USA > New Jersey > Sussex County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 18
USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186
James Jones, Capt. Edsall's company, Second Regiment; also Continental army, and discharged at Philadelphia, Jan. 8, 1777.
Reuben Jones. 1
George Kibler, Capt. Ribble's company, First Regiment, and Maj West- brook's battalion State troops : ulso Continental army.
Caleb Kimball, Capt. Beckwith's company, Second Regiment; also Con- tinental nrmy, Capt. IFelm's company.
Stephen Kimball.
Anthony King, also in Continental army, Capt. Bond's company. Samuel Kirkendall, Third. Battalion.
Stephen Kirkendall.
David Knapp, Capt. Gunterminn's company, Second Regiment; also Con- tinental army.
John Kurer, also in Continental army.
John Lain, also in Continental army.
Isaac Lambert.
William Lambert, also in Continentnl army, Fourth Battalion, Second Establishment.
George Lame.
George Lance.
Peter Lance.
Philip Lander.
Benjamin Landon, Capt. Helni's company, Continental army.
James Landon, Capt. Cole's company, Second Regiment; also in Conti- nental army.
Thomas Landon.
Ezekiel Lane.
Inmes Larew (?) or Laroy.
Isaac Last.
Sammel Lattleally.
Cornelius Leury, Capt. Harker's company.
Philip Leffler, First Regiment ; niso Continental army.
James Lennard, Cupt. Longstreet's company, Second Regiment ; nlso Con- tinental army.
John Leonard.
Levi Lewis. .
,
Andrew Likens.
William Likeus, Capt. Harker's company, Second Regiment.
David Lindsley.
Henry Littell.
William Little.
James Lock wood.
John Lock wood.
John Lomberson.
John Longwell.
Elenzer Loose.
Bartholomew Lott.
Asel Luvell.
Jolin Low.
Cornelius D. Lowe (?).
Johnson Luker.
Eliezur Lun, Capt. Bonnel's company, First Regiment.
Joseph Mapes.
Edmund Martin.
Benjamin Martin.
Gershom Martin.
Jolın Martin (?), light-horse.
Joseph Martin, Capt. Harker's company.
Benjamin Masters.
Jesse Masters.
William Masters.
Uriah Marsterson.
Robert Matthews. Rev. Edward May, First Regiment; also Continental army.
Thomas MeArthur. Julin McCain, also Continental army, Capt. Bond's company.
Edward MeCauley.
Dennis MeCarty, also Continental army, Cupt. Boud's company. Alexander McClure (?).
Joseph MeCullongh.
John McCollum, Capt, Helm's company, Continental army.
Jacob Hull, also Col. Stewart's battalion Minute-men. James Ilull. Ralph Hunt, Capt. Harker's company, Sccond Regiment. Thomas Hunt.
73
SUSSEX AND WARREN COUNTIES IN THE REVOLUTION.
Joseph McCoy, also Continental army. Cornelius MeDaniel, Capt. Anderson's company. John McFarland, First Regiment; wounded July 13, 1780. Joseph Mckinney, Capt. Bond's company, Contlucutal army. Matthew McKinney, Capt. Harker's company.
Mordecai Mckinney, Cupt Ribblo's company, Cand. Harker's company, nad Maf. Westbrook's Unttulion.
Daniel McMurray. JIngh McMaston, Continental army.
Stephen Mend, killed at Lackawaxon, July 22, 1779.
Mannel Medagh, Capt Westfall's company. Sumnol MeOrwin, Capt. Bond's company.
Moses Medagh, Capt. Gonterman's Company.
Aaron Mershon, killed on Long Island, Ang. 27, 1776.
Daniel Middagh.
Emanuel Middagh, Capt. Kirkendall's company, Second Regiment, also Continental army.
Sopherin Middagh, Capt. Harker's company, Second Reginmust, John Mills, also Continental army, Capt. Bond's company.
Cornelius Mirca.
Joha Mitchell, also Continental army; taken prisoner Feb, 15, 1777, near Wundbridge.
John Montgomery, also Continental army, Capt. Bond's company, Fourth Battalion, Second Establishment.
Arthur Moore, Capt. Bonnel's company. James Moore, also Continental army.
Jedollah Moore, Capt. Bonnel's company. John Moore.
Josiah Moore, also Continental army, Capt. Bond's company.
John Mooney, Capt. Bond's company, Continental army.
William Mooney, Capt. Helm's company, Continental Hruy. John Morita, Capt. Bonnel's company'.
Joseph Morris. Samuel Murile. James Morrison, Cupt. Helmi's company.
Reuben Moser, Capt. Harkor's company. John Moss.
Christian Mutt.
Christopher Mott, Capt. Harker's company. Josiah Munson.
James Murphy, Continental army.
William Murphy, also Continental army, Fourth Battalion, Second Estab- Ishment.
James Murray, Capt. Allen's company, Second Regiment ; also Conti- nental uray, Capt. Helm's company.
Robert Murray.
W'Illinm Murray, Copt. Allen's company ; also Continental army. Benjamin Nicholas, also wagonmuster.
Chas. Newton, Capt. Bond's company, Continental army.
Benj. Nichols, Capt. Bluin's company ; nleu Chpt. Broderick's company, Third Battalion.
George Noble, also Continental army, Capt. Boit's company. Joseph Northrup.
Thomas Nunn, Capt. Harker's company. Julin Nyce.
John Ogden, Capt. Bonnel's company, First Reglment.
John Olp, Capt. Pittinger's company, Fhist Regiment.
John O'Neal, Capt. Helm's company, Continental army.
A. O'Nell, also Continental army, Capt. Band's company. Lako Osborn, Continental army, Capt. Bout's company. Thomas Pardunu, Capt. Harker's company.
John Parker. Joseph Parker. Natlinniel Parker, alan Continental nrmy. Jeffry Parvin, Capt. Allen's company. William Pepper, Continental army.
Daniel l'orrine. JanIra l'errine. William l'erry. Richard Peters.
l'eter Peterson, Capt. Bond's company, Continental ariny. David Phillipe. Ilugh l'hillips (?).
George l'Icket, Capt. Longstreet's company, Secund Regiment ; also Coti- tinental army, Second Battalion.
Jucob Plow, Third Battalion ; also Continental army.
John Pool, Capt. Holm's company, Second Regiment, Continental army, 6
John Post.
Isaac Potts, Capt. Harker's company, Second Regiment ; also Continental army.
Thomas Powers, Capt. Bond's company, Continental aruy.
Jonathan Potts.
Abijah Preston, Capt. Allen's company.
John Price (1), also Continental army, Capt. Bond's company.
John Price (2), also Continental army, Capt. Lynn's company.
Rice Price, Capt. Longstreet's company, Secmal Begiment ; also Conti- nental army, Capt. Lyon's company.
William Price, also Continental army.
Zachınrinh Price, also Westbrook's Battalion.
Daniel Pridminore.
Jolın Pursum.
Benjamin Qulek, Capt. Bonnel's company.
David Quick, C'apt. Bonnel's company.
Elenzer Quick, also Continental army, Capt. Lyou'a company.
James Quick.
Manuel Quick.
Peter Quick. Samuel Quick.
John Rul, Capt. Helm's company, Continental army.
Robert Reynolds, Capt. Harker's company.
William Reynolds, Capt. Harker's company; also Westbrook's but- talion.
William Ribble.
William Richman, Capt. Harker's company.
William Richmond, Capt. Boud's company. Continental army.
Tannic Robertson.
Benjumlu Robeson.
Isaac Robinson, Cant. Cule's company, Second Regiment ulav Conti- Dental army, Capt Lyon's company.
James Roles.
Aaron Ruliston.
Robert Roney, Capt. Harker's company.
Cusper Rerah.
John Rose, also Continental army, Capt. Bond's company.
Joseph Rose, Capt. Harker's company, Second Regiment.
Richard Rose, Capt. Stull's company, Second Regiment ; also Continental army. William Rose.
Abraham Rosier, Capt. Helmn's company, Continental army.
MAlexander Rosecrans.
Camper Russ.
John Roy.
Casper Rumsell, Cupt. Stull's company, Second Regiment ; also Conti- mental army.
Richard Russell, also Continental army.
Patrick Ryan, Capt. Botul's company, Continental army.
Reuben Selmon (or Saarmouis), Capt. Harker's company, Second Regl.
Julin Salsbury, Capt. Stall's company, Second Regiment ; also Continental army.
Samuel satterly, Cupt. Westbrook's company, Thin Battalion; also Con- tinental army.
William Savacool.
Benjamin Schoonover.
Mirah Scott, C'apt. Hover's company, Third Battalion ; also Continental army.
Willeta Senman, niso Martin's battalion, Heard's brigale; takeu pria- oner March 10, 1776; exchanged Muy 14, 1778.
John seaport.
Lott Search.
Richard Shackleton.
William Shackleton, Capt. Bonnel's company.
Dayhl Shay. JaniCs Shuy.
Joseph Shaver, Capt. Holai's company.
Benjamin Shennard, Capt. Stull's company, Second Regiment ; also Con- tinental army.
Daufel Shenul.
Strutton Sherod.
Joseph Shblor. Jana Shimer.
Christian Shipman.
John Shipman.
Paul Shipman.
SUSSEX AND WARREN COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
Joseph Shiver, Capt. Longstreet's company ; also Continental army. David Silsbury, Capt. Harker's company. James Simmons, also Continental army, Capt. Bond's company. Simeon Simonson. James Simpson. Peter Sites, First Reginwent, also Continental army. Thomas Slack. David Slacht. Jolin Slacht. John Slife, First Regiment ; also Continental ai my. John Smith. Joseph South.
Patrick Smith, also Continental army, Capt. Lyon's company. Peter Smith. Sammel B. Sonith, Capt. Bond's company, Continental army. Terrence Smith, also Continental army, Capt. Bond's company. Ilenry >nouk. Ilenry Suyder. Jacob Snyder. Ludley Solomon. Michael South. Samuel Sonth. Nathan Spencer. Samnel Sprouls. Christian Staly.
Jacob Staly.
Jonatlınn Stanton, Capt. Harker's company. Jacob Stelle. William Stenabock. Cornelius Stevenson, Capt. Heln's company, Continental army. l'eter Stavens. William Stevens. First Regiment ; als > Continental army. William Stewart, also Continental army. Robert Stewart, Capt. Bond's company, Continental army. John Stift.
Benjamin Stiles. John Stivers, First Regiment ; also Continental army. Adam Stont. Henry Stute.
Daniel Sullivan, Capt. Ilill's company, Second Regiment; also Conti- nental army.
William Sullivant. Benjamin Sutton. Daniel Sutton. Jesse Sutton. John Sutton, Capt. Harker's company.
Zachariah Sutton.
Samuel Swain, Capt. Bond's company, Continental army ; discharged for disability Jan. 1, 1778.
Daniel Swartwood, Capt. Bounel's company. Peter Swartwood (?).
David Swenzy.
Bergen Swick, Capt. Allen's company, Second Regiment; also Conti- nental army.
Isaac Sylvester, Capt. Harker's company. Daniel Talmage, killed ut Lackawaxon, July 22, 1779. Noah Talmage, also in State troops. Thomas Taspin, also in Continental army, Capt. Lyon's company. Luduwick Tauny.
Christian Taylor, also in Continental army, Capt. Bond's company. Henry Taylor, also Maj. Westbrook's buttalion State troops. Henry Taylor, Jr., also Maj. Westbrook's battalion State troops. John Taylor. Stephen Theut. Walter Thinebal. l'atrick Thompson. Solomon Thorp, also Continental army, Cupt. Bond's company. Martin Tilk, also Westbrook's battalion. Sauinnel Tingley, also Continental army, Capt. Bullard's company. John Trance.
Stephen Truesdnl, Capt. Exsull's company, Second Regiment; also Con- tinental army, Capt. Lyon's company.
Thomas Trucsdall. John Tuttle, also Continental army, Capt. Bond's company. Daniel Tuvey. Henry Uptrhouse, Capt. Bonnel's company. Isaac Upilegrove, also Continental army.
Juho Uselton. Nathan Van Akin. Benjamin Van Etten. Gideon Van Etten. Peter Van Etten, also Maj. Westbrook's battalion.
Abranı Van Gorden. Henry Van Gorden. John Van Gorden, Capt. Harker's company. Abram Van Leuven.
George Van Nest. Joseph Van Noy. John Van Tassel. Garret Van Vliet (?). Jacob Van Vliet, also Maj. Westbrook's battalion. Juhu Vogt.
George Voorhees. Nathan Wade, killed nt Lackawaxon, July 2, 1779.
Simon Wade.
Jacob Walter, Capt. Ribble's company. Samuel Wandle. Nathaniel Washburn.
George Washer. John Watson, Capt. Allen's company.
John Weaver, also Continental army, Capt. Bom's company. John Welling.
Peter Wenverling, Continental army, Cupt. Bond's company.
Aaron Westbrook.
Abram Westbrook. Henry Westbrook.
John Westbrook.
Juliu J. Westbrook. Benjamin Westfall. Cornelius Westfall.
David Westfall.
Jacobus Westfall. James Westfall, Capt. Ribble's company. Samuel Westfall, Capt. Kirkendall's company.
Thomas White, Capt. Shaver's company ; also Continental army, Capt. Helut's company.
Abram Whitenight.
John Whitenight.
Michael Widenor.
l'eter Willett
Taylor Willett (?). John Williams. also Capt. Bund's company, Continental army.
James Williams, Capt. Bond's company ; taken prisoner April 1, 1777. lsaac Willis.
William Wilson, Capt. Bond's company, Continental army.
William Willock.
Michnel Wilrick. James Wilson, Capt. Bonnel's company, First Regiment.
Emannel Winfieldl.
Cinton Winings. Comfort Winser. Peter Wintermute. llenry Wintersteen. Jacob Wintersteen. Nicholas Wintersteen.
Peter Wolfe.
William Wood, also Continental army, Cupt. Bond's company. Benjamin Woolever. Morris Workman, also Maj. Westbrook's battalion State troops. Charles Wright, also Maj. Westbrook's battalion State troops. Juseph Wrose. (See Rose.)
Peter Wyckoff.
James Wygant, Continental army, Capt. Helm's company. James Young, Capt. Bonnel's company. Philip Young, Capt. Bonnel's company.
IV .- MILITARY ROLL OF JOSEPH GASTON.
Joseph Gaston, Puymaster to the Militia in the County of Sussex :
" MARCH 24, 1784.
" Dr. To an order drawn by the Treasurer on the Collector of the County of Sussex in his favor, £1500.
"Credit by Abstract of Pay-Rolls discharged by Joseph Gaston, Pay- master of the Militia of the Connty of Sussex :
SLAVERY AND SERVITUDE IN SUSSEX AND WARREN.
75
No. of
Time of Service.
Regiments.
No. of Men.
Officers Numes.
Where Served.
L'inder Whom.
51 1>
3
1
June 20, 1780.
Col A Hinnkluson.
Minisluk.
..
13 12 1
Dec. 1, 1778.
34
.1
...
Muj. Westbrook.
200 10 0
Oct. 13. 1779.
July 25, 1778.
1x
Juo. Vliet, Cupt.
Guard.
..
12 18 4
87
April 1, 1777.
15
Capt. I. Petty.
Minisink.
Col. Rosecrans.
11 0 5
April 25, 1780.
3.1
31
Iluver.
Allen.
Col. Hankinson.
: 13 H
11
May 6, 17st.
31
Bartoun.
44
18
July 1, 1780).
27
28 11 4
14
April 18, 17×1.
4-4
..
35
17
Lient. Austin.
17
April 1, 1781.
13
" Stull.
Mint-ink.
Col. Rusecrans.
1 4
2.1
All 30. 1781.
Cant. Hagg.
('ol. seward.
13 7 14
21
May 13, 1781.
81
* Beckwith.
Col. Hankinson.
110 13 11
May 6, 1781.
Lieut. Misom.r.
Guard.
4 12 %
Sept. 1, 1780.
181
ldent, Schnuky.
..
..
1× 12 0
Sept. 7. 1780.
Sergt. lauit.
14 0 !
July 4, 1781.
C'apt. Johnston.
46
2 14 2
28
June 25, 1780.
.. Blackford. .. Gobel.
Miniduk.
Col. llankinson.
12 13 11
Jnim 22. 1779.
Capt. Shaver.
Gnard.
Col. Hankinson.
21 7 10
71:
Ajmil 1, 17×1.
1st
21
Malish.
Guard.
13 G #
34
July 22. 1778.
I -
Months.
4. Bennet.
Mint-Ink.
Col. West.
195 16 5
36
Sqft. 1. 17KU.
INt Sussex.
('hitford.
1
8 11 2
Commisions on dittu at 1 J. Hunt
£100 0 0
" I certify the within to be a true copy of the account of Joseph Gus- ; day enough to say that the old flag in every crisis had ton, Esq., us paymaster to the Militia of Sussex County, as allowed und Hinted in Liber A of accounts, follo 194, remaining in the Auditor's office.
" JOHN BEATTY, Sec'y.
" TRENTON, Novem" 18th, 18/1."
Endorsed on the back is found the following :
Joseph Gaston with thu Stute us Paymaster."
JOSEPH GASTON, EsQ., resided in the township of llardwick. He was of Irish descent, and came orig- inally from Western Pennsylvania. He married a sister of Judge Linn, by whom he had two daughters. One of them married Dr. Elijah Everett ; the other, Rev. John Boyd, pastor of the Hardwick Church. Ile was esteemed as a very judicious, upright man. He died of bilious colic, about 1803 or 1804, aged about sixty-five years .*
We add the following from Col. Charles Seranton's historical address respecting Sussex (then including Warren) in the war of 1812:
"The war of 1812 again tested the heroism of the sons of the Revolutionary fathers. Our armies, under Harrison, Jackson, Scott, and other commanders, won renown; while the navy, under the gallant Perry, Lawrence, MeDonough, and other equally brave com- manders, made our nation famous in its naval history. I regret time will not allow me to speak at more length on this and the war with Mexico. It is for to-
brave defenders. It has been sustained, and those who have borne its stars and stripes aloft have tri- umphed over every foc until now it is de facto 'The flag of our Union, the flag of the free.'
"The Second Regiment of New Jersey was in ser- vice from Sept. 6, 1812, to Dee. 9, 1814, and was com- manded by Col. John Seward, of Sussex County. Attached to the regiment were two and probably three companies,-Capt. William Vliet, two officers, and sixty-five enlisted men; Capt. Alexander Read- ing, two officers, and sixty-five enlisted men; Capt. William Swayze, two officers, and sixty-two enlisted men. In the Third Regiment, commanded by Col. John Frelinghuysen, one company from Belvidere, commanded by Capt. Francis Dunlevy, with three officers and thirty-one enlisted men."
CHAPTER XI.
SLAVERY AND SERVITUDE IN SUSSEX AND WARREN.
I .- NEGROES AND OTHER SLAVES IN THE EARLY DAYS.
IF we will go back to a period about one hundred and eighty years ago and during the century suceved- ing, we will find that the inhabitants of this section of country, in common with those of other portions of the State, and with every colony in the New Work!, considered the holding of their fellow-men in bondage
* Manuscript by Dr. Schaffer.
...
Muj Merker.
C'apt. I. Cole.
Maj. Westbrook, L'ol. West.
57 3 4
Antg. 1, 1780.
Jno. Peppinger.
Morristown.
April 1, 1780.
:30
=
1. Skinurr.
44 12 21
July 21, 17x0.
July 5, 1780,
Couterumun.
62 14 11
19 2 #1
Apult 1, 1781.
·21
''nj.t. Simonson.
19
May Ix, 1781.
16
Lient. Marslı.
14
July 1, 1777.
23
C'upt Ihablurer.
.+
7 11 4
27
Nov 27, 1780.
13
Sergt. Cursou.
14
31
July 20, 1780.
1 NL
12
1.int. Allen.
16 3 2
C'apt. Allen.
Minisink.
July 4, 1776
..
BenNOTH.
4 10 0
April, 1782, nml '83.
13 0 0
..
55 4 10
May 4, 17~1.
Sarstreet.
33 14 0
June 23. 17x0.
37
27
11 8 G
April 28. 1781
30
31 10 #
July 21, 1779.
X1 24 9
76
SUSSEX AND WARREN COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
as perfectly right and legitimate. It was not consid- ered a crime, and even at that early day it had be- come, with this State, one of her institutions. The Quakers at Burlington, as well as the Dutch and English settlers in the Raritan, Delaware, and Mini- sink valleys, brought servants with them; so that in 1740, it is said, three-fourths of all the corn planted and hoed or the flax raised and dressed was the labor of negro slaves. The early records of these counties show that in the first ten years of the present century a large number of the old families still held slaves upon their farms.
Under the proprietors, persons were imported into the province as " servants"; these, while they did not absolutely forfeit their personal liberty by their en- gagements with their masters, were still in all essen- tial particulars bondmen, held in servitude and entirely controlled by those who had brought them into the province for their profit. It was slavery in every- thing save the name, for the servitude was for life, and in some instances included their children also.
In 1664 the "Concessions and Agreement of the Lords Proprietors of New Jersey," signed by Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret," to encourage plan- ters, promised every freeman who should embark with the first Governor, or should meet him on his arrival provided with a "good musket, bore twelve bullets to the pound, with bandeliers and match convenient, and with six months' provisions for himself," one hundred and fifty acres of land, and the like number for every man-servant or slavet brought with him provided with the same necessaries. To females over the age of fourteen seventy-five acres were promised, and a similar number to every Christian servant at the ex- piration of his or her term of service. Those going before the 1st of January, 1665-66, were to receive one hundred and twenty acres, if master, mistress, or able man-servant or slave, and weaker servants, male or female, sixty acres; those during the third year three-fourths, and during the fourth one-half, of these quantities.}
Many of the early settlers were sent out in the ein- ploy of the different proprietors under such agree- ments as would afford them the benefits of the head- lands granted to each individual brought into the province. Fifty acres were allowed to each master of a family and twenty-five to each person composing it, whether wife, child, or servant, each servant to be bound three years, and at the end of that time to be allowed to take up thirty acres on his or her own ac- count. Under this plan there was a shipment from Scotland in 1682 in the interest of Rudyard and
Groom, and another the following year, of thirty-one servants, under two overseers, on board the "Ex- change," Capt. Peacock. The records show that this was the beginning of an extensive traffic in servants.
Native Indians as well as negroes were at one time held in slavery in New Jersey, "Indian slaves" are mentioned in ancient records, and there is documen- tary evidence to show that this slavery was legally recognized. But of its extent or the period of its du- ration nothing is definitely known.
The earliest instance of the holding of negro slaves in New Jersey which is found recorded is that of Col. Richard Morris, of Shrewsbury, who as early as 1680 had sixty or more slaves about his mill and planta- tion .¿ The inhabitants of North New Jersey nearly all had slaves as early as 1690. Their increase was rapid, inasmuch as in 1790 there were eleven thou- sand four hundred and twenty-three slaves in the State. After 1800 their number very rapidly declined.
It is not to be wondered at that the introduction of negro slaves into this State was coeval with its settle- ment, when it is remembered that the mother-country not only recognized their existence as property, but also engaged in the slave-trade, and that the adjoining provinces possessed them, not even Puritanic New England being exempt.|
II .- " REDEMPTIONERS"-PERSONS SOLD FOR TIIEIR PASSAGE-MONEY.
Another species of servitude prevailed in this sec- tion and in the adjoining provinces, the subjects of it being known as "redemptioners." These were per- sons who sold themselves for a term of years to pay the price of their passage to the shores of America. These emigrants, before embarking, signed a bond to the master of the vessel authorizing him, on arrival here, to sell them into service for a term sufficient to pay the price agreed upon for passage. After gaining their freedom many of them succeeded in placing themselves in comfortable circumstances, and some even became wealthy men and large landowners. Servants of this class were first found along the Dela- ware River about 1662, and for a quarter-century after that time domestic or mechanical labor was seldom employed for wages. Redemptioners from German and Dutch ports were frequently brought over on speculation, and when landed were sold at public sale. The purchaser had the right to resell the ser- vices of the redemptioner, who often passed through several hands before he had served out his term. The prices paid were usually very low. In 1722, German redemptionists in Philadelphia sold at ten pounds each for five years of servitude, but in some cases they brought more than that for a single year. After the middle of the eighteenth century this form of servi-
* See appendix to Smith's " list, of the Colony of Nova-Casarin," pp. 512-521 ; also Bancroft's " History of the United States," vol. ii. p. 316, Dinth edition.
+ In the "Concessions" of the West Jersey proprietors this subject is treated in almost the same language, except the words "or slave" are omitted .- Historical Collections of New Jersey, p. 38.
# Whitehead's " East Jersey under the Proprietary Governments," pp. 28, 39.
¿ Gordon (p. 29, " Gazetteer") suy's that in 1680 there were but one hundred and twenty slaves in the province. This conflicts with the records extant, and the conclusion of the writer is that either Gordon or the printer of his book luft off one elpher.
| " Ilist. Colls. New Jersey," pp. 88, 89.
77
SLAVERY AND SERVITUDE IN SUSSEX AND WARREN.
tude gradually died out, and finally disappeared, though there were occasional instances of its practice down to, and even after, the close of the Revolution.
III .- LAWS RESPECTING SLAVERY -- ACTION OF THE QUAKERS.
Many of the early colonial laws relate to this sub- ject. The settlers were forbidden, under heavy penalty, to trade with slaves save by consent of their owners. A negro, if found five miles from his home, was ap- prehended and whipped, the party arresting him re- ceiving five shillings therefor. "Runaways" from another province were flagellated by the nearest con - stable. If convicted of conspiracy to kill a white person, of rape, murder, or arson, the penalty was "death in such manner as the enormity of the crime in the judgment of the justices and freeholders seemed meet."* The owners, however, were paid for slaves so executed, thirty pounds for males and twenty pounds for females. This was to prevent owners, to avoid the loss of what they esteemed to be their prop- erty, from being under the temptation of scereting slaves who had committed crimes. The fund for in- demnifying the owners of slaves was created by an assessment made by the justiees of the peace.t
The Quakers, although among the earliest to hold slaves, were not quite easy in their consciences in regard to it. The Yearly Meeting in 1696 advised Friends " not to encourage the bringing in of any more negroes," and sundry Meetings during the next twenty-five years reiterated this advice. While their action was rather in the tone of caution than of cen- sure, it ultimately had the desired effect, for the records of Woodbridge Meeting, June 17, 1738, in- form us that " it hath bin three or four years Since friends have bought of them that was Imported, and not since to their Knowlidg "; A report to the Monthly Meeting at Plainfield in August, 1774, states that within the jurisdiction of the Society only one negro " fit for freedom" remained a slave .?
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.