1810-01-05 Will (of Robert Kennedy): Dave, Dine, Dave, Joe, Silve

Identifier
NJS-EVE-00978
Source
Archives of New Jersey, Series 1, Vol. 41 (Calendar of Wills, Vol. 12, 1810-1813)

Will of Robert Kennedy, Greenwich Township, Sussex County, NJ, January 5, 1810. Reproduced in: Microfilm: Sussex County, NJ, Wills, Vol. A (1804-1818). Pages 268-275, see especially page 273. view on Ancestry.com

Hutchinson, Elmer T., ed. Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey. Archives of the State of New Jersey, 1st series. Vol. 41. Calendar of Wills, Vol. 12, 1810-1813. Bayonne, NJ: Jersey Printing Co., 1949. Page 218-219.
Event Description
Robert Kennedy of Greenwich Township, Sussex County (now in Warren County), wrote his will on January 5, 1810. The will mentions Robert Kennedy's wife Elizabeth, who was the mistress of the household. The will is lengthy and outlines details related to land and real estate. Five enslaved people were mentioned by name.

The three people mentioned here as man Dave, woman Dine (written here as Dian) and the boy Dave were a family, a couple with child (as can be inferred from a birth certificate for the boy Dave on file with the Sussex County Clerk). The boy Dave was eligible for emancipation at age 25 under New Jersey's gradual abolition law, and Robert Kennedy provided $50 for him to receive at the time of emancipation on the condition that the boy would serve Kennedy's heirs faithfully until age 25. The reward of $50 would be given at the discretion of Kennedy's heirs. Also mentioned in the will were Joe and Silve, bequeathed to Kennedy's daughter Kittura.

The following is a transcript of the will section that mentions enslaved people:

"I give my son Robert Henry Kennedy my negro man Dave and my negro wench Dian when her mistress is done with her and my young negro Dave allowing my son if he is a faithful servant to pay him fifty dollars when he is free but if he is not a good and faithfull servant, so that he can keep him until he is free I leave him nothing. ... I will that my daughter Kittura C. Kennedy have my neagro Jo, and my wench Silve."
Event Type
Will
Date
January 5, 1810
Location of Event
Kennedy House and Mill, Greenwich
Primary Participants

Dave
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02374
Role: Person Listed in Will
Age category: Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Robert Kennedy (1734-1812)
- Robert Henry Kennedy (1787-1859)
Verbatim description from source:
"my negro man Dave"
Comment: bequeathed to son Robert Henry Kennedy

Dine
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02291
Role: Person Listed in Will
Age category: Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Robert Kennedy (1734-1812)
- Elizabeth Henry Kennedy
- Robert Henry Kennedy (1787-1859)
Verbatim description from source:
"my negro wench Dian"
Comment: first to serve testator's wife Elizabeth, and subsequently bequeathed to son Robert Henry Kennedy

Dave (b. 1806) {son of Dave and Dine}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02288
Role: Person Listed in Will
Age: 4
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Robert Kennedy (1734-1812)
- Robert Henry Kennedy (1787-1859)
Verbatim description from source:
"my young negro Dave"
Comment: to serve son Robert Henry Kennedy until legal age of emancipation (25), and allowed to receive $50 from the estate at the time of emancipation, but only if he is judged to be "a good and faithful servant" to Robert Henry Kennedy

Joe
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02375
Role: Person Listed in Will
Age category: Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Robert Kennedy (1734-1812)
- Kittura C. Kennedy
Verbatim description from source:
"my neagro Jo"
Comment: bequeathed to daughter Kittura C. Kennedy

Silve
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02376
Role: Person Listed in Will
Age category: Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Robert Kennedy (1734-1812)
- Kittura C. Kennedy
Verbatim description from source:
"my wench Silve"
Comment: bequeathed to daughter Kittura C. Kennedy
Additional Participants

Robert Kennedy (1734-1812)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02290
Role: Enslaver, Testator

Elizabeth Henry Kennedy
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02359
Role: Enslaver, Heir or Beneficiary
Comment: wife of testator to retain ownership of Dine

Robert Henry Kennedy (1787-1859)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02358
Role: Enslaver, Heir or Beneficiary
Comment: son to inherit Dave the elder and Dave the younger, and to take ownership of Dine after the death of Elizabeth Kennedy

Kittura C. Kennedy
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02377
Role: Enslaver, Heir or Beneficiary
Comment: daughter to inherit Joe and Silve
Record Contributor
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event