New Jersey Slavery Records

John was manumitted by Syche Van Anglen of Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The certificate of manumission was signed by the Overseers of the Poor of Piscataway (Ephraim Runyon and John Dayton) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (William Benjamin Manning and Enoch Fitz Randolph) on March 24, 1825. The document stated that John was examined in court and met the eligibility requirements for manumission in New Jersey, i.e. the person was 21 to 40 years old and was "sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity" of obtaining a livelihood. John's exact age was not recorded in the document. The deed of manumission was executed on March 24, 1825, by Syche Van Anglen. These documents were recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) on April 28, 1825.

Fanny Ditmus, aged 32, was manumitted by Abraham I. Gulick of South Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The certificate of manumission was signed by the Overseers of the Poor of South Brunswick (Samuel Gulick and Daniel J. Barricklo) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (John Bastedo and Joseph McChesney) on April 11, 1825. The document stated that Fanny Ditmus was examined in court and met the eligibility requirements for manumission in New Jersey, i.e. the person was 21 to 40 years old and was "sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity" of obtaining a livelihood. The deed of manumission was executed on April 11, 1825, by Abraham I. Gulick. These documents were recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) on May 11, 1825.

Jack Dunn was manumitted by James Gilman of Piscataway, acting as administrator of the estate of Hezekiah Goodfellow. James Gilman brought Jack Dunn to court to obtain a certificate of manumission on April 11, 1825. The certificate of manumission was signed by the Overseers of the Poor of Piscataway (Ephraim Runyon and John Dayton) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (William Benjamin Manning and Enoch Fitz Randolph). The document stated that Jack Dunn was examined in court and met the eligibility requirements for manumission in New Jersey, i.e. the person was 21 to 40 years old and was "sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity" of obtaining a livelihood. Jack Dunn's exact age was not recorded in the document. The deed of manumission was executed on April 11, 1825, by James Gilman. These documents were recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) on April 13, 1825.

Peter Wooding was manumitted by John Giles of Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The certificate of manumission was signed by the Overseers of the Poor of Piscataway (John Dayton and Ephraim Runyon) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (Enoch Fitz Randolph and William Benjamin Manning) on April 11, 1825. The document stated that Peter Wooding was examined in court and met the eligibility requirements for manumission in New Jersey, i.e. the person was 21 to 40 years old and was "sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity" of obtaining a livelihood. Peter Wooding's exact age was not recorded in the document. The deed of manumission was executed on April 11, 1825, by John Giles. These documents were recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) on April 12, 1825.

The following birth record from Gloucester County was transcribed by the Historical Records Survey Project of the Works Progress Administration. The transcript was originally published in 1940 in the book titled Transcriptions of Early County Records of New Jersey: Gloucester County Series Slave Documents. The transcript is reproduced below as it appeared in that book. John Ingersull's township of residence within Gloucester County was not written on the document. The name Samuel B. Westcott is also listed at the bottom of the note, and Westcott appears to be the person who delivered the note to the County Clerk on John Ingersull's request. GLOUCESTER COUNTY DOCUMENT NUMBER: 8 TRANSCRIPT: Vilet a black Girl belonging to John Ingersull was born April 15th 1825 please call on Mr. Smalwood for my deed John Ingersull Samuel B. Westcott [Verso] Recorded in the Clerk Office of Gloucester County in Liber A of Manumissions fol 25 Sep 2 1833 Smallwood Clk filed Sep. 2, 1833 Smallwood Clk

Nicholas was manumitted by Robert Morris Boggs of North Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The certificate of manumission was signed by the Overseer of the Poor of North Brunswick (Staats Van Deursen) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (James Dunham and Nicholas Booraem Jr.) on May 4, 1825. The document stated that Nicholas was examined in court and met the eligibility requirements for manumission in New Jersey, i.e. the person was 21 to 40 years old and was "sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity" of obtaining a livelihood. Nicholas's exact age was not recorded in the document. The deed of manumission was executed on May 3, 1825, by Robert Morris Boggs, in the presence of All. Griffith and Littleton Kirkpatrick. These documents were recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) on May 5, 1825.

Tom, aged 35, was manumitted by John I. Bergen of South Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The certificate of manumission was signed by the Overseers of the Poor of South Brunswick (Samuel Gulick and Daniel J. Barricklo) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (Nathaniel Hunt and Joseph McChesney) on June 20, 1825. The document stated that Tom was examined in court and met the eligibility requirements for manumission in New Jersey, i.e. the person was 21 to 40 years old and was "sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity" of obtaining a livelihood. The deed of manumission was executed on June 20, 1825, by John I. Bergen, in the presence of witnesses Samuel Disbrow and Christopher I. Bergen. These documents were recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare) on July 16, 1825.

Pamela Brown, aged 39, was manumitted by Jonathan Freeman of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey, on July 9, 1825. This manumission was recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk on July 11, 1825.

Frank ran away from his enslaver Wicoff Conover of Monmouth County, NJ, in 1825 (or earlier). He was later apprehended in the area of Perth Amboy together with a man named Tom, who was running from Job Throckmorton of Freehold. It is unclear whether they originally escaped together or met afterward. See the jailing event for Tom and Frank for more details.

Tom ran away from his enslaver Job Throckmorton of Freehold, Monmouth County, NJ, in 1825 (or earlier). He was later apprehended in the area of Perth Amboy together with a man named Frank, who was running from Wicoff Conover of Monmouth County. It is unclear whether they originally escaped together or met afterward. See the jailing event for Tom and Frank for more details.

On October 10, 1825, Tom and Frank, two Black men from Monmouth County, were captured and imprisoned in Perth Amboy as suspected runaways. They were held at the Perth Amboy jail (present-day City Hall), and Joseph Bonnington published a notice of their capture. ----- Transcript of the source document: "Notice. WERE taken up on Tuesday the 10th inst. on suspicion of being runaways and committed to Jail in Perth-Amboy, Two Negro Men, who say their names are Tom and Frank, and that they belong to Job Throckmorton and Wycoff Conover of Monmouth County. The owners are requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges and take them away. Joseph Bonnington. Oct. 18, 1825. 58-3t"

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains the following record: Child: a boy named Low Mother: Rachel Enslaver of mother and child: Joseph Northrup Location: Sussex County (locality not specified) Birth date: 26 January 1826 Recorded date: 13 May 1826 Clerk: David D. Chambers The locality is not specified on this birth certificate. However, another birth certificate submitted by Joseph Northrup for Low's older brother, Mark, indicates that Northrup was a resident of Newton; thus, it can be inferred that Low was born in Newton.

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 79 Child: Harry Mother: Hannah Enslaver of mother and child at the time of birth: Abraham Dumont Location: North Branch, Somerset County, NJ Birth date: February 20, 1826 Clerk: Elias J. Thompson Reported to the Middlesex County Clerk on February 5, 1829, by the new enslaver of the mother and child, Robert Boggs of New Brunswick, NJ, who bought Hannah and Harry from Abraham Dumont shortly before this date. Boggs noted that the original enslaver neglected to notify the Somerset County Clerk of Harry's birth in 1826. The following is a complete transcript of the document: "Harry I, Robert Boggs, of the city of New Brunswick in the township of North Brunswick in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, Attorney at Law, do hereby certify, to the Clerk of the County of Middlesex, that I have in my possession a negro male child called Harry, who with his mother called Hannah, a slave I lately purchased of Abraham Dumont of North Branch in the County of Somerset, that the said Abraham Dumont has informed me that he had never certified the age of the said negro boy - Harry - to the Clerk of the County of Somerset - but that the said negro boy Harry would be three years old on the twentieth day of February eighteen hundred and twenty nine, which is the only knowledge I have of his age. Witness my hand this fifth day of February eighteen hundred and twenty nine. Robt Boggs Recd Febry 6th and recorded by Thompson Clerk"

The following manumission record from Gloucester County was transcribed by the Historical Records Survey Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The transcript was originally published in 1940 in the book titled Transcriptions of Early County Records of New Jersey: Gloucester County Series Slave Documents. The transcript is reproduced below as it appeared in that book. Note that this transcript appears to have some transcription errors, though the original archival document has not been reviewed by the New Jersey Slavery Records team yet to confirm the original text. The two people being manumitted are listed in the WPA transcript as "Jim Hall and Beth Seiger," and their ages and genders are not listed here as they are only called "two Slaves" in the manumission certificate. The name "Jim" is probably an error and should be Jin. This manumission certificate is presumed to be for the two people freed by Richard Wescoat's will, which says "Black Girls Jin and Bet to be set free." Note that, according to the will, which was written in 1825, there was no male named Jim in the Wescoat household, and both males who lived in the household (Charles and Josh, described as "Black boys") were to be sold, not manumitted, per Wescoat's wishes. Additionally, the name of the executor transcribed by WPA as "Lewis de Walker" refers to the man listed as Lewis M. Walker in the will and probate court documents. The township listed in the manumission certificate is Hamilton. Richard Wescoat had been a resident of Mays Landing in Hamilton Township, and thus it is presumed that this manumission took place specifically in Mays Landing. GLOUCESTER COUNTY DOCUMENT NUMBER: 45 TRANSCRIPT: Gloucester County ss: To wit We do hereby certify that on this Eighth day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Twenty six Lewis de Walker and Daniel Leeds Jun'r; Administrators with the Will annexed to the Estate of Richard Westcot deceased of the Township of Hamilton in said County brought before us two of the overseers of the poor of the said Township and two of the Justices of the peace of the said County two Slaves belonging to said Estate and sett free by the last will and testament of said Richard Westcot deceased named Jim Hall and Beth Seiger who on view and under Examination appears to us to be sound in mind and not under any bodily incapacity of obtaining a support and also are not under the age of twenty one years nor over or above the ago of forty years In Witness whereof we have hereunto sot our hands the day and year above written. Job Gybson ) William Ackley) Overseers of the Poor of said Township ofHamilton County above said James English ) Philip Emmel ) Justices of the peace in and for the said County of Gloucester [Verso] Certificate of Manumission of Beth Seigers and Jim Hall Recorded on Libor A of Manumissions Folio 22 in the Clerks office of Gloucester County Smallwood Clk Paid

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains the following record: Child: Happy Mother: Peggy Enslaver of mother and child: E. V. Auken Location: Sussex County (locality not specified) Birth date: 15 October 1826 Recorded date: 14 May 1827 Clerk: Chandler The locality was not specified on this birth certificate; however, other county documents indicate that the enslaver lived in Newton, thus it may be inferred that the child was born in Newton.

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 76 Child: Prince Mother: Hannah Enslaver of mother and child: Phebe Hamilton Location: West Windsor, NJ Birth date: November 11, 1826 Reported date: December 20, 1826 Clerk: James F. Randolph

Per New Jersey's gradual abolition law, Charlotte Titus was eligible for emancipation on her 21st birthday, which was December 11, 1826. At this time, she would gain freedom from her enslaver Jane Beekman of South Brunswick. Charlotte would go to live with her parents, who were already free and owned a farm in the South Brunswick area.

Somerset County birth records of enslaved children contain the following record: Book B, Page 71 Child: Caroline Mother: Jude Enslaver of mother and child: Peter Voorhees Location: not listed Birth date: 19 January 1827 Reported date: 20 June 1827 Clerk: Isaac Southard Although the township is not listed on this certificate, a related birth certificate for Jude's other daughter Kate indicated that Peter Voorhees resided in Montgomery.

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains the following record: Child: Suffia Mother: Dine Enslaver of mother and child: E. V. Auken Location: Sussex County (locality not specified) Birth date: 26 February 1827 Recorded date: 14 May 1827 Clerk: Chandler The locality was not specified on this birth certificate; however, other county documents indicate that the enslaver lived in Newton, thus it may be inferred that the child was born in Newton.

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains the following record: Child: Phebe Mother: name not listed Enslaver of mother and child: Jacob Hornbeck Location: Sussex County (Locality not specified) Birth date: March 10, 1827 Recorded date: March 3, 1829 Clerk: Chandler This record does not specify the locality within Sussex County. However, other birth certificates filed by Jacob Hornbeck list him as a resident of Sandyston. Thus, it can be inferred that Phebe was also born in Sandyston. The same slip of paper also reported the birth of a girl named Kate, born in 1829. The name of the mother was not listed on the birth certificate. It is possible that the mother was a woman named Yon who had given birth to 4 other children in Hornbeck's household between 1818 and 1825.

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains the following record: Child: Joe Mother: Betsey Enslaver of mother and child: John Johnson Location: Newton Birth date: 24 June 1827 Recorded date: 10 August 1827 Clerk: David D. Chandler

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 77 Child: Emma Mother: Jane Enslaver of mother and child: Sarah F. Randolph Location: Piscataway, NJ Birth date: August 14, 1827 Reported date: May 15, 1828 Clerk: James F. Randolph

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 78 Child: Catharine Jane Mother: Betsey Enslaver of mother and child: Enos Ayers Location: North Brunswick, NJ Birth date: December 17, 1827 Reported date: May 27, 1829 Clerk: T. S. Van Arsdalen Sarah Ayers signed the birth certificate on behalf of Enos Ayers on May 27, 1829, but her relationship to Enos Ayers is not clarified in the document. The same document also reported the birth of children Ellen and Silas.

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 86 Child: Catherine Mother: Sarah Enslaver of mother and child: Stephen Barkelew Location: North Brunswick, NJ Birth date: January 14, 1828 Reported date: March 26, 1836 Clerk: Nicholas Booraem

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains the following record: Child: Harriot Mother: Name not listed Enslaver of mother and child: A. Hunt Location: Sussex County (locality not specified) Birth date: July 14, 1826 Recorded date: Date not listed Clerk: Edsall The date when the enslaver submitted the certificate to the County Clerk is not recorded on the document, but it can be inferred that this birth certificate was filed after 1831, since Joseph E. Edsall, who recorded it, assumed the office of County Clerk in 1831 and served for 10 years.

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains the following record: Child: George Mother: Dinah Enslaver of mother and child: first name Samuel, last name difficult to decipher (possibly Piner, Diner, Price, Power, or something else entirely) Location: Sussex County (Location not specified) Birth date: September 9, 1828 Recorded date: date not listed Clerk: Clerk not listed

Hannah and her 2-year-old son Harry were sold by Abraham Dumont of North Branch, Somerset County, NJ, to Robert Boggs, attorney at law. As a consequence of the sale, Hannah and Harry relocated to New Brunswick, Middlesex County, NJ, where Robert Boggs resided. Evidence of this sale comes from a document that Robert Boggs submitted to the Middlesex County Clerk on February 5, 1829, to register Harry's age. The exact date of the sale is uncertain, but it took place shortly before this document was filed with the clerk. The document did not mention the price or terms of the sale.

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains the following record: Child: Kate Mother: name not listed Enslaver of mother and child: Jacob Hornbeck Location: Sussex County (Locality not specified) Birth date: February 14, 1829 Recorded date: March 3, 1829 Clerk: Chandler This record does not specify the locality within Sussex County. However, other birth certificates filed by Jacob Hornbeck list him as a resident of Sandyston. Thus, it can be inferred that Kate was also born in Sandyston. The same slip of paper also reported the birth of a girl named Phebe, born in 1827. The name of the mother was not listed on the birth certificate. It is possible that the mother was a woman named Yon who had given birth to 4 other children in Hornbeck's household between 1818 and 1825.

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children Book contains the following record: Page: 86 Child: Lewis Mother: Sarah Enslaver of mother and child: Stephen Barkelew Location: North Brunswick, NJ Birth date: April 1829 (day not specified) Reported date: March 26, 1836 Clerk: Nicholas Booraem

A young Black woman named Jane alias Ager Welch was enslaved by David Sheppard, who died in 1827. Ager Welch would have likely resided in the David Sheppard House in Bridgeton or his house in rural Fairfield Township (both houses still exist today). David Sheppard died without a will and left a large estate with multiple properties throughout Cumberland County, including the two aforementioned houses and several farms. Following David Sheppard's death, his heirs divided up his large estate and decided that Ager Welch would henceforth serve Ercuries L. Sheppard, one of David Sheppard's sons. The other heirs signed a quitclaim deed in April 1829, giving Ercuries L. Sheppard all rights to hold Jane in slavery in his household. ----- Transcript of the source document: "Know all men by these present that we Joseph Sheppard, Thomas Bilderback, Gideon Flanagin, William Walker all of the county of Salem in the State of New Jersey and Providence L. Sheppard, Isaac Sheppard and Mary Hann of the county of Cumberland and State aforesaid do severally for a valuable consideration the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged release and forever quit-claim unto Ercurious L. Sheppard all our right title and interest of in and to a certain coloured female servant named Jane Alias Agar Welch late the property of David Sheppard of the county of Cumberland aforesaid who died Intestate, the said Ercurious L. Sheppard to have and enjoy the use & service of said servant free from all interruption or molestation from us the said Joseph Sheppard, Thomas Bilderback, Gideon Flanagin, William Walker, Providence L. Sheppard, Isaac Sheppard, & Mary Hann provided the said Ercurious L. Sheppard shall forever hereafter save us harmless from all costs & charges that may in any wise accrue relating to said servant ~ In Witness whereof we have hereunto severally set our hands & seals the [blank space] Day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty Nine ~ Joseph Sheppard Thomas (his X mark) Bilderback William S Walker Gideon S Flanagin Mary Hann Isaac A Sheppard Providence L Sheppard Signed Sealed & delivered in presence of by Joseph Sheppard and Thomas Bilderback } Ellis Ayres also by William S Walker and Gideon S Flanagin in presence of } Ellis Ayres [verso] Ercurious L. Sheppard The Ares of David Sheppard to Ercuries L Sheppard respecting a servant girl"

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 87 Child: Stephen Mother: Nancy Enslaver of mother and child: William L. Schenck Location: South Brunswick, NJ Birth date: June 16, 1829 Reported date: November 30, 1836 Clerk: Nicholas Booraem

Somerset County Register of Black Children and Manumissions, Book B, Page 117, contains a manumission record for Cate, who was released from slavery on 20 July 1829 in Montgomery Township. Cate was manumitted by Robert Field Stockton, owner of the Morven mansion in Princeton (which was then part of Montgomery Township). The manumission document states that Cate was an adult between 21 and 40 years old, but the exact age was not recorded. The document was entered into the book by the County Clerk (Isaac Southard) on 21 July 1829. The manumission record was signed by the Overseers of the Poor for the township (Henry Duryea and Cornelius Kershow) and Justices of the Peace for Somerset County (William Cruser and Cornelius J. Stryker). Additionally, Gilbert Bogart and James S. Green served as witnesses.

Somerset County Register of Black Children and Manumissions, Book B, Page 118, contains a manumission record for Hannibal, who was released from slavery on 20 July 1829 in Montgomery Township. Hannibal was manumitted by Robert Field Stockton, owner of the Morven mansion in Princeton (which was then part of Montgomery Township). The manumission document states that Hannibal was an adult between 21 and 40 years old, but the exact age was not recorded. The document was entered into the book by the County Clerk (Isaac Southard) on 21 July 1829. The manumission record was signed by the Overseers of the Poor for the township (Cornelius Kershow and Henry Duryea) and Justices of the Peace for Somerset County (William Cruser and Cornelius J. Stryker). Additionally, James S. Green signed as a witness. The manumission deed and certificate did not record Hannibal's last name or his precise age, but later documents from his life indicate that he went by the name Hannibal Simpson and that he would have been about 27 years old at the time of this manumission event.

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 82 Child: Jane Mother: Jude Enslaver of mother and child: John Passage Location: West Windsor, NJ Birth date: March 20, 1830 Reported date: March 15, 1831 Clerk: T. S. Van Arsdalen John Passage signed the birth certificate by his mark (X), which suggests that he was illiterate.

Somerset County Register of Black Children and Manumissions, Book B, Page 142, contains a manumission deed and certificate for Matilda, who was released from slavery in 1830 in Montgomery township. Matilda was manumitted by Dr. Ebenezer Stockton, a medical doctor who resided in Princeton (a portion of which was then within the boundaries of Montgomery township). The manumission document states that Matilda was an adult between 21 and 40 years old, but her exact age was not recorded. Dr. Ebenezer Stockton signed the deed of manumission on 16 April 1830, with Helen Stockton and Asbhel Green Jr serving as witnesses. Subsequently, Matilda was examined by county officials on 14 June 1830, and a manumission certificate was signed by the Overseers of the Poor for the township of Montgomery (Henry Duryea and Cornelius Kershow) and Justices of the Peace for Somerset County (John Lowrey and William Cruser). The documents were then entered into the book by the County Clerk (Isaac Southard) on 15 June 1830.

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 83 Child: Alfred Mother: Caroline Enslaver of mother and child: Robert Adrain Location: New Brunswick, NJ Birth date: February 14, 1832 Reported date: September 14, 1833 Clerk: Nicholas Booraem The document notes that the mother Caroline died by the time the birth certificate was filed with the clerk.

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains the following record: Child: Elias Munson Mother: Hager Enslaver of mother and child: Christr Haggerty Location: Sussex County (locality not specified) Birth date: 10 May 1833 Recorded date: 10 May 1835 Clerk: not listed, presumed Edsall

Somerset County birth records of enslaved children contain the following record: Book B, Page 233 Child: Henry Van Cleef Mother: Dinah Enslaver of mother and child: Augustus R. Taylor Location: Somerset County (locality not specified) Birth date: 29 August 1833 Reported date: 15 January 1834 Clerk: John M. Mann Although Augustus R. Taylor did not list his place of residence on this birth certificate, census records and other documents he filed at the Somerset County Clerk's Office indicate that he was a resident of the City of New Brunswick, living in the western section of the city that was then part of Franklin Township. Thus, Henry Van Cleef was most likely born in New Brunswick.

Somerset County Register of Black Children and Manumissions, Book B, Page 232, contains a manumission record for Flora Stryker, who was released from slavery on 10 December 1833 in Princeton in Montgomery Township. Flora Stryker was manumitted by John Joline. The manumission document states that Flora Stryker was 39 years old at the time of this event. The document was entered into the book by the County Clerk (John M. Mann) on 8 January 1834. The manumission record was signed by the Overseers of the Poor for the township (Ralph Johnson and John Simonson) and Justices of the Peace for Somerset County (John Lowrey and Peter Voorhees).

Will of John Bray of New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey, was signed on January 10, 1834, and proved on May 8, 1834, after the decease of John Bray. John Bray mentioned Flora Ann in his will and provided an incentive to her to continue serving Bray's widow obediently. At this time, Flora Ann was a girl under the age of 21, but her exact age was not recorded. Under the Gradual Abolition Act of 1804, she was considered a slave for a term of years and was eligible for emancipation at age 21. John Bray's will stipulated that Flora Ann should receive $100 on her 21st birthday if she continued to serve "her mistress" (i.e. John Bray's widow Mrs. Ellen Bray) obediently until that time. The will stated that Flora Ann would not receive the money if Ellen Bray decided that Flora Ann had not been a good servant to her. The following is a transcript of the relevant passage from John Bray's will: "10. To my colored girl Flora Ann provided she remains with her mistress [Ellen Bray] until she attains the age of twenty one years (at which time she will be free) and her mistress will then say she has been a good servant (but not otherwise) I give the sum of one hundred dollars payable on the day she arrives to [that] age."

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 85 Child: Ellen Mother: Fanny Enslaver of mother and child: Peter P. Van Doren Location: North Brunswick, NJ Birth date: January 31, 1834 Reported date: November 25, 1835 Clerk: Nicholas Booraem

Middlesex County Births of Enslaved Children book contains the following record: Page: 87 Child: Ellen Mother: Jude Enslaver of mother and child: Simon Van Dyke Location: South Brunswick, NJ Birth date: February 11, 1835 Reported date: March 16, 1838 Clerk: Nicholas Booraem

On October 15, 1838, a black man named Jacob Ham executed a deed of manumission in Camden, Gloucester County (now in Camden County), New Jersey. The deed indicated that Jacob Ham was the legal owner of three people named Smith Ham, Jane Ham, and George Ham, and he intended to set them free. These people were, in all likelihood, Jacob's family members whom he purchased in order to set them free. Their ages were not listed in the manumission deed. The exact relationship between Jacob and Smith, Jane, and George is uncertain. However, tracing the family through census records in subsequent decades leads to the conclusion that Smith Ham, Jane Ham, and George Ham were probably Jacob Ham's children, and that the children had been born into slavery in the South. Note that this manumission deed contains several blank areas where the ages of the three manumitted persons were supposed to appear; these areas were not filled in before the deed was signed. The ages of the children can be inferred from later census records. Smith would have been about 8 years old at this time, Jane about 6, and George about 1. Jacob Ham signed this deed by his X mark, and two witnesses placed their signatures on the document. The deed includes two wax seals, which were covered up with small diamond-shaped slips of paper sometime after the document was created (possibly by a collector or archivist who came in contact with the document much later). Page 2 contains an unexecuted acknowledgment block, i.e., a block of text that a Judge of Common Pleas would ordinarily sign to certify that Jacob Ham signed and acknowledged the manumission deed in front of the judge. In this document, the acknowledgment block was not signed by a judge, meaning that this copy of the deed was not certified. Whether this document was ever officially filed with the County Clerk in Gloucester County is uncertain. A copy of it has not been found among Gloucester County records. The original deed is held at the Burlington County Historical Society, and it appears to have been in private hands for about a hundred years before it was donated to the archival institution by Nelson B. Gaskill, a prominent white lawyer and federal official with roots in South Jersey. ----- Transcript of the source document: "[page 1] State of New Jersey } Gloucester County } ss. [wax seal] To all whom these presents shall come Greeting :— It is hereby made known, that on this fifteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, I, Jacob Ham of the township of Camden in Said County of Gloucester, (Coloured man) have liberated, manumitted and set free my three negro slaves, called Smith Ham, who is about _____ Jane Ham, who is about _____ and George Ham, who is about _____ and I do hereby liberate, manumit and set free, my said Negro slaves, and discharge them and every of them from all service or demand of service, or Slavery, to be hereafter made either by me or any other person claiming by from or under me. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the day & year aforesaid Sealed & Delivered } in presence of } A. Browning } P. J. Gray } his Jacob X Ham mark [wax seal] [page 2] State of New Jersey } to wit:— Gloucester County, } Be it remembered, that on this _____ day of _____ in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, before me _____ one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Gloucester, personally appeared Jacob Ham, (a coloured man) who is I am satisfied, the grantor mentioned in the within deed of Manumission, and the Contents thereof being by me first made known unto him, he did thereupon acknowledge that he signed sealed and delivered the same as his voluntary act and deed. [page 3 blank] [page 4 (verso)] V. Deed of Manumission Jacob Ham to Smith Ham, Jane Ham & George Ham"

Enslaved man named Mark (Mark Harris Jr.), aged 20, was sold by James Neilson of Wood Lawn Mansion, Middlesex County, NJ, to Abraham Veghte of Somerset County, NJ, on December 16, 1838, for $20. James Neilson's brother Abraham Schuyler Neilson signed the Bill of Sale as a witness. Mark was sold for a partial term of 4 years and 7 months, which represented the remainder of his term of enslavement according to New Jersey's gradual abolition law. Mark's term of enslavement would expire on his 25th birthday on July 27, 1843; at the expiration of this term, Mark would become eligible for emancipation. (Enslaved men born after July 4, 1804, in New Jersey had to serve 25 years before they qualified for emancipation under the state law.) ----- Transcript of the source document: "Know all men by these presents that I James Neilson of the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey have and by these presents do grant bargain & sell and transfer unto Abraham Veghte of the county of Somerset and state aforesaid all right with and intrust in and to the services of a certain Negro servant named Mark for and until he arrives at the age of twenty five years which will be in the month of July A. D. 1843 & I hereby covenant in consideration of Twenty dollars to me in hand paid by the said Abraham as the price of the said bargain sale & transfer that I have full right to transfer & sell the service of said servant for the price aforesaid & I hereby put the said Abraham in possession of said services by delivery to him And the said Abraham hereby covenants & agrees to & with the said terms that he will indemnify & save harmless the said James from all cash & charges that may arise if at any time hereafter the said Mark shall become chargeable In without whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this 16th day of Dec. 1838 Witness present - A.S. Neilson James Neilson Abrm Veghte"

Flora Stryker died in 1882, according to the obituary of her twin sister, Clara Voorhees. Flora's place of death is uncertain. She resided in the Princeton area for many years, and it can be inferred that she probably died there.

On January 24th, 1892, a Black woman named Clara Voorhees died in Princeton. She was a long-time Princeton resident and was aged between 96 and 98 years, according to information provided in two obituaries. She had been born in slavery and was freed at the age of 25. The following is a transcript of the obituary published in the New York Times on January 26, 1892: "PRINCETON’S COLORED COOK DEAD. PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 25.—“Aunt” Clara Voorhees, the oldest colored woman in this part of the State of New-Jersey, died yesterday in her ninety-seventh year. She was known by every graduate of Princeton College for her last sixty years. Here she had lived all her life, and from the time of President Carnahan she had always cooked the big dinners on all the big days of the college. Her name was known far and wide." The following is a transcript of the obituary published in the Princeton Press newspaper on January 26, 1892: "Clara Voorhees died at her residence on Witherspoon street this week, at a very advanced age. From a record in her own Bible, she was born May 10th, 1793. While the notice in the column of deaths gives her age as 96, it is thought by some that she was even older. She was born near Scott's Corner and was raised by Matthew Rue, a great-grandfather of Mr. Geo. II. Dey of this place. She was one of a pair of twins, Flora Stryker, who died in 1882, being a twin sister. Both women were of excellent character, and were highly respected. In 1806 Mr. Rue sold the two likely colored girls to John Joline, who was said to have wanted but one, Flora, who was large and stout, but their owner would not part them, and so "Lord" Joline bought the time of both, paying $350 for Flora and $150 for Clara, the subject of this sketch. They were to become free on reaching the age of twenty-five. A this time they were said to be seventeen years old. Work at the hotel (the Nassau) proved to be too hard for Clara, and about a year later she went to service with Joseph Bullock, on the present John F Phillips farm. Afterward she served Rev. Geo. S. Woodhull's and President Ashbel Green's families. She was for a long time in the Green family, and Gov. Green, a grandson of President Ashbel Green, has always taken an interest in her welfare. Among the keepsakes highly valued by Aunt Clara, is a painting of Jas. S. Green, Esq., taken when he was a young man. She also possesses a desk which the late Dr. John N. Woodhull is said to have used as his study table while in college. In later years, she was with Dr. Schanck's family a faithful servant, and her business affairs have been in his care for a long time. She owned the house in which she died, and had a small sum of money in the Savings Banks, a provision for her funeral. Clara was famous as a cook, and many of the alumni of Princeton, now venerable men, have partaken of "Commencement dinners," prepared under her direction, in the days of Carnahan's administration, and even the early years of Dr. Maclean's. At the last of these dinners served for Dr. Carnahan, he told her, "Clara, this is the best dinner you have served for us, and you have now been cooking our Commencement dinners for thirty years." The new turnpike was chartered in 1807, and was built shortly after. She had a vivid recollection of the opening of that road, which took place when she was at Mr. Bullock's. Her husband died very many years ago and no children survive her."

Autobiographical book by Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, alias James Albert. The autobiography is widely recognized as the first book published by an author of African descent in Britain. In his narrative, Gronniosaw recounted his time as an enslaved man in New Jersey, providing a rare glimpse of what life was like for enslaved people on the Raritan in the middle of the 18th century. Rutgers researchers who created records about Gronniosaw in the New Jersey Slavery Records database relied on the full-text digital edition created as part of the North American Slave Narratives collection, published by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A. Hunt was an enslaver who resided in Sussex County, NJ, in the early 19th century. This person submitted two birth certificates for enslaved children to the Sussex County Clerk, both signed only "A. Hunt." These documents do not list a specific locality within Sussex County and do not indicate whether this enslaver was a man or a woman.

A.S. Clark was an enslaver who resided in North Brunswick, NJ.

Aaron was a Black man born circa 1792. He was enslaved by Aaron Borden or Allentown and then by Elijah Blackwell of Princeton, NJ. Evidently, he labored for Blackwell under an agreement that he should serve until approximately 1823 (when Aaron would be about 31 years old). He ran away from his enslavers twice by the time he was 19 years old. He may have fathered a child with a white woman (whose name is not known). Elijah Blackwell's runaway ad related to Ben's second escape in 1811 noted that Ben was followed by a white woman (whose name was not mentioned) and the woman's child (who was described by Blackwell as a "mulatto child"). They were accompanied also by Aaron, who was also enslaved by Elijah Blackwell.

Aaron was born in 1804, the child of Kate (enslaved by John Van Nuis of North Brunswick, NJ). Under the provisions of New Jersey's Gradual Abolition Act of 1804, he was considered a slave for a term of 25 years and would become eligible for emancipation upon reaching that age.

Aaron was born in 1805, the child of a woman enslaved by Elijah Voorhies of West Windsor, NJ. Under the provisions of New Jersey's Gradual Abolition Act of 1804, he was considered a slave for a term of 25 years and would become eligible for emancipation upon reaching that age.

Somerset County birth records of enslaved children contain a birth certificate for Aaron, son of Peg, born on 1 Jan 1805, enslaved by Hendrick Suydam. Although Aaron's birth certificate did not list the township, it can be inferred that he was probably born in Bridgewater because other historical records for his enslaver indicate that he was a resident of Bridgewater.

Aaron, son of Peggy, was born around 1805 and was enslaved by Henry Suydam, a resident of New Jersey. In 1818, when Aaron was 13, Henry Suydam sold or otherwise transferred Aaron to an enslaver named Stephen Mundy of Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Stephen Mundy then moved to the village of Caneseraga in Allegany County, New York, and took Aaron with him. This relocation separated Aaron from his mother.

Aaron was a Black man, born circa 1754, who lived in Northampton in the late 18th century and was enslaved by Joseph Budd. Burlington County records indicate that Aaron was manumitted and released from slavery in 1786.

Aaron Burr Sr was an enslaver and the second president of Princeton University (then called the College of New Jersey). Born in 1716, he was a Presbyterian minister who pastored a congregation in Newark, New Jersey. He was elected president of the college in 1748 and served until his death in 1757. He initially taught students at his parsonage in Newark, and then in 1756, he oversaw the college's move to its new and permanent campus in Princeton.

The New Jersey Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery enumerated black people (free and enslaved) who lived in Springfield and New Hanover townships, Burlington County, around 1797. This person’s name appeared on the list. The report did not specify whether this person lived in Springfield or in New Hanover. See the related Registration event for more information about the report. Aaron Green was listed as slave "at Isah Budd's" (presumably referring to Isaiah Budd) and was described as "industrious" and "sober."

Aaron Gulick was a resident of Middlesex County, New Jersey. He served as the Justice of the Peace for the county in the early 19th century. In this official capacity, he issued manumission certificates for residents of South Brunswick whose enslavers agreed to set them free.

Aaron Hagerman was an enslaver who resided in West Windsor.

Aaron Hassert was an enslaver who lived in Middlesex County, New Jersey. For much of his life, he was associated with the City of New Brunswick and the Township of North Brunswick. He also served as the Collector of Perth Amboy from June 12, 1812, to March 31, 1818. In his job as the collector, he was supposed to inspect vessels at the port, collect customs and taxes, and enforce laws that restricted slave trading. In June 1818, he provided testimony to the grand jury in a criminal case related to the Van Wickle slave trading ring that was trafficking Black people out of Perth Amboy to Louisiana.

Aaron Longstreet was an enslaver who resided in the southern part of Middlesex County (in the vicinity of Princeton and Kingston). He served in the New Jersey Militia during the Revolutionary War.

The New Jersey Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery enumerated black people (free and enslaved) who lived in Springfield and New Hanover townships, Burlington County, around 1797. This person’s name appeared on the list. The report did not specify whether this person lived in Springfield or in New Hanover. See the related Registration event for more information about the report. He had personal property worth $200, but was not a householder (meaning that he lived in someone else's home and did not have his own independent household).

The New Jersey Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery enumerated black people (free and enslaved) who lived in Northampton, Burlington County, around 1797. This person’s name appeared on the list. See the related Registration event for more information. Aaron Sill was listed with a wife and children.

Aaron Wells was a white man who served as the Overseer of the Poor of Northampton Township, Burlington County, in the late 18th century.

Abb was a woman of African descent who was enslaved by Matthias Vanderveer of North Brunswick, NJ.

Abbott Williams was one of the Overseers of the Poor for Burlington Township in the late 18th century.

Abednego Wright was an Overseer of the Poor in Mansfield township, Burlington county, in the late 18th century.

Abel Slayback was an enslaver who resided in the area of West Windsor, NJ, and then moved to Ohio at the turn of the 19th century.

Abigail was an enslaved woman who lived in New Jersey in the early 19th century and was manumitted by Ephraim Pyatt of Piscataway, NJ. Her certificate of manumission was issued on August 8, 1808. Abigail was aged 21 to 40 at the time of manumission.

Abigail was born in 1805, the child of Margaret (enslaved by Oakey Vanosdol of West Windsor, NJ). Under the provisions of New Jersey's Gradual Abolition Act of 1804, she was considered a slave for a term of 21 years and would become eligible for emancipation upon reaching that age.

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains a birth record for Abigail (or Abegel). The locality is not specified on the birth certificate, but Abigail's enslaver Severyn Westbrook was known to be a resident of Montague, and it is likely that the child was born around that area.

Abigail Blanchard was an enslaver who resided in Woodbridge, NJ.

Abigail Axford née Hunt was an enslaver who resided in Oxford, NJ, in the early 19th century. She was the wife of John Axford.

Abigail Price Phillips was an enslaver who resided in Sandyston, NJ, in the early 19th century. She was the wife of David Phillips.

Abigail Budd was the wife of Joseph Budd who lived in New Mills (now Pemberton), Burlington County, in the late 18th century. After her husband died without a will in 1785, Abigail manumitted a Black man named Scipio on behalf of the Budd estate and filed manumission paperwork in New Hanover township, which was then the official municipality where the New Mills community was located.

Abigail Stokes was a white woman who lived in Newton, Gloucester County (in present-day Camden County), in the early 19th century. She was the widow of Jacob Stokes, who died before May 1805. She manumitted a woman named Mina in 1807.

Sussex County Births of Enslaved Children microfilm contains a birth record for Abigale.

Abijah Applegate was the son and executor of the estate of enslaver Asher Applegate of East Windsor, NJ. He was a farmer.

Abner was a Black man born circa 1759. He was enslaved by Isaac Tunnell of Dagsborough, Delaware, and escaped from his enslaver in 1799. His enslaver thought that Abner may have gone to Pennsylvania or New Jersey and advertised for him in a Trenton newspaper.

Abner Woodward was an enslaver who resided in Burlington County, New Jersey, in the early 19th century.

Abraham was an enslaved man, born around 1782, who was manumitted by John Runyon Jr. of Piscataway, NJ. The deed of manumission was executed on March 14, 1812. Abraham was aged 30 at the time of manumission.

Abraham was an enslaved man, born around 1784, who was manumitted by Charles Smith of North Brunswick, NJ. The certificate of manumission was issued on June 27, 1823. The deed of manumission was executed on the same day. Abraham was aged 39 at the time of manumission.

Abraham was born in 1805, the child of On (enslaved by Jeremiah Van Deventer of Piscataway, NJ). Under the provisions of New Jersey's Gradual Abolition Act of 1804, he was considered a slave for a term of 25 years and would become eligible for emancipation upon reaching that age.

Abraham A. Van Arsdalen was an enslaver who resided in Hillsborough, Somerset County, New Jersey, in the early 19th century.

Rev. Abraham Beach was an Episcopalian clergyman and enslaver. he was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, in 1740. After his ordination in England in 1767, he came to work as a missionary in the area of New Brunswick and Piscataway in New Jersey. After the Revolutionary War, he went to pastor the Trinity Church in New York City, but it appears he continued to maintain a farm in the New Brunswick area while he lived in New York City. He was elected a trustee of Queen's College (now Rutgers University) in 1787. He was active in the diocese of New York until about 1813 and then retired to his farm near New Brunswick. When the African Association of New Brunswick was established in 1817, Rev. Beach gave permission to his enslaved man named Cato to join the organization. Rev. Beach also became a patron of the organization himself, and his name appears on the 1817 membership roll together with Cato.

Abraham Bergen was an enslaver who resided in South Amboy, NJ. He was a miller.

Abraham Bosch was an enslaver who resided in Sussex County, NJ, in the early 19th century.

Abraham Blauvelt (c. 1764-1838) was an alumnus and trustee of Queen's College (later Rutgers). He was born in Rockland County, NY, and lived most of his life in New Brunswick, NJ, where Middlesex County records indicate that he held people in bondage. He received a degree from Queen's College in 1789 and was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1800, assuming the position of the Secretary of the Board. From 1808 to 1810 he was the chairman of the Building Committee that oversaw the construction of the college's first permanent building, now known as Old Queens. He maintained the financial records related to the construction of the building, which document the college's use of enslaved labor. Blauvelt was a printer in New Brunswick. He established a newspaper called the Guardian, or, New Brunswick Advertiser, in 1792 and published it for decades, delivering news and advertisements to the surrounding counties. Many advertisements for runaways and slave sales appeared in his newspaper over the years. Blauvelt helped facilitate slave sales for his subscribers. Some sellers did not want to publish their own name and contact information in the newspaper, preferring to keep the transaction more private. In such cases, Blauvelt acted as a middleman, publishing ads that said "Enquire of the printer," and encouraging prospective buyers to come to Blauvelt for more information about the sale.

Abraham Blauvelt used this account book to record the expenses of the Queen's College Building Committee from July 6, 1808, to March 30, 1810. Blauvelt was the chairman of said committee and oversaw the construction of the first permanent building erected for Queen's College (later Rutgers University). This building is now known as Old Queens. There are 148 entries (excluding several corrections) for the building. Entry 15 and entry 130 (see photographs) indicate payment to Jacob Dunham for the labor of Dunham's enslaved man on the construction site. The account book also contains a list of subscribers to the newspaper Blauvelt owned, called the Guardian or New Brunswick Advertiser, for the years 1794-1797. Additionally, the book contains a number of miscellaneous memoranda.

Abraham Brown was a white man who served as one of the Overseers of the Poor for the township of Bedminster, Somerset County, in the early 19th century.

The New Jersey Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery counted the number of free Black people who lived in Chester Township, Burlington County, in 1797. This person's name appeared on the list.

Abraham Coriell was an enslaver who resided in Piscataway, NJ. He was a farmer.

Abraham Dean was the enslaver of a man named David. He sold David to Rev. Gilbert T. Snowden of Cranbury, NJ, in 1794.

Abraham Dumont was an enslaver who resided in North Branch, Somerset County, NJ.

Abraham Dunham was an enslaver who resided in Piscataway, Middlesex County, NJ.

Abraham Glasgow was an enslaved man who lived in North Brunswick, New Jersey, in the early 19th century. His enslaver was Andrew Kirkpatrick (1756-1831), the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey and a prominent Rutgers trustee. On April 29, 1809, Andrew Kirkpatrick manumitted Abraham Glasgow. Abraham Glasgow was aged 21 to 40 at the time of manumission, but his exact year of birth is not known.

The New Jersey Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery counted the number of enslaved people who lived in Chester Township, Burlington County, in 1797. The Society's report showed the names of the white people who held Black people in bondage. This person's name appeared on the list of enslavers. According to the report, he had 1 slave in his household. The name of the enslaved person was not recorded in the report.

Abraham I. Gulick was an enslaver who resided in South Brunswick, NJ, in the early 19th century.

Abraham I. Van Arsdale was a white man who served as one of the Overseers of the Poor for the township of Bedminster, Somerset County, in the early 19th century.

Abraham Lowe was an enslaver who resided in Readington, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in the early 19th century.