1775-01-30 Advertisement: Black man and 2 Black boys · New Jersey Slavery Records

Identifier

NJS-EVE-01049

Source

Slave sale ad for a Black man and two Black boys, by Richard Paterson

Slave sale ad for a Black man and two Black boys, by Richard Paterson, "TO BE SOLD, By the subscriber, at private sale, the following houses and lots of land, in Princeton, in the Province of New-Jersey.," New-York Gazette, and the Weekly Mercury, January 30, 1775.

Event Description

On January 30, 1775, enslaver Richard Paterson advertised the sale of a Black man and two boys, along with the sale of several real estate properties in Princeton, NJ. Richard Paterson (the father of famous New Jersey statesman William Paterson) was a merchant who maintained a general store in Princeton since the 1750s. In 1775 he decided to close his business, which is what precipitated the sale.

No identifying information or ages were listed in the sale ad for the man and the two boys.

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Transcript of the source document:

"TO BE SOLD,
By the subscriber, at private sale, the following houses and lots of land, in Princeton, in the Province of New-Jersey.

The house the subscriber now lives in, built of stone, and two stories high, in length 53 feet, and 30 in breadth; there are on the first floor five rooms, with a fire place in every room, one of which was formed for a store, and is excellently adapted for that purpose, being 18 feet in front, and 30 feet in depth. The second floor contains six rooms, with fire places in three of them. A commodious cellar runs under the greater part of the building, and a large convenient garret over the whole. This house may easily be converted into two distinct tenements. A kitchen 22 feet long and 16 wide; a negro-house, a well, a garden, and convenient yard. A barn, a stable, and a chair-house under one roof, 50 feet long and 20 wide, fixed on stone pedestals, and covered and inclosed with cedar.

A brick house, two stories high, two rooms on the first floor, and three on the second; a good garret, and a cellar-kitchen, that extends under the whole house. To this belongs a lot containing one acre of land.

A small frame house, with a well and garden. Forty-eight acres of good, cleared, and well improved land adjoining the said town. The land is divided into four fields, in proper sense; 12 acres of which is meadow, yielding yearly about 12 tons of hay, chiefly lover and spear-grass. The rest of the land is equally good for pasture or tillage. A constant stream of water runs through the meadow-ground, which may, at little expence, be so turned, as to wash and fertilize every part of it.

Little need be said of a village so well known as Princeton, situated about mid-way between the cities of New-York and Philadelphia, and in the heart of a fertile thriving country, its advantages in point of trade must necessarily be many and great. This cannot fail of recommending it to traders. Nor is it less inviting to persons fond of an elegant retreat, or of having their children pass through a course of education under their own immediate care and inspection. Princeton is seated on a beautiful eminence, commanding an extensive prospect, and so remarkably healthful, that several gentlemen, perhaps on that account chiefly, have made choice of it as the place of their abode. Surrounded too by an agreeable set of neighbours, it has every requisite to render retirement easy and delightful. The stone house already described, consisting of several apartments, and being within an hundred years of the college, would suit extremely a person disposed to let lodgings and take in boarders. The purchaser of the whole, or of any part of the premises, must pay down one half of the purchase money; for the other half easy payments will be given. The title is unquestionable.

The subscriber hath for sale, an assortment of DRY GOODS, which he will dispose of at a low rate for cash, country produce, or short credit. Also a Negro man and two Negro boys.

The subscriber requests all persons indebted to him on bond, note, or book account, to make immediate payment. He is desirous of quitting business, and closing his affairs. To pay those to whom he is indebted, it is necessary that those should first pay who are indebted to him.

RICHARD PATERSON."

Event Type

Date

January 30, 1775

Location of Event

Princeton

Primary Participants

Black man
Role: Advertised Person
Age category: Adult
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Richard Paterson
Verbatim description from source:
"Negro man"

1st Black boy
Role: Advertised Person
Age category: Child
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Richard Paterson
Verbatim description from source:
"Negro boy"

2nd Black boy
Role: Advertised Person
Age category: Child
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Richard Paterson
Verbatim description from source:
"Negro boy"

Additional Participants

Richard Paterson
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02492
Role: Enslaver, Advertiser

Record Contributor

Larissa Jimenez Gratereaux

Princeton & Slavery Project