Person Record Title

James Schureman (1756-1824)

Identifier

NJS-PER-00390

Given Name

James

Family Name

Schureman

Birth Date

1756

Death Date

1824

Sex

Male

Occupation

Military and Militia

Government

Marketing, Retail, and Trading

Biographical Description

James Schureman was an enslaver who resided in North Brunswick, NJ.

He was the son of John Schureman (1729-1795) and Antje De Remere (1721-1800). He was one of the earliest graduates of Queen's College (later Rutgers University) in 1775. He served as a Captain of the Middlesex County militia in the Revolutionary War and then went on to become a merchant and politician. His political career included multiple terms as the Mayor of New Brunswick, Councilman for Middlesex County in the New Jersey Legislative Council, as well as U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator representing the State of New Jersey. He had a house and store on Burnet Street in New Brunswick and also owned a farm at One-Mile Run.

Middlesex County Clerk's records include a birth certificate that Schureman submitted for an enslaved child named Phillis (born to a woman named Patty who was enslaved by Schureman). Additionally, Schureman served as one of the executors of the estate of his brother-in-law Peter Vredenburgh and, in that capacity, carried out Vredenburgh's wishes to manumit two enslaved persons named Tom and Margaret, which manumissions were recorded by the County Clerk.

Schureman was the son-in-law of David Williamson of South Brunswick, NJ, by marriage to Williamson's daughter Eleanor. Schureman was one of the executors of his father-in-law's will. In 1799, Schureman signed a bill of sale for a Black woman named Lydia on behalf of Williamson's estate.

Keywords

white person

enslaver

Rutgers history

executor or administrator for estate of enslaver

Place of Significance

North Brunswick

Organization

Rutgers University

Relationship to Rutgers

Alumnus 1775

Trustee (1782-1824)

Instructor (1782-?)

Treasurer (1795-1813)

Family (son John Schureman RC1795)

Enslaver of

Patty

Phillis (b. 1807)

Child of

Antje De Remere (1721-1800)

John Schureman (1729-1795)

Spouse of

Eleanor Williamson Schureman (1761-1823)

Related Person

David Williamson (d. 1797)

Same As

James Schureman (Wikipedia)

James Schureman, Memorial ID 7751716. Find a Grave

Bibliographic Citation

Wynkoop, Richard. Schureman Genealogy. New York: Melancthon F. Schureman, 1889. Page 8-10.

Record Contributor

Isaac Guzmán

Jesse Bayker