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DCHS Collections: Documents of Enslavement Bartholome Noxon, Jr., records payments by his “negro boy Cezar” who literally purchases his own freedom.

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 not become an economic burden to the town. This step was required of anyone wishing to manumit an enslaved man, woman, or child. DCHS Collections.

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 paid by Christian Tobias of Charlotte Precinct in said County, have bargained, sold [  ] and delivered one certain Negro woman named Rachel for term of life to have and to hold to the proper use benefit and [   ]  of him the said Christian Tobias his heirs executors and assigns… February 4, 1771 Signed in the presence of Bartholomew Noxon, Jr. and Thomas Tobias.

Remembering World War One Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, DCHS published two consecutive Yearbooks on the topic, and launched a traveling exhibition that visited every city and town in the county, at least once. You are invited see the exhibition here. The exhibit launched at the FDR Library’s Wallace Welcome Center and then traveled to municipal buildings, libraries, and outdoor events reaching every city and town in the county at least once. Click any image below for best viewing Below, click on any image once, then again, for best viewing.

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. Expressions was created, produced and directed by Talent Davis. ©Talent Davis 2022

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 pond to the south, the former cemetery is under water on Mill Road.

One of the few African American burial grounds mentioned in Poucher & Reynolds Old Gravestones of Dutchess County in 1924.

Given the negligence in keeping records of the burial of persons of color historically, we often rely on other than an ideal primary source such as a cemetery burial record. In this situation we rely on an 1870 Poughkeepsie newspaper account that quotes an older resident as saying, upon discovery of multiple coffins and human remains while digging at the equivalent of what is today 204 Main Street (between Washington & Vassar Street, south side), that this was a “Negro burial ground” created by a slave owner “near the vicinity” between 1800 and 1810. Above: click to enlarge.

The Walter M. Patrice online library is a living, growing resource. Please encourage further work in studies of the local men, women and children of African descent.