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SLAVERY & ABOLITION
LOTS 1-121
1
●
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) TAPPAN, BEINEKE, ET AL, NEW YORK
MAGISTRATES.
“Whereas a Negro Man of Capt. Albert Pawling, being accused
of fellony of burning of the Barn and Barrels, several sheys, oats, pease. . . was
apprehended and appeared about two o’clock in the morning. Which Negro
man upon examination, sayeth. . .”
Three long folio leaves, written on rectos only and
docketed on one of the versos; creases where folded; paper lightly and evenly toned; the
last leaf with the names of the jurors with twelve seals to the left of them, contemporary
paper covering and protecting them.
Kingston, Ney: 28 and 29 August 1730
[6,000/9,000]
TRIAL
,
SENTENCING AND EXECUTION OF A NEGRO MAN NAMED JACK TO BE BURNED AT
THE STAKE
,
HIS ASHES SCATTERED
.
A rare colonial New York document chronicling the arrest,
interrogation and sentencing of “a Negro man of Captain Albert Pawling, called Jack, for the crime of
burning of Richard Brodhead’s barn and its contents.” The crime is described in detail, but the reason
for the crime is not. Jack confessed to twice trying to burn Richard Brodhead’s barn down. The first
time, “He went into the Cook Room of Richard Brodhead and fetched fire and tried to set the barn
afire but he missed . . . so the second time he went to Daniel Brodhead’s house and took a brand end
of fire there and then he set the barn in fire.” This document sets forth the names of a group of seven
freeholder magistrates, the names of which are familiar old New York Dutch: Christopher Tappen,
Willem Ten Brock, Egbert Beineke, Johannes Jansen, Timothy Low, Louis Du Bois, and Gerard van
Wagenen. The last leaf, dated the 29th August (the day of execution) bears the signatures of a jury of
twelve, includes several of the aforementioned magistrates.