Sale of Slave Tom in New Jersey

 

The only Northern State to outlast New York in preserving African slavery was New Jersey, holding onto this labor system until 1865.  New York in the early 1700s was increasingly dependent upon the slave trade and suffered great mortality in imported slaves – so much so that New York was referred to  a “a death factory for black people” (Slavery in New York, Berlin/Harris, 2005, pg. 12)

Bernhard Thuersam, Chairman

North Carolina War Between the States Sesquicentennial Commission

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Sale of Slave Tom in New Jersey

“Know all men by these presents, that I, Enoch Williams, of the township of Newark, in the County of Essex, and State of New Jersey, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and eighty dollars paid, or secured to be paid by Phineas Crane of the Town, County and State of the aforesaid, unto the said Enoch Williams, for which payment I have given, granted, bargained and sold unto the said Phineas Crane, my Negro man named Tom;

[T]o have and to hold the said Negro man unto the said Phineas Crane, for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns; and doth warrant, secure, and forever defend the sale of said Negro man named Tom unto the said Phineas Crane, his heirs and assigns forever.  

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine.  Enoch Williams

Sealed and delivered in the presence of: Elizabeth Crane[and] Polly Williams.”

(History of Montclair Township, State of New Jersey, Illustrated, Henry Whittemore, Suburban Publishing Company, 1894, page 32)