Eliza Harris (b. 1816)
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This person of African descent has 1 related event 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.
- Identifier
- NJS-PER-00012
- Given Name
- Eliza
- Family Name
- Harris
- Birth Date
- July 2, 1816
- Sex
- Female
- Biographical Description
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Eliza was a woman of African descent who was born in New Brunswick, NJ, on July 2, 1816, to parents Ambo and Mark Harris Sr. Eliza's parents were both enslaved at the time of her birth, but Ambo would eventually become free when enslaver John Neilson manumitted her.
Eliza's birth was reported to the Middlesex County Clerk by enslaver John Neilson, who was the legal owner of her mother Ambo. Under New Jersey's gradual abolition law, Eliza was considered a "slave for a term" of 21 years, and she was bound to serve John Neilson and his heirs until the year 1837 when she would become eligible for emancipation.
Eliza was the third child of Ambo and Mark Harris Sr. Her older sisters were Clara and Ann, and her younger brother was Mark Jr. - Keywords
- African descent person
- Rutgers University history
- Places
- New Brunswick
- Enslaved by
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John Neilson (1745-1833)
- Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker
- Linked Events
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Primary Participant in:
- 1816-07-02 Birth: Eliza Harris (Role: Child)