African Heritage
Pre-Civil War Maritime Adventure
Dutchess County Free Black Communities:Opportunities & Risks of Maritime Adventure Before the Civil War We are grateful for the ongoing support of the Dutchess County Government in its sponsorship of this program and our Virtual Event Space for Black History Month, 2024. This program is different from our regular programs in that it is more […]
Posted in: African Heritage
AfAm Burials Rhinebeck
Below: The story of Andrew Frazier, the ancestor. The only Black family with a large plot. Adjacent to and facing, but not technically within, “Colored Section E.” Below: Images and profiles.
Posted in: African Heritage, For everyone, Towns
Guide to the Study of Local Black History
Starting Places People Places Things Words from the past Newer Perspectives Other Starting Points The Walter M. Patrice Collection focuses largely on the history of the Smith AME Zion Church in Poughkeepsie, which through Mr. Patrice’s efforts was listed on the national historic register. Although unable to part with the photo album, Mr. Patrice allowed […]
Posted in: African Heritage, For everyone
NYS Abolition
“What to the slave is the 4th of July?” At the heart of Frederick Douglass’s 1852 pointed question was the unmistakable irony that the United States was founded on the 1776 premise that all are created equal. When Alexander Hamilton successfully led New York’s US Constitutional Convention in Poughkeepsie in 1788 to endorse joining […]
Posted in: African Heritage, For everyone
Bill of Sale Four Persons
DCHS Collections: Documents of Enslavement Two adult men, and adult woman, and a young boy are sold in 1775.
Posted in: African Heritage
Slavery: Record of Self-Purchase
DCHS Collections: Documents of Enslavement Bartholome Noxon, Jr., records payments by his “negro boy Cezar” who literally purchases his own freedom.
Posted in: African Heritage
Manumission Approval
DCHS Collections: Documents of Enslavement In this document we see the certification by the overseers of the poor of the Town of Washington (Stephen Thorn and Thomas Howard), permitting Isaac Smith to manumit an enslaved woman named Dinah.They certify that she is under the age of 45, and in such a condition that she will […]
Posted in: African Heritage, For everyone
Slavery: Bill of Sale
DCHS Collections Documents of Enslavement A woman named Rachel is “sold” to Christian Tobias on February 4, 1771 Know all men by these presents that I [Mical?/Michael] Obberocker of Beekman Precinct in Dutchess County do for the consideration of the sum of 65 pounds good and lawful money of New York to one in hand […]
Posted in: 18th Century, African Heritage, For everyone
Expressions
The words of Frederick Douglass as spoken at College Hill on Emancipation Day, 1858, in contemporary expression. Performed under the auspices of Celebrating the African Spirit in recognition of Poughkeepsie’s 2022 Frederick Douglass Day. For best viewing click “Watch on Youtube.” Research & images provided by the Dutchess County Historical Society, Bill Jeffway, Executive Director. […]
Posted in: African Heritage, For everyone, Poughkeepsie
African American Burial Grounds: Red Hook
The map below (drawn 2012 based on 1849 map courtesy of Historic Red Hook) shows a 1/3rd acre plot with a road to the south and a mill pond to the north. The adjacent landowners are Schultz and Elisha Fingar. I believe due to a change in the road, and an expansion of the mill […]
Posted in: African Heritage, For everyone