1787-10 Manumission: Bell, Lambert · New Jersey Slavery Records

Identifier

NJS-EVE-00021

Source

Manumission of Bell and Lambert, by Governor William Livingston

Manumission of Bell and Lambert, by Governor William Livingston, 1787.

Event Description

William Livingston manumitted Bell and her son Lambert in October 1787. The manumission took place in Elizabeth, NJ. Livingston, who increasingly embraced abolitionist ideas after the Revolution, noted that he made the decision to manumit Bell and Lambert due to his "regard for the natural liberties of mankind" and that he aimed to "set the example" for other enslavers in the hopes that his "voluntary manumission of Slaves, may have any influence on others."

The following is a transcript of the Bill of Manumission signed by William Livingston in October 1787:

"October [1 – 31] 1787

Know all Men by these presents that I William Livingston of the Borough of Elizabeth in the County of Essex & State of New Jersey, in consideration of my regard for the natural liberties of mankind, & in order to set the example as far as my voluntary manumission of Slaves, may have any influence on others have manumitted emancipated and set at Liberty & Do by these presents manumit emancipate & set at Liberty a certain Negro woman slave called Bell and also her male child called Lambert both born in my family in a state of slavery & do hereby release acquit & discharge the said Bell and her child from any services to me or my representatives as fully & effectually to the extent & purposes whatsoever as if they had been born first free. It witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this [ ] day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & eighty seven."

Event Type

Manumission

Date

October 1787

Location of Event

Elizabeth (formerly Elizabethtown)

Primary Participants

Bell
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00348
Role: Manumitted Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- William Livingston (1723-1790)
Verbatim description from source:
"Negro woman slave called Bell"

Lambert {son of Bell}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00349
Role: Manumitted Person
Age category: Child
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- William Livingston (1723-1790)
Verbatim description from source:
"male child called Lambert ... born in my family in a state of slavery"

Additional Participants

William Livingston (1723-1790)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00020
Role: Enslaver, Manumitter

Record Contributor

Jesse Bayker