1818-07-22 Removal Registration: Hannah Grene, Rebecca Ann
- Research Tips
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To learn about the removal registration system in New Jersey, see What Is a Removal Certificate? You can use the Removal Records Index to review all removal registrations by origin, destination, and other criteria.
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-00264
- Source
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Middlesex County Manumissions and Removals, page 271
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Middlesex County Manumissions and Removals, page 271. Archival location: Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries. Middlesex County (N.J.). Records, 1688-1929 (MC 784.1). Vol. XI.
- Event Description
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A removal certificate authorizing the relocation of Hannah Grene, an enslaved woman aged 21, from the State of New Jersey to Virginia was issued by the Court of Common Pleas of Middlesex County on July 22, 1818. The certificate was signed by two judges (Robert McChesney and Thomas Hance) and was subsequently recorded by the County Clerk (William P. Deare) on July 27, 1818.
The document stated that Hannah Grene's enslaver George Farmer of Middlesex County brought Hannah Grene before the judges, as was required by law before an enslaved person could be taken out of the state. George Farmer planned to sell Hannah Grene to an enslaver named James K. Cook, a resident of Virginia. The law required Hannah Grene's consent for this move. The certificate states that Hannah Grene agreed to go to Virginia, but there was a condition attached: she was willing to go if James K. Cook would also purchase and take with him Hannah Grene's daughter Rebecca Ann, aged 4, who was currently enslaved by John Smock of Monmouth County. The document also noted that Rebecca Ann was eligible for emancipation at age 21 under New Jersey's gradual abolition law.
This document suggests that, faced with an untenable situation, Hannah Grene took steps to prevent permanent separation from her daughter. Although 4-year-old Rebecca Ann's legal status as a slave for a term of 21 years was recorded in this document, relocation to Virginia was extremely dangerous for a child in her position, because it would be nearly impossible for her to enforce her rights under New Jersey's gradual abolition law once she reached adulthood in the South. Additionally, if Hannah Grene gave birth to any children in Virginia, they would be enslaved for life.
The removal certificate listed George Farmer as a resident of Middlesex County, but did not specify the locality. However, other historical records confirm that George Farmer was a well-known resident of Piscataway and had a large estate called Belle Vue near the Raritan River (around the area of present-day Highland Park). It can be inferred that Hannah Grene lived at Belle Vue prior to her relocation to Virginia.
The following is a complete transcript of the removal certificate:
"Removal }
Hannah Grene }
State of New Jersey }
Middlesex County}
Be it remembered that on the twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and eighteen, Captain George Farmer of the said county of Middlesex in New Jersey brought before us Robert McChesney and Thomas Hance two of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County his female slave named Hannah Grene aged between twenty one and twenty two years - and the said Hannah being by us examined separate and apart from her said Master declared that she was a slave for life and that she was willing and freely consented to remove and go out of this State with James K. Cook a resident in the State of Virginia (to whom her said master is about the sell her) and to reside with the said James K. Cook rather than continue with and serve her present master - provided that he the said James K. Cook purchases and takes with her female child named Rebeca Ann aged four years on or about the fifth day of April last past now belonging to John Smock in the County of Monmouth in New Jersey which said female child was born under the Abolition Act of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey by virtue of which act she the said female child will become free and entitled to freedom at the age of twenty one years. - In Testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands the day and year above written.
Robert McChesney }
Thos. Hance } Judges
Received July 27th 1818 & recorded by
Deare CLK" - Event Type
- Removal Registration
- Keywords
- Removal of mother and child
- Removal of person eligible for gradual emancipation
- Date
- July 22, 1818
- Primary Participants
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Hannah Grene (b. ca. 1797)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00712
Role: Relocated Person
Age: 21
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- George Farmer (1761-1818)
- James K. Cook
Verbatim description from source:
"female slave named Hannah Grene aged between twenty one and twenty two years; slave for life"Rebecca Ann (b. 1814) {daughter of Hannah Grene}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00634
Role: Relocated Person
Age: 4
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- John Smock
- James K. Cook
Verbatim description from source:
"female child named Rebeca Ann aged four years on or about the fifth day of April last past now belonging to John Smock in the County of Monmouth in New Jersey which said female child was born under the Abolition Act of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey by virtue of which act she the said female child will become free and entitled to freedom at the age of twenty one years" - Additional Participants
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George Farmer (1761-1818)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00483
Role: Enslaver
Comment: seller of Hannah Grene who obtained removal certificate in Middlesex County, NJJohn Smock
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00486
Role: Enslaver
Comment: prospective seller of child Rebecca AnnJames K. Cook
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00485
Role: Enslaver
Comment: prospective buyer in VirginiaRobert McChesney
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00234
Role: JudgeThomas Hance
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00227
Role: JudgeWilliam Philips Deare (d. 1826)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00008
Role: County Clerk - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker