1822-08-08 Manumission: John Annin

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Identifier
NJS-EVE-00579
Source
Middlesex County Manumissions and Removals, page 364
Middlesex County Manumissions and Removals, page 365

Manumission of John Annin (certificate dated 1822-08-08, deed dated 1822-08-08), recorded in Manumissions and Removals Book, p. 364-365. Middlesex County (N.J.) Records, 1688-1929, Vol. XI (MC 784.1). Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.
Event Description
John Annin, aged 25, was manumitted by James Parker (1776-1868) of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The manumission documents listed the man as "John Annin (usually called Jack)."

The certificate of manumission was signed by the Overseers of the Poor of Perth Amboy (Joseph Marsh and Charles Ford) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (James Skinner and Robert Arnold) on August 8, 1822. The document stated that John Annin 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.

The deed of manumission was executed on August 8, 1822, by James Parker in the presence of James Skinner and Joseph Marsh. The deed was unusually detailed and provided additional information about Jack and about James Parker's reasons for manumitting him at this time. James Parker's deed stated that he had purchased Jack in 1807 from Joseph Annin of Somerset County, New Jersey. At the time of this slave sale in 1807, Jack was a 10-year-old boy, and James Parker promised to manumit the boy on his 25th birthday. James Parker also mentioned in the deed that he chose age 25 to manumit Jack because that was the age of manumission provided for boys born after July 4, 1804, under New Jersey’s gradual abolition law. Because Jack was born in 1797, seven years before gradual abolition began, he was not eligible for manumission under this law, and he was considered a slave for life. Nevertheless, James Parker agreed that Jack should attain freedom at age 25. James Parker was a New Jersey legislator and a supporter of the gradual abolition process.

Both the certificate and the deed were recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) on August 20, 1822.

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The following is a complete transcript of pages 364-365 in the Clerk's Book of Manumissions where these documents appear:

"364 /

Certificate }

John Annin }

als. Jack }

State of New Jersey }
Middlesex County }

To wit, We do hereby certify that on the eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, James Parker of the township of Perth Amboy in the said County of Middlesex brought before us two of the Overseers of the Poor of the said township and two of the Justices of the Peace of the said County his slave named John Annin (usually called Jack) who on view and examination appears to us to be sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity of attaining a support and also is not under the age of twenty one years nor above the age of forty years. — In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands the day and year above written.


Joseph Marsh }

Charles Ford } Overseers of the Poor of the said township of Perth Amboy —



James Skinner }

Robt Arnold } Justices of the Peace for the said County of Middlesex



Received Aug. 20th, 1822 & recorded by
Deare CLK



Manumission }

John Annin }
als. Jack }


To all whom these presents shall come— Whereas I James Parker of Perth Amboy in the said County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey am entitled to the services of John Annin (usually called Jack) as a slave for life having purchased the same of Joseph Annin of Somerset County in the year one thousand eight hundred and seven the said John being then the age of ten years or thereabouts, And it having been always my intentions to manumit and -

365 /

- set free the said John at the age of twenty five years the period fixed by law for those who were born since the fourth day of July 1804, and he having now or lately attained that age. Now know all men by these presents that I the said James Parker in execution of my said intention and in consideration of the faithful services rendered me by the said John Annin have manumitted and set free, and by these presents do manumit and set free him the said John Annin my said slave of and from all services due and from all claim and demand whatsoever which I may or can have upon him as a slave as aforesaid - so that the said John Annin shall hereafter be and considered a free man - In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundrend and twenty two. —

James Parker

Signed sealed and delivered }
in the presence of }
James Skinner - Joseph Marsh }

State of New Jersey }
Middlesex County }

Be it remembered that on the eighth day of August 1822 before me James Skinner one of the Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid personally appeared James Parker known to me as the grantor in the written deed of Manumission & to whom I made known the contents thereof - who did acknowledge that he signed sealed and delivered same as his act & deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. —

James Skinner

Recorded August 20, 1822 & recorded by
Deare CLK"
Event Type
Manumission
Date
August 8, 1822
Location of Event
Perth Amboy
Primary Participants

John Annin (b. 1797) {Jack}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01460
Role: Manumitted Person
Age: 25
Status: Transition
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- James Parker Jr. (1776-1868)
Verbatim description from source:
"slave named John Annin (usually called Jack)"
Additional Participants

James Skinner
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00297
Role: Judge

Robert Arnold
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00298
Role: Judge

Joseph Marsh
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00365
Role: Overseer of the Poor

Charles Ford
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00295
Role: Overseer of the Poor

William Philips Deare (d. 1826)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00008
Role: County Clerk

James Parker Jr. (1776-1868)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00193
Role: Enslaver, Manumitter
Record Contributor
Isaac Guzmán
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event