
Bayker, Jesse, Christopher Blakley, and Kendra Boyd. "His Name Was Will: Remembering Enslaved Individuals in Rutgers History." In Scarlet and Black: Vol. 1, Slavery and Dispossession in Rutgers History, edited by Marisa Fuentes and Deborah Gray White, 58–81. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2016. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1k3s9r0.7
Robert Thompson, Colonel James Neilson: A Business Man of the Early Machine Age in New Jersey, 1784-1862 (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1940).
- Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker
- Linked Sources
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Author:
- Letter from John Neilson to Robert Finley regarding Jef (Letter from John Neilson to Robert Finley regarding Jef, February 25, 1794. Neilson Family Papers, 1768-1908 (MC 933). Box 4, Folder 45: J & J Neilson - Papers relating to purchase of slaves. Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.)
- Slave sale ad for two Black women from the estate of Joseph Clark (Slave sale ad for two Black women from the estate of Joseph Clark, Fredonian, April 21, 1814.)
- Permission slip for Phillis to join the African Association, by John Neilson (Permission slip for Phillis to join the African Association, by John Neilson, January 1, 1820. African Association of New Brunswick (N.J.). Minute Book, 1817-1824 (MC 50). Unmarked folder with loose slips. Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.)
- Linked Events
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Additional Participant in:
- 1777-11-30 Sale: Unnamed Black man captured from the enemy (Role: Enslaver, Buyer)
- 1787-01-31 Sale: Flora, Ann, Phillis Neilson (Role: Enslaver, Buyer)
- 1794-02 Sale: Jef (Role: Buyer)
- 1798-04-24 Sale: Tony (Role: Enslaver, Buyer)
- 1811-09-08 Marriage: Mark Harris Sr., Ambo Harris (Role: Enslaver)
- 1812-09-14 Birth: Clara Harris (Role: Enslaver)
- 1814-04-21 Advertisement: Grace, Dine (Role: Advertiser)
- 1814-06-23 Birth: Ann Harris (Role: Enslaver)
- 1814-08-04 Sale: Grace (Role: Seller)
- 1815-04-17 Sale: Dine (Role: Seller)
- 1815-05-25 Sale: Prince (Role: Enslaver, Buyer)
- 1816-07-02 Birth: Eliza Harris (Role: Enslaver)
- 1818-07-27 Birth: Mark Harris Jr. (Role: Enslaver)
- 1820-01-01 Membership or participation: Phillis Neilson (Role: Enslaver, Permission Grantor)
- 1820-07-01 Membership or participation: Phillis Neilson (Role: Enslaver)
- 1821-01-01 Membership or participation: Phillis Neilson (Role: Enslaver)
- 1822-01-01 Membership or participation: Phillis Neilson (Role: Enslaver)
- 1822-01-16 Manumission: Ambo Harris (Role: Enslaver, Manumitter)
- 1822-01-16 Manumission: Phillis Neilson (Role: Enslaver, Manumitter)
Part of John Neilson (1745-1833)
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