John Smith (Judge of Common Pleas)

Item

Person
John Smith (Judge of Common Pleas)
Identifier
NJS-PER-00635
Given Name
John
Family Name
Smith
Sex
Male
Biographical Description
John Smith was a Judge of Common Pleas for Middlesex County, New Jersey, in the early 19th century.

In this role he was 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 corrupt Judge Jacob Van Wickle and his associates who were engaged in a notorious slave trading operation in Middlesex County. Judge Smith signed about a dozen removal certificates that helped Van Wickle and his associates send Black New Jerseyans to the Deep South.

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See also a potentially related record for a man named John Smith [Identifier NJS-PER-00116], who was the Overseer of the Poor of East Windsor in the early 19th century. It is possible that this is the same man. The relationship between these records has not been confirmed.
Place of Significance
Middlesex County, NJ
Occupation
Legal

Linked resources

Items with "Related Person or Resource: John Smith (Judge of Common Pleas)"
Title Class
John Smith (Overseer of the Poor) Agent
Items with "Judge: John Smith (Judge of Common Pleas)"
Title Class
1818, Cain, Removal Event
1818, Charles, Removal Event
1818, Charles, Removal Event
1818, Elijah, Removal Event
1818, Frank, Removal Event
1818, George, Removal Event
1818, Jack, Removal Event
1818, Jane, Removal Event
1818, Lewis, Removal Event
1818, Mary, Removal Event
1818, Peter, Removal Event
1818, Phebe, Removal Event
1818, Sam, Removal Event
1818, Susan, Removal Event