1818-06 Criminal action: victims children Augustus, Diana, Diana, Dorcas, Harriet Jane, Hercules, Mary, Rozenah, Susan (slave trafficking case, defendants Charles Morgan and Nicholas Van Wickle)
- Identifier
- NJS-EVE-01235
- Source
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Documents related to Augustus, a boy aged 4 years, transported on the brig Mary Ann, 1818. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection. https://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/VanWickle/AUGUSTUS_Mary_Ann.pdf
Documents related to Diana, a girl aged 9 years, transported on the brig Mary Ann, 1818. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection. https://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/VanWickle/DIANA_CHRISTIAN_Mary_Ann.pdf
Documents related to Diana, a girl aged 7 months, transported on the brig Mary Ann, 1818. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection. https://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/VanWickle/DIANA_SARAH_Mary_Ann.pdf
Documents related to Dorcas, a girl aged 1 year, transported on the brig Mary Ann, 1818. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection. https://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/VanWickle/DORCAS_Mary_Ann.pdf
Documents related to Harriet Jane, a girl aged 3 years, transported on the brig Mary Ann, 1818. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection. https://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/VanWickle/HARRIET_JANE_Mary_Ann.pdf
Documents related to Hercules, a boy aged 2 years, transported on the brig Mary Ann, 1818. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection. https://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/VanWickle/HERCULES_Mary_Ann.pdf
Documents related to Mary, a girl aged 2 years, transported on the brig Mary Ann, 1818. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection. https://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/VanWickle/MARY_Mary_Ann.pdf
Documents related to Rozena, a girl aged 6 weeks, transported on the brig Mary Ann, 1818. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection. https://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/VanWickle/ROZENA_Mary_Ann.pdf
Documents related to Susan, a girl aged 7 months, transported on the brig Mary Ann, 1818. Archival location: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State. Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection. https://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/VanWickle/SUSAN_Mary_Ann.pdf
Documents at the New Jersey State Archives relating to the Van Wickle Slave Ring (Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection) https://www.nj.gov/state/darm/WebCatalogPDF/VanWickle/VanWickleTableOfContents.pdf - Event Description
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In June 1818, Charles Morgan and Nicholas Van Wickle were indicted in Middlesex County on misdemeanor charges in connection with the trafficking of nine Black children out of the state of New Jersey without their consent. Arrest warrants were then issued on June 13, 1818, ordering Nicholas Van Wickle to be brought to the Middlesex County Court of Oyer and Terminer in New Brunswick on December 8, 1818, to answer the charges. Charles Morgan was known to be in Louisiana by the time of these court proceedings, and no arrest warrants were issued for him.
The victims of slave trafficking named in these indictments were taken to Louisiana aboard the brig Mary Ann, departing New Jersey on March 10, 1818. The brig Mary Ann carried over 30 Black people to Louisiana, including the parents of some of the children, but the parents were not named as victims in the indictments. The nine children were between the ages of 6 weeks and 9 years. These children were considered slaves for a term of years and they were supposed to eventually gain freedom under New Jersey's gradual abolition law (rather than being enslaved for life). Due to their status as slaves for a term and their young age, their movement from the state of New Jersey attracted legal scrutiny. The indictments stated that the children were taken away without their consent, notwithstanding legal paperwork (i.e., removal certificates signed by Judge Jacob Van Wickle) that Charles Morgan and Nicholas Van Wickle had obtained saying that the young children consented to move to Louisiana. The state alleged that the children were too young to truly consent.
In addition to these nine children, another person who was named as a slave trafficking victim was an adult man named Claus. He was the only adult person named as a victim in this series of indictments. See the related Criminal Action event for Claus for details about his situation.
All of the victims were already in Louisiana by the time these indictments were handed down in June 1818.
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ARCHIVAL LOCATION OF THE SOURCES.
These sources were digitized by the New Jersey State Archives in 2023 and gathered together in the Van Wickle Slave Ring Digital Collection (aka Documents at the New Jersey State Archives relating to the Van Wickle Slave Ring).
The indictments were found in the New Jersey State Archives in the following series: Middlesex County, Court of Common Pleas: Court of General Quarter Sessions, Case Files, 1741-1888 (Control number: CMICP002). These indictments were part of Middlesex County Sessions, June 1818, in Box 96.
The arrest warrants were found in the New Jersey State Archives in the following series: Department of Education, New Jersey State Library, Bureau of Archives and History Manuscript Collection, 1680s-1970s (Control number: SEDSL006). The warrants were part of the records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer for Middlesex County, in Box 1-22, Folder 83.
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FORMAT OF THE DOCUMENTS.
The indictments and arrest warrants were issued on standard printed forms, with the names of the victims and the accused defendants written in by hand. A transcript of the documents for the boy named Augustus is provided below for reference. All of the documents for the other children followed the same format and were signed by the same attorneys and witnesses.
The indictments were signed by Theodore Frelinghuysen, the Attorney General for the State of New Jersey. The foreman of the grand jury was James Parker. The witnesses are also listed on the indictments.
Transcript of indictment in the case of the State of New Jersey v. Charles Morgan:
"Middlesex County, ss.
THE Grand Inquest of the State of New-Jersey, and for the body of the county of Middlesex, upon their oath present; that Charles Morgan late of the township of South Amboy in the county of Middlesex on the tenth day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen, at the township of South Amboy aforesaid in the county aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, unlawfully, wilfully and knowingly a certain Negro
boy called Augustus of the age of four years or thereabouts a servant for years before that time of one Nicholas Van Wickle
did take and carry away from and out of the State of New-Jersey, with a design and intent the place of residence of the said Negro boy Augustus to change, without the consent of the said Negro boy Augustus being previously obtained and testified upon private examination, before two Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the county of Middlesex, in which he the said Negro boy Augustus then resided, contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made and provided; and against the peace of this State the Government and dignity of the same.
[signatures]
Theo Frelinghuysen Atty Genl
Witnesses.
Jacob Van Wickle
David Bloomfield
John Disbrow
Thomas Dey
Aaron Hassert
James Skinner"
---
Transcript of indictment in the case of the State of New Jersey v. Nicholas Van Wickle:
"Middlesex County, ss.
THE Grand Inquest of the State of New-Jersey, and for the body of the county of Middlesex, upon their oath present; that Nicholas Van Wickle late of the township of South Amboy in the county of Middlesex on the tenth day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen, at the township of South Amboy aforesaid in the county aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, unlawfully, wilfully and knowingly a certain Negro
boy called Augustus of the age of four years or thereabouts then & there being a servant for years of him the said Nicholas Van Wickle
did dispose of to one Charles Morgan, he, the said Charles Morgan, then not being an inhabitant of the State of New-Jersey, with a design and intent that the place of residence of the said negro boy Augustus should be thereby changed, without the consent of the said negro boy Augustus being previously obtained and testified upon private examination, before two Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the county of Middlesex, in which he the said Negro boy Augustus then resided, contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made and provided; and against the peace of this State the Government and dignity of the same. And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further present, that the said Nicholas Van Wickle on the tenth day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen, at the township of South Amboy aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, and within the Jurisdiction of this Court, wilfully, unlawfully and knowingly, did send away a certain Negro
boy called Augustus of the age of four years or thereabouts then & there being a servant for years of him the said Nicholas Van Wickle
from and out of the State of New-Jersey, with a design and intent, that the place of residence of the said Negro boy Augustus should be thereby changed, without the consent of the said Negro boy Augustus being previously obtained and testified upon private examination, before two Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the county of Middlesex, in which he the said Negro boy Augustus then resided, contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made and provided; and against the peace of this State the Government and dignity of the same.
[signatures]
Theo Frelinghuysen Atty Genl
Witnesses.
Jacob Van Wickle
David Bloomfield
John Disbrow
Thomas Dye
Aaron Hassert
James Skinner"
---
Transcript of the process on indictment for misdemeanor (arrest warrant) against Nicholas Van Wickle:
"MIDDLESEX, ss. — The State of New-Jersey, to the Sheriff of Middlesex, or to any Constable of said County, Greeting:
We command you to take Nicholas Van Wickle if in your bailiwick
and bring him before our Court of Oyer & Terminer & General Gaol Delivery to be holden at New Brunswick in and for the said County, on the second Tuesday of December next at the hour of ten in the forenoon of that day, or cause to find sufficient sureties for his appearance at the said Court, at the time aforesaid, to answer a certain Indictment against
him for a misdemeanor in disposing of and sending away from & out of this State Negro Boy Augustus a servant for years without consent &c.
and if not before taken, that then so so as he shall be taken, you safely keep, and bring before the next Sessions to be holden thereafter for the said County, on the first day thereof, or cause to find sufficient sureties for his appearance at the said Court, to answer as aforesaid; and have you then there this writ. Hereof fail not at your peril.
WITNESS Andrew Kirkpatrick Esquire, Presiding Justice of our sd Courts at New Brunswick aforesaid, the thirteenth day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen.
[signatures]
Frelinghuysen Atty Genl
Deare CLK" - Event Type
- Criminal Action
- Date
- June 1818
- Location of Event
- Middlesex County
- Related Place
- Louisiana
- Morganza, Louisiana
- New Brunswick
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Perth Amboy
- South Amboy
- Related Event
- 1818-02-10 Removal Registration: Lidiann, Harriet Jane
- 1818-02-12 Removal Registration: Sarah, Diana
- 1818-02-26 Removal Registration: Hager, Augustus, Mary, Roda
- 1818-03-09 Removal Registration: Claresse, Hercules
- 1818-03-09 Removal Registration: Christeen, Diana, Dorcas
- 1818-06 Criminal action: victim Claus (slave trafficking case, defendants Charles Morgan, Lewis Compton, and James Edgar)
- Primary Participants
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Augustus (b. ca. 1814) {alternatively Charles, son of Hager}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00666
Role: Victim
Age: 4
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Charles Morgan (1775-1848)
- Nicholas Van Wickle (1796-1865)
Verbatim description from source:
"a certain Negro boy called Augustus of the age of four years or thereabouts a servant for years before that time of one Nicholas Van Wickle"
Comment: The name of Augustus's mother was not recorded in the indictment, but other documents indicate that he was taken to Louisiana together with his mother Hager and his sisters Mary (also named as a victim in the indictments) and Roda.Diana (b. ca. 1809) {daughter of Christeen}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00664
Role: Victim
Age: 9
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Charles Morgan (1775-1848)
- Nicholas Van Wickle (1796-1865)
Verbatim description from source:
"a certain Negro girl called Diana a child of Christeen of the age of nine years or thereabouts a servant for years before that time of one Nicholas Van Wickle"
Comment: Diana was taken aboard the Mary Ann with her mother Christeen.Diana (b. 1817) {daughter of Sarah}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00660
Role: Victim
Age category: Infant
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Charles Morgan (1775-1848)
- Nicholas Van Wickle (1796-1865)
Verbatim description from source:
"a certain Negro girl called Diana a child of Sarah of the age of seven months or thereabouts a servant for years of a person to the jurors aforesaid unknown"
Comment: The indictment indicated that the name of Diana's original enslaver (before she came into the possession of Nicholas Van Wickle) was unknown at the time of the grand jury proceedings. Diana was taken aboard the Mary Ann with her mother Sarah.Dorcas (b. ca. 1817) {daughter of Christeen}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00665
Role: Victim
Age category: Infant
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Charles Morgan (1775-1848)
- Nicholas Van Wickle (1796-1865)
Verbatim description from source:
"a certain Negro girl called Dorcas of the age of one year or therabouts a servant for years late of one Nicholas Van Wickle"
Comment: The name of Dorcas's mother was not recorded in the indictment, but other documents indicate that she was taken to Louisiana together with her mother Christeen and her sister Diana (also named as a victim in the indictments).Harriet Jane (b. 1814) {daughter of Lidiann}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00673
Role: Victim
Age: 3
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Charles Morgan (1775-1848)
- James Brown
Verbatim description from source:
"a certain Negro girl called Dorcas of the age of one year or therabouts a servant for years late of one Nicholas Van Wickle"
Comment: The name of Harriet Jane's mother was not recorded in the indictment, but other documents indicate that she was taken to Louisiana together with her mother Lidiann (Lidia). The indictment indicates that Harriet Jane was sold to Charles Morgan by her previous enslaver James Brown. Only Charles Morgan was indicted on charges related to Harriet Jane; there was no indictment or arrest warrant for Nicholas Van Wickle on this charge.Hercules (b. 1815) {son of Claresse}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00670
Role: Victim
Age: 2
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Charles Morgan (1775-1848)
- Nicholas Van Wickle (1796-1865)
Verbatim description from source:
"a certain Negro boy called Hercules of the age of two years or thereabouts a servant for years late of one Nicholas Van Wickle"
Comment: The name of Hercules's mother was not recorded in the indictment, but other documents indicate that he was taken to Louisiana together with his mother Claresse.Mary (b. ca. 1816) {daughter of Hager}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00668
Role: Victim
Age: 2
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Charles Morgan (1775-1848)
- Nicholas Van Wickle (1796-1865)
Verbatim description from source:
"a certain Negro girl called Mary of the age of two years or thereabouts a servant for years late of one Nicholas Van Wickle"
Comment: The name of Mary's mother was not recorded in the indictment, but other documents indicate that she was taken to Louisiana together with her mother Hager and her siblings Augustus (also named as a victim in the indictments) and Roda.Rozenah (b. 1818) {or Rosina, daughter of Rachel}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00658
Role: Victim
Age category: Infant
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Charles Morgan (1775-1848)
- Nicholas Van Wickle (1796-1865)
Verbatim description from source:
"a certain Negro girl called Rozena aged six weeks or thereabouts a servant for years late of one Nicholas Van Wickle"
Comment: The name of Rozena's mother was not recorded in the indictment, but other documents indicate that she was taken to Louisiana together with her mother Rachel.Susan (b. 1817) {daughter of Flora}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00672
Role: Victim
Age category: Infant
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Charles Morgan (1775-1848)
- Nicholas Van Wickle (1796-1865)
Verbatim description from source:
"a certain Negro girl called Susan of the age of seven months or thereabouts a servant for years late of one Nicholas Van Wickle"
Comment: The name of Susan's mother was not recorded in the indictment, but other documents indicate that she was taken to Louisiana together with her mother Florah. - Additional Participants
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Charles Morgan (1775-1848)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00073
Role: Defendant
Comment: accused of taking the victims away from New Jersey without consentNicholas Van Wickle (1796-1865)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00072
Role: Defendant
Comment: accused of bringing the victims to Charles Morgan to be taken away from New Jersey without consentJames Brown
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00474
Role: Former Enslaver Mentioned
Comment: not indicted, but mentioned as the previous enslaver of Harriet Jane in the indictment against Charles Morgan on charges related to Harriet JaneTheodore Frelinghuysen (1787-1862)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02562
Role: Overseer of the Poor
Comment: attorney general for the State of New JerseyJames Parker Jr. (1776-1868)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00193
Role: Overseer of the Poor
Comment: foreman for the grand inquest in Middlesex CountyJacob Van Wickle (1770-1854)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00068
Role: WitnessDavid Bloomfield
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02882
Role: WitnessJohn Disbrow
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02883
Role: WitnessThomas Dye
Person identifier: NJS-PER-02884
Role: WitnessAaron Hassert (1769-1842)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00245
Role: WitnessJames Skinner
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00297
Role: WitnessAndrew Kirkpatrick (1756-1831)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00006
Role: Judge
Comment: presiding judge of the Court of Oyer & Terminer, signed arrest warrantsWilliam Philips Deare (d. 1826)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-00008
Role: County Clerk
Comment: signed arrest warrants as clerk, and was responsible for maintaining county court records - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker
- Resource class
- Event