1777-12-06 Mention: Unnamed Black man [Hardenbergh]

Title

1777-12-06 Mention: Unnamed Black man [Hardenbergh]

Identifier

NJS-EVE-00029

Source

Letter from Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh to his father Col. Johannes Hardenbergh

Letter from Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh to his father Col. Johannes Hardenbergh, December 6, 1777. Hardenbergh Family Papers. Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.

Event Description

Rev. Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh (1736-1790), first president of Queen's College (later Rutgers), mentioned a Black man in a letter to his father Col. Johannes Hardenbergh (1706-1786) written on December 6, 1777. The letter was sent from Hardenbergh's parsonage in Raritan (present-day Somerville), and was likely sent to Rosendale, NY, where his father lived. Written in Dutch, the letter states "Schrijve dese wynige in haast, wijl de neger gereet maakt om af te gaan." The English translation is: "Writing these words in a hurry while the negro is getting ready to leave." These words most likely refer to an enslaved Black man who was working at Hardenbergh's parsonage at this time; the man's name is not recorded.

Event Type

Mention

Date

6 December 1777

Location of Event

Old Dutch Parsonage, Somerville (originally in Finderne aka Raritan)

Primary Participant

Unnamed Black man {Hardenbergh household}

Enslaver

Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh Sr. (1736-1790)

Participant Details

DETAILS FOR PRIMARY PARTICIPANTS:

*** Unnamed Black man {Hardenbergh household} ***
Role: Mentioned Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Unknown
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh Sr. (1736-1790)

==========

DETAILS FOR OTHER PARTICIPANTS:

Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh Sr. (1736-1790)
Role: Enslaver

Record Contributor

Jesse Bayker