23
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(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION—
NEW YORK.) “Personally appeared
before me the Subscriber . . . David Cock,
a black man.
Manuscript document a
“Recognizance Bond” for siring a
bastard child.
Small 4to, 8
1
⁄
4
x 8 inches,
docketed on the reverse. Signed by the
Justice, Solomon Wooden.
Queens County, New York, 1807
[400/600]
An interesting legal document. Cock is accused
of having gotten Esther, a black woman preg-
nant. The resulting male child, a “bastard”
became the responsibility of the State of New
York. This burden on the state was estimated
at $200.00, a considerable sum and probably
inflated at that in 1808. David Cock’s brother
Moses also appeared with him, and both made
a promise to pay the money back to the state
by the month of June, some six months later or
forfeit all of their goods and chattel.
24
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(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION—
NEW YORK STATE.)
A Book to
Record the Age of Children that are
born of Slaves for the Year 1806, For
the Town of Farmington.
Sewn small
8vo quire of 16 manuscript pages, written
on 8 pages, titled on the first page.
Farmington, New York, 1806
[1,500/2,500]
This little book was apparently kept by three
town clerks, Peter McLouth, Joshua Vanstert
and Peter Mitchell, and begun in 1806. It is
clear from the entries that records were kept
until 1818. A typical entry: “Tilman Jacobs
was born May 25th 1807. John Shekell
Senior. Recorded December 28th 1807. Peter
McLouth” or “Susanah Riley, female child was
born April 16th, 1809 Farmington. John
Shekell. Apparently Shekel was the owner, or
perhaps the father as well. This is not clear.
Thelast entry in the book reads: “Jpohn
Pierson, a Black child was born in my
familyApril 7, 1818. You will record the
above, Rebecca Orme. Recorded 7th July
1818, Peter Mitchell, clerk.” A good genealog-
ical resource.
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