Vital records documenting people who were enslaved, 1760-1828, bulk: 1799-1828
Scope and Contents
This subgroup describes vital records in the New York City Municipal Archives’ (NYCMA) holdings that document people from Africa or of African descent who were enslaved in localities that are now part of modern-day New York City. Due to the reason municipalities created these records, generally because of a new state law requiring the manumission of enslaved people under certain rules and directives, these vital records and manumissions were recorded in ledgers kept by the town or city clerk. More often than not, these ledgers were also used to record other town concerns such as town meeting minutes, court minutes, and property titles.
The records in this subgroup are located in the Old Town records (MSS0004). They are noted in this collection, REC0051 New York City historical vital records, to assist researchers in locating such records, as well as to recognize that although these records were not considered vital records at the time they were created, they are recognized as such today and should therefore be described along with the other historical vital records stewarded by the NYCMA.
The vital records documenting people who were enslaved include birth records, manumission records, apprenticeships, and indentures. Most of the records are from towns that were located in Kings County, New York prior to their dissolvement, annexation, or consolidation into the City of New York. These towns include the Town of Brooklyn, Town of Bushwick, Town of Flatbush, Town of Flatlands, Town of Gravesend, and the Town of New Utrecht. There are also records created at the county-level and birth and manumission records from the Town of Westchester, Westchester County prior to its annexation into New York County/City of New York in 1895.
The birth records are for children who were born after July 4, 1799 to mothers who were still enslaved, but would be emancipated according to the Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery passed by the New York State Legislature on March 29, 1799. After this law went into effect, town and city clerks in New York State were mandated to keep records of births of children born to women who were enslaved. Information recorded in the birth records generally include the name of the child, their date of birth, mention of the mother (often providing her first name), and the name of the enslaver.
The manumission, apprenticeship, and indenture records correspond to two New York State laws regarding gradual manumission of enslaved people in the state—the Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery of 1799 (for children born to enslaved mothers after July 4, 1799) and the Act Relative to Slaves and Servants of 1817 that further solidified gradual manumission for enslaved people born before July 4, 1799. Both laws were antecedents to the 1827 law abolishing slavery in the State of New York. When a person was manumitted, there were often stipulations such as a payment to the enslaver and/or an indenture or apprenticeship which required the person to continue working for the enslaver for a specific amount of time, generally until the person turned a certain age. These records can include the following information: event date, event location, name, birth date, age, gender, [skin complexion] color, amount of pay (if any), length of servitude/service, father and mother’s given name, and name of enslaver/employer.
The records in this subgroup are located in the Old Town records (MSS0004). They are noted in this collection, REC0051 New York City historical vital records, to assist researchers in locating such records, as well as to recognize that although these records were not considered vital records at the time they were created, they are recognized as such today and should therefore be described along with the other historical vital records stewarded by the NYCMA.
The vital records documenting people who were enslaved include birth records, manumission records, apprenticeships, and indentures. Most of the records are from towns that were located in Kings County, New York prior to their dissolvement, annexation, or consolidation into the City of New York. These towns include the Town of Brooklyn, Town of Bushwick, Town of Flatbush, Town of Flatlands, Town of Gravesend, and the Town of New Utrecht. There are also records created at the county-level and birth and manumission records from the Town of Westchester, Westchester County prior to its annexation into New York County/City of New York in 1895.
The birth records are for children who were born after July 4, 1799 to mothers who were still enslaved, but would be emancipated according to the Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery passed by the New York State Legislature on March 29, 1799. After this law went into effect, town and city clerks in New York State were mandated to keep records of births of children born to women who were enslaved. Information recorded in the birth records generally include the name of the child, their date of birth, mention of the mother (often providing her first name), and the name of the enslaver.
The manumission, apprenticeship, and indenture records correspond to two New York State laws regarding gradual manumission of enslaved people in the state—the Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery of 1799 (for children born to enslaved mothers after July 4, 1799) and the Act Relative to Slaves and Servants of 1817 that further solidified gradual manumission for enslaved people born before July 4, 1799. Both laws were antecedents to the 1827 law abolishing slavery in the State of New York. When a person was manumitted, there were often stipulations such as a payment to the enslaver and/or an indenture or apprenticeship which required the person to continue working for the enslaver for a specific amount of time, generally until the person turned a certain age. These records can include the following information: event date, event location, name, birth date, age, gender, [skin complexion] color, amount of pay (if any), length of servitude/service, father and mother’s given name, and name of enslaver/employer.
Extent
0 cubic feet
Dates
1760-1828, bulk 1799-1828
Creators
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Patrons are required to use digitized or microfilmed copies of original materials for those items for which it is available. Digitized birth and death certificates and marriage certificates and licenses can be accessed on the New York City Historical Vital Records website. Certified copies of historical birth, marriage, and death certificates can be purchased online.
See the individual series and subseries note for specific access information. Advance notice is required for using original material. Please contact us for more information or to make a research appointment.
See the individual series and subseries note for specific access information. Advance notice is required for using original material. Please contact us for more information or to make a research appointment.