Mark Harris Sr. was recorded as a member of the African Association of New Brunswick who paid dues during the meeting of September 5, 1818. He paid 50 cents membership dues. His name was recorded in the association's minute book as "Mark Harres."
Slaveholder Andrew Kirkpatrick manumitted Samuel Lane on August 21, 1818. Samuel Lane was between 21 and 40 years old, but his exact age was not recorded by the county officials. Kirkpatrick noted that he manumitted Lane "especially in consideration of his services for several years to me rendered." Kirkpatrick described Lane as "negro man named Sam, but who calls himself Samuel Lane."
The Middlesex County Book of Manumissions and Removals contains two records related to Samuel Lane's manumission. The Certificate of Manumission, issued on August 21, 1818, by officials Abraham Van Arsdalen (Overseer of the Poor of the township of North Brunswick), Thomas Hance and John Gillman (two Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County), appears on page 274. The Deed of Manumission signed by Andrew Kirkpatrick on August 21, 1818, appears on pages 274-275. These documents were recorded in the book by Middlesex County Clerk William P. Deare on August 24, 1818.
Cato, aged 30, was manumitted by Abraham Van Arsdalen and William P. Deare, acting as executors for the estate of Elijah Hunt, deceased. Before his death, Elijah Hunt promised to manumit Cato in September 1819 (at the expiration of a 9-year term of service that began in September 1810).
The manumission deed, signed by the executors on December 13, 1819, states: "Elijah Hunt late of the Township of North Brunswick in the County of Middlesex New Jersey dec'd, did in his lifetime by writing under his hand & seal covenant & bind himself on the 11th Sept. 1810 to manumit and set free his Negro Slave Cato in nine years from the date thereof, which term hath now expired," and thus the executors "in pursuance of the said covenant manumit and set free the said Negro Slave Cato aged about thirty years from slavery and servitude."
The executors brought Cato to court to complete the process and obtain a certificate of manumission. The certificate of manumission was signed by the Overseer of the Poor of North Brunswick (who happened to be Abraham Van Arsdalen, one of the executors of Elijah Hunt's estate) and Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County (Thomas Hance and Nicholas Booraem Jr.) on December 13, 1819. The document stated that Cato 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 and the certificate were recorded by the Middlesex County Clerk (William P. Deare, who was also one of the executors named in the documents) on December 24, 1819.
Mark Harris Sr. was recorded as a member of the African Association of New Brunswick on January 1, 1819. He paid 50 cents membership dues. His name was recorded in the association's minute book as "Mark Harress."
Samuel Lane was recorded as a member of the African Association of New Brunswick who paid dues during the meeting of January 1, 1819. He paid 50 cents membership dues (the customary 6-month dues for free persons of color). His name was recorded in the association's minute book as "Samuel Lain."
Samuel had been previously enslaved by Andrew Kirkpatrick, but had been manumitted four months prior to this event.
Joe, an enslaved man owned by Mr. Thomas of Athens, packed cotton bales that could weigh up to 300lbs.
Partial Transcript: " The first cotton gin brought to Athens was set up by Mr. Thomas... Here all the cotton made in the neighborhood was ginned for some years; Mr. Thomas buying it in the seed from farmers and himself preparing it for market. He had a tall powerful negro named Joe, who was looked upon with some regard because he could pack a round bale weighing 300 lbs. in a day."
Phillis Nelson became a member of the African Association of New Brunswick on January 1, 1820, with the permission of enslaver John Neilson.
The following is a transcript of the permission slip written by John Neilson:
"Phillis a colored woman has my entire approbation to join the Affrican Association.
New Brunswick
1 Janry 1820
John Neilson"
The minute book for the association records Phillis as a member who paid dues during the meeting of January 1, 1820. She paid 25 cents membership dues (the customary 6-month dues for enslaved members of the organization). Her name was recorded in the minute book as "Phillis Nelson."
Phillis Neilson was recorded as a member of the African Association of New Brunswick who paid dues during the meeting of July 1, 1820. She paid 25 cents membership dues (the customary 6-month dues for enslaved members of the organization). Her name was recorded in the association's minute book as "Phillis Nelson."
Samuel Lane was recorded as a member of the African Association of New Brunswick who paid dues during the meeting of January 1, 1820. He paid 50 cents membership dues (the customary 6-month dues for free persons of color). His name was recorded in the association's minute book as "Samuel Lain." This is the last time his name appears in the organization's records. He was a member from 1817 to 1820.
At the time of this event, Samuel was a free man. He had been previously enslaved by Andrew Kirkpatrick, but was manumitted in 1818.
White enslaver L. M. George was paid by the University of Virginia for Zachariah's labor. This event is recorded in the Proctor's Daybook, October 8, 1821.
Amendments were made to the University's ordinances that include the prohibition of enslaved people entering the University on the Sabbath, except with permission of the President.
Partial Transcript: "The Committee to whom was referred the Report of the President of the University, Report the following Amendments to the Laws of the College.
2nd No Negro shall enter the College on the Sabbath of at any other time, except by the permission of the President. "
A letter from white enslaver Edmund Bacon to University Proctor Arthur S. Brockenbrough dated December 16, 1821, discusses the possibility of Isham, John, Lewis, and Wilson being allowed to return home to visit their wives during the course of the year they were to be contracted to labor at the University of Virginia. Bacon writes, “I have consented that if the men can make arrangements with you about comeing [sic] to see their wives that you may take the whole four at $70 round…”
A letter from white enslaver Edmund Bacon to University Proctor Arthur S. Brockenbrough dated December 16, 1821, discusses the possibility of John, Isham, Lewis, and Wilson being allowed to return home to visit their wives during the course of the year they were to be contracted to labor at the University of Virginia. Bacon writes, “I have consented that if the men can make arrangements with you about comeing [sic] to see their wives that you may take the whole four at $70 round…”
A letter from white enslaver Edmund Bacon to University Proctor Arthur S. Brockenbrough dated December 16, 1821, discusses the possibility of Lewis, Isham, John, and Wilson being allowed to return home to visit their wives during the course of the year they were to be contracted to labor at the University of Virginia. Bacon writes, “I have consented that if the men can make arrangements with you about comeing [sic] to see their wives that you may take the whole four at $70 round…”
A letter from white enslaver Edmund Bacon to University Proctor Arthur S. Brockenbrough dated December 16, 1821, discusses the possibility of Wilson, Isham, John, and Lewis being allowed to return home to visit their wives during the course of the year they were to be contracted to labor at the University of Virginia. Bacon writes, “I have consented that if the men can make arrangements with you about comeing [sic] to see their wives that you may take the whole four at $70 round…”
Mark Harris Sr. was recorded as a member of the African Association of New Brunswick on January 1, 1821. He paid 50 cents membership dues. Additionally, he promised to contribute 50 cents as part of an effort to raise funds for printing 500 pamphlets with Gustavus V. Caesar's address to the association.
This was the final time Mark Harris's name was recorded in the association's minute book. He was a member from 1817 to 1821.
Phillis Neilson was recorded as a member of the African Association of New Brunswick who paid dues during the meeting of January 1, 1821. She paid 25 cents membership dues (the customary 6-month dues for enslaved members of the organization). Her name was recorded in the association's minute book as "Phillis Nelson."
