Description: RARE 1792 Slave Document with named slaves New York Slaveowner Thomas Jansen “my Negro Wench named Janna” etc. This is the earliest US slave document I have ever offered! It is extremely rare to find a slave document this old, and extremely rare to find a New York slave document. This is the last will and testament of Thomas Jansen (1735 – 1806) of the town of Shawangunk, county of Ulster, state of New York, in which he describes the distribution of various named slaves to his children. His home, the Thomas Jansen's House (Dwaarkill Manor) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . He used the term “wench” twice to describe women slaves. Some of the entries in the will include: To his daughter Esther, he bequeathed "...a Negroe Girl now living with her Lilly, together with all the Children begot by the Wench Izabel deceas'd..." To his daughter Rachel he bequeathed "...my Negro Wench named Janna now living with the said Isaac Freer". To his son Cornelius he bequeathed "the two Negro Girls named Peg and Rose, and the Negro boy named Frank at present living with him." Of the Northern states, New York was next to last in abolishing slavery. (New Jersey was last.) The importation of enslaved Africans to what became New York began as part of the Dutch slave trade. The Dutch West India Company imported eleven African slaves to New Amsterdam in 1626, with the first slave auction held in New Amsterdam in 1655.After the American Revolution, the New York Manumission Society was founded in 1785 to work for the abolition of slavery and to aid free blacks. The state passed a 1799 law for gradual abolition, a law which freed no living slave. After that date, children born to slave mothers were required to work for the mother's master as indentured servants until age 28 (men) and 25 (women). The last slaves were freed of this obligation on July 4, 1827 (28 years after 1799). African Americans celebrated with a parade. (Source: Wikipedia) The document measures approximately 12.75” by 15.75” and is protected in a thick clear plastic holder, which has lines written on it (the holder, not the document) underlining references to the slaves. The document is also signed by three witnesses: Jacob Smedes who was in the Fourth Regiment of the Ulster County Militia (Land Bounty Rights)John BadeherJohs. [Johannes] Bruyn (February 21, 1750 – February 10, 1814) was an American politician from Ulster County, New York. He was a member of the New York State Senate and State Assembly as a Democratic-Republican. For a long time he was a judge of Ulster County and "enjoyed the esteem and confidence of the community; was a man of sound judgment, sterling integrity, and unwavering in his principles." (Source: Wikipedia) A portion of the document is torn out, which is believed to be the portion that had Jansen’s signature, along with a very small tear from the tear-out into the document at the word “in” after the word “Testament” near the end of the document. There are several folds and some weakness at folds, along with some toning. Buy now before someone else does.
Price: 899.99 USD
Location: Concord, California
End Time: 2024-11-30T06:02:47.000Z
Shipping Cost: 6.99 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Time Period Manufactured: Pre-1800
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
