Rev. Joseph Clark D.D. was born near Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), New Jersey, in 1751. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), class of 1781, and became a Presbyterian minister. He briefly taught at the Latin school at Freehold in Monmouth County and then went to pastor a church in Allentown, New Jersey.
He served as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick, NJ, from 1797 to 1813. In this role, he performed numerous marriage rites for enslaved and free people of African descent in New Brunswick. The records of these marriages have been preserved by the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia and can be found in the following collection: Records of the First and Second Presbyterian Churches, New Brunswick, New Jersey (Call number: 07 0525); Volume 14: Church register, 1790–1867, including baptisms and marriages, 1797–1869; Subsection: Record of Marriages and Baptisms kept by Rev. Joseph Clark D.D. Pastor from January 1, 1797 to October 18, 1813 (pp. 218–226).
Middlesex County records show that Rev. Clark was an enslaver and held people in bondage while he lived in New Brunswick. After his death, executors John Neilson and John Pool sold two Black women on behalf of Clark's estate.
Joseph Warren Scott was the son of Dr. Moses Scott and Anna Johnson Scott. He was a lawyer in New Brunswick, NJ.
He was one of the administrators of the estate of Alpheus Freeman of New Brunswick and, in this capacity, was responsible for selling an enslaved black woman after Freeman's death in 1813.
Lambert was the son of Bell, an enslaved woman in the household of William Livingston (New Jersey's first governor after the Revolution and namesake of Livingston College at Rutgers University). He was most likely born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where William Livingston resided since 1772. Lambert gained freedom in October 1787 when William Livingston manumitted him together with his mother Bell. His age at the time of manumission was not recorded, but the manumission document described him as a "male child" who was "born in a state of slavery."
Margaret was a Black woman born around 1795. She was enslaved by Peter Vredenburgh (1745-1823), a prominent merchant and politician from New Brunswick, NJ. Vredenburgh wrote in his will that he wished Margaret to be manumitted after his death and receive $25 (paid out in five annual installments of $5 each) from his estate. Margaret was manumitted on September 12, 1823, by the executors of the will of Peter Vredenburgh. She was aged 28 at the time of manumission.
Margaret Clark née Imlay (1756-1814) was the wife of the Rev. Joseph Clark, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick from 1797 until his death in 1813. The Clarks enslaved several Black persons in their household in New Brunswick.
Mark Harris Jr. was a man of African descent who was born in New Brunswick, NJ, on July 27, 1818, to parents Ambo and Mark Harris Sr. Mark's parents were both enslaved at the time of his birth, but Ambo would eventually become free when enslaver John Neilson manumitted her. Mark was the youngest child of Ambo and Mark Harris Sr., and his older sisters were Clara, Ann, and Eliza.
Mark's birth was reported to the Middlesex County Clerk by enslaver John Neilson, who was the legal owner of his mother Ambo. Under New Jersey's gradual abolition law, Mark was considered a "slave for a term" of 25 years, and he was bound to serve John Neilson and his heirs until July 27, 1843, when he would become eligible for emancipation.
Upon John Neilson's death in 1833, John Neilson's son and heir James Neilson inherited a large portion of the Neilson estate and became Mark's legal owner. In 1833, James Neilson moved into his newly-constructed home, called the Wood Lawn mansion (now part of Rutgers University's campus), and 15-year-old Mark probably came to live and work at Wood Lawn at this time. In December 1838, when Mark was 20 years old, James Neilson sold Mark to Abraham Veghtes for the remainder of Mark's term of servitude, which was 4-years and 7-months. Upon the completion of 4 years and 7 months of service to Abraham Veghtes, Mark was to become free in July 1843.
What became of Mark in the 1840s is uncertain, but it is appears that he became a sailor some time after he attained freedom in 1843. A record on file in the port of New York indicates that a man named Mark Harris obtained a Seaman's Protection Certificate on February 14, 1848; his place of birth was listed as New Brunswick, NJ, his complexion was described as "yellow," and his age was listed as 26. Mark Harris Jr. would actually be 29 years old at this time. Discrepancies in recording ages were commonplace in this era, so despite the fact that the age does not perfectly match Mark Harris Jr.'s birthdate, it is likely that this Seaman's Protection Certificate belonged to him.
Mark Harris Sr. was a man of African descent born circa 1791 and a founding member of the African Association of New Brunswick.
Mark was married to an enslaved woman named Ambo on September 8, 1811, and they went on to have four children: Clara, Ann, Eliza, and Mark Jr. During the early part of their marriage, they most likely lived apart because Mark was enslaved by Benjamin Taylor, while Ambo was enslaved by John Neilson.
In 1816, James Neilson (the son of Ambo’s enslaver John Neilson) purchased Mark from Benjamin Taylor, and the Harris family was unified in the Neilson household. The bill of sale from October 15, 1816, described Mark as a "mulatto slave." As part of the slave sale contract, James Neilson promised to manumit Mark "at the expiration of five years from the date 12 March 1816." The mention of the 5-year term suggests that Mark probably entered into a 5-year agreement with Benjamin Taylor and was promised his freedom before he was sold to James Neilson. The 5-year term would expire on March 12, 1821. Whether Neilson made good on his promise is unknown as manumission papers for Mark have not been found to date.
In January 1817, James Neilson gave Mark permission to join the African Association of New Brunswick. Mark's name appears in the organization's membership records from 1817 to 1821, sometimes written as "Mark Harris" and sometimes "Mark Harress." Notably, Mark consistently paid semiannual membership dues of 50 cents, the customary rate for free persons of color who were members of the organization (enslaved members usually paid the discounted rate of 25 cents).
Miller was an enslaved man who lived in New Jersey in the early 19th century and was manumitted by Abraham Schuyler Neilson of North Brunswick, NJ. The certificate of manumission was issued on May 18, 1822. Miller was aged 21 to 40 at the time of manumission.
Dr. Moses Scott was a physician associated with New Brunswick, NJ, at the turn of the 19th century. He was the Chief Surgeon of the Continental Army Hospital in Piscataway, NJ, during the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick.
He served as one of the executors of the estate of his friend, the Rev. Israel Read (pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Bound Brook) in the 1790s and sold a man named Tony for the estate.
Mr. Kelsey was an enslaver who purchased a young Black man named Jef from Mr. Mattison of Princeton, NJ, and then returned Jef to Mattison's household. This occurred sometime before 1794.
Mr. Linn was an enslaver who purchased a woman name Grace from the estate of the Rev. Joseph Clark of New Brunswick in 1814. His name is listed as "Mr. Linn" on a receipt related to Grace's sale. His first name is unknown, and his full identity has not been established.
Notably, Linn was the family name of the second president of Queen's College (now Rutgers University), William Linn (1752-1808). As William Linn died before 1808, we know that "Mr. Linn" on the sale receipt refers to someone else in his family.
Mr. Mattison was an enslaver who resided in Princeton, NJ, in the late 18th century. He was mentioned in the correspondence between Robert Finley of Princeton and Col. John Neilson of New Brunswick, who was seeking to buy an enslaved man from Mattison. His first name was not mentioned in the correspondence.
Mr. Vanhorn lived in New York City in the early 18th century, and several enslaved persons worked as domestic servants in his home, including a man named Ukawsaw Gronniosaw who went on to publish an autobiography. Gronniosaw's narrative did not mention Vanhorn's first name, but described him only as "Vanhorn, a young Gentleman." Vanhorn purchased Gronniosaw for 50 dollars from a slave trading ship in Barbados and brought him to New York City. Not long after this, he sold Gronniosaw for 50 pounds to the Rev. Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen of New Jersey.
Nancy (or Nanny) was a woman of African descent who was enslaved by James Parker Sr. and his wife Gertrude Parker, at the turn of the 19th century. By 1808, her enslaver was recorded as James Parker Jr., the son and heir of James Parker Sr. She resided in Perth Amboy, most likely living with the Parkers in their mansion that was known as "The Castle." Nancy also may have worked and resided for a while in Middletown Point (present-day Matawan), Monmouth County. Her son James was born at Middletown Point in 1810. Her older children Phebe-Gertruda (b. 1805) and Joseph (b. 1808) were born in Perth Amboy.
The births of her three children were recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk. Her name appears in Middlesex County birth records as "Nancy" in 1805 and "Nanny" in 1808 and 1810. Records under "Nancy" and "Nanny" have been linked together with the assumption that this is the same person.
Nicholas was an enslaved man who lived in New Jersey in the early 19th century and was manumitted by Robert Morris Boggs of North Brunswick, NJ. The certificate of manumission was issued on May 4, 1825. The deed of manumission was executed on May 3, 1825. Nicholas was aged 21 to 40 at the time of manumission.
Patty was a Black woman, born around 1775. She was enslaved by the Reverend John Croes, the rector of Christ Church in New Brunswick (who would go on to become the first Episcopal Bishop of New Jersey). On April 22, 1814, Croes manumitted Patty and released her from slavery. By this time, Patty was 39 years old and had spent decades toiling uncompensated in the Croes household.
Peter was born in 1812, the child of Hannah (enslaved by Abraham Blauvett 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.
Petrus Benedict Van Vredenburgh Jr. (1745-1823) was an enslaver who resided in New Brunswick, NJ. He was named after his father and then eventually Anglicized his name to Peter Vredenburgh, and historical records may use both versions of the name to refer to him. He was the last in the family to use the Dutch name.
He was the son of Petrus Benedict Van Vredenburgh (1721-1810) and Margaret (or Margrita) Schureman (1726-1745), who died shortly after Petrus was born; he was raised by his father's second wife Elizabeth Fisher after his mother's death.
He was a civic leader in New Brunswick and served for decades as the Treasurer of Middlesex County. He was also a Trustee of Queen's College (later Rutgers University) from 1784 until his death in 1823, following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a trustee of the college. He married a cousin named Margaret (or Margrita) Schureman (1752-1786) (not to be confused with his mother of the same name) and then, after her death, his second wife was Ann Van Voorhees.
He mentioned two enslaved persons in his will, Tom and Margaret, whom he wished to manumit. He made Peter Vrendenburgh (his son) and James Schureman (the brother of his first wife and his son Peter's uncle) the executors of his will.
Peter Vrendenburgh was the son of Petrus Benedict Van Vredenburgh Jr. (1745-1823) and Margaret Schureman (1752-1786). He was born in New Brunswick, Middlesex County, and became a prominent physician in Somerville, Somerset County.
He was one of the executors of his father's will and, in that capacity, carried out his father's wishes to manumit two enslaved persons named Tom and Margaret.
Phebe-Gertruda was born in 1805, the daughter of Nancy. Phebe-Gertruda and her mother were held in bondage by Gertrude Parker, the widow and executrix of the estate of James Parker Sr. (1725-1797) of Perth Amboy, NJ. Under the provisions of New Jersey's Gradual Abolition Act of 1804, Phebe-Gertruda was considered a slave for a term of 21 years and would become eligible for emancipation upon reaching that age.
Philip Livingston (1716-1778) was a charter trustee of Queen's College and a slave trader. He came from a wealthy landowning family in upstate New York and moved to New York City to operate the family's mercantile business, which was started by his father Philip Livingston (1686-1749). He invested heavily in slave-trading voyages to Africa and owned several plantations in the Caribbean as part of a vast international mercantile operation that revolved around the exploitation of Africans. These activities made him one of the richest men in 18th-century New York.
A signer of the Declaration of Independence, he held a variety of government roles representing the state of New York, including member of the Provincial Assembly (1759-1769), and state senator in 1777. He married Christina Ten Broeck in 1740. They had nine children, of whom daughter Sarah (1752-1814) would marry her cousin and future Queen's College President, the Rev. John Henry Livingston, in 1775.
Phill was enslaved by James Neilson of New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the mid-18th century. While she was enslaved by Neilson, she worked for a time for Samuel Hallett of Hallett's Cove (in present-day Queens, New York). She ran away from Hallett's Cove in 1763, prompting James Neilson to publish a runaway notice offering a reward of twenty shillings for Phill's capture and return.
