1820-08-09 Manumission: Oliver Johnston

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Identifier
NJS-EVE-00559
Source
Middlesex County Manumissions and Removals, page 327

Manumission of Oliver Johnston (certificate dated 1820-08-09), recorded in Manumissions and Removals Book, p. 327. Middlesex County (N.J.) Records, 1688-1929, Vol. XI (MC 784.1). Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.
Event Description
On August 9, 1820, a certificate of manumission was issued for Oliver Johnston, who was brought before Middlesex County officials by John Crowell, acting as assignee for Jacob Fitz Randolph. Oliver Johnston was aged 21 to 40 at the time of manumission. The certificate of manumission was signed by the Overseers of the Poor of Woodbridge (Jonathan Freeman and Frazee Ayers) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (Ichabod Potter and Richard Marsh). The document stated that Oliver Johnston 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. Oliver Johnston's exact age was not recorded in the document. This document was recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) on September 4, 1820.
Event Type
Manumission
Date
August 9, 1820
Location of Event
Woodbridge
Primary Participants

Oliver Johnston
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01434
Role: Manumitted Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- John Crowell
- Jacob Fitz Randolph
Additional Participants

Jacob Fitz Randolph
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00050
Role: Enslaver, Assignor
Comment: original enslaver of Oliver Johnston

John Crowell
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00174
Role: Enslaver, Manumitter
Comment: assignee of Jacob Fitz Randolph

Ichabod Potter
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00032
Role: Judge

Richard Marsh
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00173
Role: Judge

Jonathan Freeman
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00334
Role: Overseer of the Poor

Frazee Ayers
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00335
Role: Overseer of the Poor

William Philips Deare (d. 1826)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00008
Role: County Clerk
Record Contributor
Isaac Guzmán
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event