By Henry M. Holden           

Slavery in New Jersey began in the early 1600s when Dutch colonists brought enslaved persons to the region. They became part of the colony of New Netherland, to provide labor for settlements and agriculture.

After the English took control in 1664, they continued importing enslaved people, as well as “seasoned” slaves from the West Indies and enslaved Native Americans from the Carolinas.

Early settlers often arrived as indentured servants and were taken advantage of. Indentured labor was a form of contract labor in which laborers enter into an official agreement with their employer. Indentured labor is today associated with the era of European colonization, beginning about 1500 and extending into the 20th century, though forms of indentured labor still exist. Its conditions were often severe enough to resemble slavery, even if local laws may have differentiated between slavery and indentured servants.

But as European labor became less available, the reliance on enslaved people increased. The Concessions and Agreements of 1664 incentivized slavery by granting land to settlers based on the number of enslaved people they brought, allowing large farms to develop.

In the 1650s the land that became the ‘Quaker colonies’ of New Jersey and Pennsylvania was a vast tract of land sparsely populated indigenous land, about 170 miles from north to south. It completely separated the northern colonies of New England and New Netherlands (later New York), and the southern colonies of Virginia and Maryland. The Dutch claimed it as part of New Netherlands, but there were only a few settlers, near the southern boundary, along Delaware Bay.

The only way to travel overland between north and south was the Native trail (later the Burlington path) through the forest.  The earliest Quakers to pass this way were Josiah Cole from Gloucester, and Thomas Thurston, in 1658. Far from being threatened, as they might have feared, they were frequently fed, sheltered and guided by the Susquehanna Natives whose home it was.

Quakers held important roles in both Jerseys. Samuel Jennings, of High Wycombe, a friend of William Penn, became the first governor of West Jersey. Robert Barclay, a Scottish Quaker theologian, served as the first governor of East Jersey. Although he governed from afar, his appointment encouraged many Scottish Quakers to immigrate.

In 1664 the British acquired New Netherlands, renaming it New York, after the Duke of York, the new proprietor. He was short of funds, so he sold the future New Jersey to wealthy aristocrats. One of them came from the Channel Island of Jersey, hence the name. Many other missionaries also walked the trail.    

 The two provinces were united as New Jersey in 1687, and in 1702 the colony shifted from private proprietorship to royal control. This made the Church of England the official religion, but religious tolerance remained strong, and Quakers continued to serve as governors.

Enslaved people were common in the Quaker colonies, and in other parts of the country. and  Quakers accepted it if enslaved people were “well “treated.”

After the English took control in 1664, they continued importing Africans, as well as “seasoned” slaves from the West Indies and enslaved Native Americans from the Carolinas .

Bondage of enslaved people and Native Americans were so numerous in New Jersey, it was deemed acceptable by many Quakers, if  the Native population was well treated. Both they and the Natives were thought of as inferior, and John Woolman, a Quaker delivered a passionate message was that they should be seen and treated as equals.

That did not slow down or eliminate the problem. Many knew that cotton and other imports were essential to  maintaining economic status. There was a strong party among the Quakers who opposed the issue for years and laws were created and  passed  restricting their import and a hefty tax was placed on each imported person.

After a tine, the number of enslaved males became so numerous that laws were passed restricting their importation into the country, deeply shaping the colonies and state’s economy, society, and legal system.

Early settlers often arrived as indentured servants, but as European labor became less available, the reliance on enslaved increased .

Slavery was formally outlawed and eliminated (on paper) in 1863, with the Emancipation  Proclamation.

In 1758, parts of New Jersey Quakers began serious work to achieve this. By 1783 there were fewer Quakers involved in slavery.

When John Fox arrived home in 1673, he stayed in Rickmansworth, with Gulielma and William Penn, and told them about his journey. Penn and Fox began to realize that this tract of land could become the Quaker homeland of their dreams. There they could put their vision freely into practice and show its strength to the world. Penn’s connections could make this possible.

A financial opportunity came the following year. Jersey had been divided into East and West, and the owner of West Jersey was short of funds. Penn helped facilitate its sale to two Quakers, John Fenwick (a neighbor of Penn’s) and Edward Byllynge. Penn and others drew up a constitution, enshrining religious and political freedoms, and spread the word about the opportunity to buy plots of land and settle there.

In 1675 Fenwick sailed with a group of Quakers in the Griffin and founded Salem district. In 1677 Kent brought 230 Quakers, who settled in Burlington. All of them reimbursed the Natives for their land and fostered good relations with them.

Other ships followed and by 1681 some 1,400 had settled. In February 1681 an opportunity came to purchase East Jersey. Penn was equally active in arranging this, despite being immersed in parallel negotiations for acquiring Pennsylvania.  Many Quakers came to settle, joining the other settlers already there, but the East was never predominantly Quaker, unlike the West. Quakers were prominent in the public life of both the Jerseys. The first governor of West Jersey was Quaker Samuel Jennings.

When Fox returned to England in 1673, he stayed with Gulielma and William Penn and told them about his journey. Fox and Penn began to imagine that this large, unsettled region could become the Quaker homeland they had long hoped for place where they could freely put their beliefs into practice and demonstrate their vision to the world. Penn’s connections made this dream possible.

In 1672, after the first Quaker yearly meeting in Maryland, he, George Fox, and others, followed it north, heading for Rhode Island.  Like others before them, they experienced Native hospitality. By then there was a small group of Quakers in the north, exiles from Puritan Massachusetts, and they made the travelers welcome too.

In February 1681, the chance arose to purchase East Jersey. Penn played a major role in this transaction too, even while negotiating for Pennsylvania. Many Quakers moved to East Jersey, joining earlier settlers, although the eastern region never became predominantly Quaker as the western half did.

The American Civil War (4-12-61) ended on  April 9, -1865 with the defeat of the Confederacy. While it was a victory for the Union several Southern States were reluctant to join in the victory.

Even after the Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth in 1865, New Jersey retained enslaved individuals until January 23, 1866, when a State Constitutional Amendment ended slavery.

During the American Revolution, enslaved people fought on both sides. Patriots banned the importation of new slaves after 1776, while the British promised freedom to those who joined their forces  New Jersey initially resisted emancipation to rebuild its economy, and in 1790, the state still had over 11,000 enslaved people.

Early settlers often arrived as indentured servants, but as European labor became less available, reliance on the enslaved increased .

During the American Revolution, enslaved people fought on both sides. Patriots banned the importation of new slaves after 1776, while the British promised freedom to those who joined their forces. Notable figures like Colonel Tye, an African-descended slave, became prominent guerrilla leaders opposing Patriot forces post-war.

Even after the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863) and Juneteenth (in 1865,) New Jersey retained enslaved individuals until January 23, 1866, when a State constitutional amendment ended slavery.

Preceding that move was the creation New Jersey began gradual abolition in the late 18th century, led by Quakers and abolitionist societies. Laws allowed manumission at birth (the act of freeing slaves by their owners) and restricted the importation of slaves, but some public slave sales continued into the early 19th century. 

Soon after the Civil  War guns went quiet in 1863, Congress passed three Constitutional  Amendments that prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, with a key exception allowing it as punishment for a crime of which a person has been duly convicted.

The Emancipation Proclamation( January 1, 1863) and Juneteenth June 19, 1866  (National Independence Day) became a Federal holiday in the United States (June 17, 2021). It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

June 19, 1865, is the day Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas. The day was necessary since it was more than two years since the rest of the States had signed up because the Civil War ended.  

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except punishment for a convicted crime and empowered Congress to enforcement. The 13th Amendment was one of the three Federal  amendments that dealt with slavery and involuntary servitude.

The 14th Amendment state’s, “No state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction equal protection of the laws.

And the 15th Amendment ratified(Feb. 3, 1870.“Prohibits the federal government  or any state from denying or abridgement a  citizen’s right to vote on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude.

The purpose of these amendments was to mend the damage done to the country by slavery and the Civil War.