Clara Harris (b. 1812)

Name

Clara Harris (b. 1812)

Identifier

NJS-PER-00010

Given Name

Clara

Family Name

Harris

Birth Date

September 14, 1812

Sex

Female

Description

Clara was a woman of African descent who was born in New Brunswick, NJ, on September 14, 1812, to parents Ambo and Mark Harris Sr. Clara's parents were both enslaved at the time of Clara's birth, but Ambo would eventually become free when enslaver John Neilson manumitted her.

Clara's birth was reported to the Middlesex County Clerk by enslaver John Neilson, who was the legal owner of her mother Ambo. Under New Jersey's gradual abolition law, Clara was considered a "slave for a term" of 21 years, and she was bound to serve John Neilson and his heirs until the year 1833 when she would become eligible for emancipation.

Clara was the oldest of Ambo and Mark Harris Sr.'s four children. Her younger siblings were Ann, Eliza, and Mark Jr.

Sibling of

Eliza Harris (b. 1816)

Mark Harris Jr. (b. 1818)

Ann Harris (b. 1814)

Source Resource

https://records.njslavery.org/api/items/1227

Source Site

https://records.njslavery.org/s/doc/page/home

Enslaver

John Neilson (1745-1833)

Child of

Mark Harris Sr. (b. 1791)

Ambo Harris

Contributor

Jesse Bayker