1795-01-12 Advertisement: Unnamed Black man (b. 1765)

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01040
Source
Slave sale ad for a Black man, by Caesar Trent

Slave sale ad for a Black man, by Caesar Trent, "To Be Sold," New-Jersey State Gazette, January 13, 1795, p. 3.
Event Description
On January 12, 1795, Caesar Trent (a free Black man who lived in Princeton near the college campus) advertised the sale of a 30-year-old Black man who was experienced in domestic and farming labor. It is possible that the Black man may have been held in jail in Trenton because Caesar Trent's ad mentioned that persons interested in purchasing the man could apply to the jailor in Trenton. However, the ad also said that the man was "sold for no fault" of his own, and it is possible that the jailor in Trenton was merely a point of contact for Trent. The ad also said that Trent could be contacted "at 'Squire Mottison's," which appears to refer to Mr. Mattison, a white neighbor of Trent's in Princeton.

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Transcript of the source document:

"To Be Sold,
A Likely, smart, healthy Negro Man, about 30 years of age – He is very handy at house and all kinds of farming work. Sold for no fault but the want of a master. Any person inclining to purchase, will apply to the jailor in Trenton, or to the subscriber in Princeton at ‘Squire Mottison’s.
Caesar Trent
January 12, 1795"
Event Type
Advertisement
Date
January 12, 1795
Location of Event
Princeton
Related Place
Trenton gaol (jail), Trenton
Primary Participants

Unnamed Black man (b. 1765)
Role: Sold Person
Age: 30
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Caesar Trent (d. 1813)
Verbatim description from source:
"A Likely, smart, healthy Negro Man, about 30 years of age – He is very handy at house and all kinds of farming work"
Additional Participants

Caesar Trent (d. 1813)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01306
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser

Mr. Mattison
Person identifier: NJS-PER-01510
Role: Mentioned Person
Comment: point of contact for Caesar Trent in Princeton
Record Contributor
Larissa Jimenez Gratereaux
Princeton & Slavery Project
Resource class
Event