Person Record Title

John Outcalt (1770-1853)

Identifier

NJS-PER-00035

Given Name

John

Family Name

Outcalt

Alternate Name

Outgelt

Birth Date

1770

Death Date

1853

Sex

Male

Occupation

Legal

Biographical Description

John Outcalt was a judge in Middlesex County, New Jersey, in the early 19th century.

In his official capacity as the Justice of the Peace for the county, he issued manumission certificates for residents of North Brunswick whose enslavers agreed to set them free.

In his role as the Judge of Common Pleas for the county, he was also responsible for approving removal certificates to authorize the movement of enslaved people out of New Jersey to other states. In 1818, he colluded with the notorious slave trading ring organized by Judge Jacob Van Wickle in Middlesex County. Judge Outcalt signed many falsified removal certificates that helped Van Wickle sell Black New Jerseyans into slavery in the Deep South.

Keywords

white person

government official

Van Wickle and associates

Place of Significance

North Brunswick

New Brunswick

Same As

John "Judge" Outcalt (Find a Grave)

Research Guide

Research Guide: Understanding Interstate Slave Trade & Kidnapping Documents

Related Resource

Lost Souls Memorial Project website

Record Contributor

Jesse Bayker