1972.05.10 _ In 1790, 300 Yorktown families owned 40 slaves
Dublin Core
Title
1972.05.10 _ In 1790, 300 Yorktown families owned 40 slaves
Creator
Herst Jr., Herman
Source
"Yorktown History Scrapbook" Binder, Volume 5 - People
Publisher
The Yorktowner
Date
1972-05-10
Contributor
Compiled by the staff of the John C. Hart Memorial Library
Rights
This item is made available for research and educational purposes by the John C. Hart Memorial Library. Rights status is not evaluated.
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
1790
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
The terrible institution of slavery, for so many years a blot on this country's espousal of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (words in our Declaration of Independence) is thought by many to have been a purely Southern manifestation.
Not so widely known is the fact that slavery existed in the Northern States as well, until well into the last century. Slavery was, of course, forever ended in the United States with the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War. In New York State, slavery ended soon after the 19th century began.
Nor is it recognized by too many that right here in Yorktown, slavery existed. The first census of the United States, taken in 1790, listed every head of family in the Town of Yorktown, all free persons, their sex, and their slaves. Even in these early days of our Republic, Yorktown was a fairly populous area, with the census showing over 300 families, owning forty slaves among them.
Largest slave-owner in Yorktown was one
Matthias Bookhout, who reported ownership of five slaves. Four slaves each were shown for Ebenezer White and Jane Conklin, while three slaves each were owned by Elijah Lee and Richardson Davenport.
Other Yorktown slave-owners, all of them with but one or two slaves each, follow: Adam Montross, Jonathan Travis, Elvyne Purdy, Peter Carman, Rev.
by Herman Herst, Jr.
Silas Constant, Elizabeth Budd, Robert Crawford, Sr., Moses Morgan, Solomon Fowler, Jane Fowler, Reuben Fowler, Gilbert Strang, Stephen Horton, Jr.,, Daniel Horton, John Montross, Sarah Hyatt, Othaniel' Sands, Phoebe Hallock.
Rev. Silas Constant was, of course, the eminent churchman, the keeper of a most extensive diary over many years which was published early in the last century, showing the growth of religion in this area. The book, long out of print, is a valuable classic in religious literature. Quite apparently, the reverend gentleman found no inconsistency between his pulpit preaching of God's love, and his personal ownership of slaves. This surely was hardly to his dis-credit, for this same inconsistency was shared by many prominent persons, including some who had signed their names to the Declaration of Independence.
The 1790 Census shows the names of many Yorktown citizens who were ancestors of many of today's prominent families. Some of these names follow. The number in parentheses following each names shows the number of free white persons living in the same household, the second number being the female members of the household, and the third; the number residing who were under the age of 16 years.
Robert Underhill (5-6-2); David Hallock (3-3-3);
Jacob Carpenter (2-4-5); Zaddock Birdsall(5-4-2);
Gilbert Ireland (1-0-1); John Outhouse (1-6-0); Will-lam Tompkins (1-2-1); Ananias Travis (1-2-0); WIl-liam Horton (3-2-1); Joel Frost (3-4-0); Rev. Silas Constant (3-4-0); Peter Odell (1-2-4); Peter Kear
(2-2-1); John Montross (3-2-3); John Hyatt (2-3-1);
Joshua Hyatt (4-5-2); William Parent (1-0-1); Joseph Strang (2-3-1); Bartholomew Wood (1-2-6); Daniel Loder (1-1-2).
Among the free persons who were not themselves house-holders, the 1790 census shows four former slaves who had obtained their freedom. Whether they had purchased their freedom, or had been given it by their masters, is not stated. In all probability, the latter course was the means; it was not unusual, at least in the North, for the wealthy to reward a lifetime of loyalty from their slaves to offer them freedom on the death of the master.
Yorktown's four freedmen are listed only by their
Christian names, since it was not yet customary for slaves to have. surnames. The census shows them merely as Jacob, Ocho, Michael and Santee. Jacob and Ocho each possessed large families, with each one responsible for the support of seven other freed persons. Michael is shown with but one other freedman,
Santee with two.
Not so widely known is the fact that slavery existed in the Northern States as well, until well into the last century. Slavery was, of course, forever ended in the United States with the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War. In New York State, slavery ended soon after the 19th century began.
Nor is it recognized by too many that right here in Yorktown, slavery existed. The first census of the United States, taken in 1790, listed every head of family in the Town of Yorktown, all free persons, their sex, and their slaves. Even in these early days of our Republic, Yorktown was a fairly populous area, with the census showing over 300 families, owning forty slaves among them.
Largest slave-owner in Yorktown was one
Matthias Bookhout, who reported ownership of five slaves. Four slaves each were shown for Ebenezer White and Jane Conklin, while three slaves each were owned by Elijah Lee and Richardson Davenport.
Other Yorktown slave-owners, all of them with but one or two slaves each, follow: Adam Montross, Jonathan Travis, Elvyne Purdy, Peter Carman, Rev.
by Herman Herst, Jr.
Silas Constant, Elizabeth Budd, Robert Crawford, Sr., Moses Morgan, Solomon Fowler, Jane Fowler, Reuben Fowler, Gilbert Strang, Stephen Horton, Jr.,, Daniel Horton, John Montross, Sarah Hyatt, Othaniel' Sands, Phoebe Hallock.
Rev. Silas Constant was, of course, the eminent churchman, the keeper of a most extensive diary over many years which was published early in the last century, showing the growth of religion in this area. The book, long out of print, is a valuable classic in religious literature. Quite apparently, the reverend gentleman found no inconsistency between his pulpit preaching of God's love, and his personal ownership of slaves. This surely was hardly to his dis-credit, for this same inconsistency was shared by many prominent persons, including some who had signed their names to the Declaration of Independence.
The 1790 Census shows the names of many Yorktown citizens who were ancestors of many of today's prominent families. Some of these names follow. The number in parentheses following each names shows the number of free white persons living in the same household, the second number being the female members of the household, and the third; the number residing who were under the age of 16 years.
Robert Underhill (5-6-2); David Hallock (3-3-3);
Jacob Carpenter (2-4-5); Zaddock Birdsall(5-4-2);
Gilbert Ireland (1-0-1); John Outhouse (1-6-0); Will-lam Tompkins (1-2-1); Ananias Travis (1-2-0); WIl-liam Horton (3-2-1); Joel Frost (3-4-0); Rev. Silas Constant (3-4-0); Peter Odell (1-2-4); Peter Kear
(2-2-1); John Montross (3-2-3); John Hyatt (2-3-1);
Joshua Hyatt (4-5-2); William Parent (1-0-1); Joseph Strang (2-3-1); Bartholomew Wood (1-2-6); Daniel Loder (1-1-2).
Among the free persons who were not themselves house-holders, the 1790 census shows four former slaves who had obtained their freedom. Whether they had purchased their freedom, or had been given it by their masters, is not stated. In all probability, the latter course was the means; it was not unusual, at least in the North, for the wealthy to reward a lifetime of loyalty from their slaves to offer them freedom on the death of the master.
Yorktown's four freedmen are listed only by their
Christian names, since it was not yet customary for slaves to have. surnames. The census shows them merely as Jacob, Ocho, Michael and Santee. Jacob and Ocho each possessed large families, with each one responsible for the support of seven other freed persons. Michael is shown with but one other freedman,
Santee with two.
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Collection
Citation
Herst Jr., Herman, “1972.05.10 _ In 1790, 300 Yorktown families owned 40 slaves,” John C Hart Library Archive, accessed April 29, 2024, https://hartarchive.omeka.net/items/show/386.