1799-01-19 Sale: Lydia

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01042
Source
Bill of Sale for Lydia

Bill of Sale for Lydia, January 19, 1799.
Event Description
On January 19, 1799, the executors of the estate of David Williamson of South Brunswick sold a Black woman named Lydia to Professor John Mclean Sr. of Princeton University (then called the College of New Jersey) for the sum of $160. Lydia's age was not recorded in the bill of sale. The estate executors who signed the bill of sale were Thomas McDowell, John Perrine, Stephen Johnes, and James Schureman, all sons-in-law of the deceased David Williamson. Williamson had died about two years prior in 1797. Benjamin Griggs and John Van Pelt signed as witnesses.

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Transcript of the source document:

"Know all men by these presents that we Thomas McDowell John Perrine Stephen Johnes & James Schureman Executors of the last will & Testament of David Williamson Dec'd. Late of South Brunswick County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey for the sum of one hundred & fifty dollars to them in hand paid have and do bargain and sell to John McClane his Heirs Executors administrators or assigns a female slave named Lydia to have and to hold to him his Executors administrators heirs & assigns forever of which said slave Lydia we have put the said John McClane in full possession at the sealing of these presents in the name of the whole hereby sold - and we do warrant and defend the said John McClane in peaceable possession of said slave Lydia against us & all persons Lawfully claiming from or under us or from the said David Williamson Dec'd. as witness our hands and seals this 19th Day of January In the year of our Lord 1799.

Thos. McDowell
John Perrine
Stephen Johnes
Jas Schureman

Sealed & Delivered
In the presence of
Benjamin Griggs
John Van Pelt"
Event Type
Sale
Keywords
Estate (deceased enslaver)
Date
January 19, 1799
Location of Event
South Brunswick
Princeton
Primary Participants

Lydia
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02470
Role: Sold Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- David Williamson (d. 1797)
- John Maclean Sr. (1771-1814)
Verbatim description from source:
"A female slave named Lydia"
Additional Participants

David Williamson (d. 1797)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02474
Role: Enslaver, Deceased

John Maclean Sr. (1771-1814)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02469
Role: Enslaver, Buyer

Thomas McDowell (1754-1825)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00090
Role: Seller
Comment: co-executor for the estate of David Williamson

John Perrine
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02473
Role: Seller
Comment: co-executor for the estate of David Williamson

Stephen Johnes
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02475
Role: Seller
Comment: co-executor for the estate of David Williamson

James Schureman (1756-1824)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00390
Role: Seller
Comment: co-executor for the estate of David Williamson

Benjamin Griggs
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02856
Role: Witness

John Van Pelt
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02476
Role: Witness
Related Resource
Jessica R. Mack, "The Slaves of John Maclean Sr," Princeton & Slavery Project.
Will of David Williamson, abstracted with a biographical note. See p. 413 in: 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. 38. Calendar of Wills, Vol. 9, 1796-1800. Trenton, NJ: New Jersey Law Journal, 1944.
Record Contributor
Larissa Jimenez Gratereaux
Princeton & Slavery Project
Resource class
Event