1811-04-08 Manumission: George

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Identifier
NJS-EVE-00124
Source
Middlesex County Manumissions and Removals, page 99
Middlesex County Manumissions and Removals, page 100

Manumission of George (certificate dated 1811-04-08), recorded in Manumissions and Removals Book, p. 99-100. Middlesex County (N.J.) Records, 1688-1929, Vol. XI (MC 784.1). Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.
Event Description
George was manumitted by the last will and testament of Isaac Van Dike (Van Dyke) of South Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey, who died in 1803.

For reasons that are unclear, Matthew Van Dike (the executor of Isaac Van Dike's estate) appeared in court twice with George to complete the manumission process, with a 7-year gap between these court appearances. The original certificate of manumission for George had been issued on April 9, 1804 (see related event for details).

The second certificate of manumission was signed on April 8, 1811, by the Overseers of the Poor of South Brunswick (Andrew McDowell, Thomas Wetherill) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (John Bastedo, Joseph McChesney). The document stated that George was examined in court and met the eligibility requirements for manumission in New Jersey, i.e. the person was 21 to 40 years old and was "sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity" of obtaining a livelihood. George's exact age was not recorded in the document. This manumission certificate was recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) on April 16, 1811.

It is unclear whether George attained freedom in 1804 or was held in bondage until 1811 when the second certificate of manumission was issued.
Event Type
Manumission
Keywords
Estate (deceased enslaver)
Date
April 8, 1811
Location of Event
South Brunswick
Related Event
1804-04-09 Manumission: George
Primary Participants

George
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00524
Role: Manumitted Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Isaac Van Dike (1721-1803)
Verbatim description from source:
"slave named George"
Additional Participants

John Bastedo
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00108
Role: Judge

Joseph McChesney
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00067
Role: Judge

Andrew McDowell (1757-1834)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00093
Role: Overseer of the Poor

Thomas Wetherill
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00167
Role: Overseer of the Poor

William Philips Deare (d. 1826)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00008
Role: County Clerk

Isaac Van Dike (1721-1803)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00106
Role: Enslaver, Deceased

Matthew Van Dike (1752-1832)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00109
Role: Executor or Administrator
Record Contributor
Isaac Guzmán
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event