Browse Items (28 total)
Marriage record for Ambo and Mark Harris
1811-09-08
Clark, Joseph
Marriage record for Mark and Ambo dated September 8, 1811. The record indicates that Mark was a black man enslaved to Captain (Benjamin) Taylor, and Ambo was a black woman enslaved to Col. John Neilson. The Rev. Joseph Clark, pastor of the First…
Map of the New Jersey College for Women (later Douglass College) showing land donated by James Neilson
1929
This 1929 map of the New Jersey College for Women (later Douglass College) shows the extent of James Neilson's land that he donated to the college.
Letter to Robert Finley regarding the sale of an enslaved man named Jef
1794-02-25
Neilson, John
Colonel John Neilson (1745-1833) writes to Robert Finley asking him about the possible purchase of an enslaved man owned by a Mr. Mattison in Princeton for the price of 90 pounds. Neilson inquires about the skills and habits of the enslaved…
Letter in reply to John Neilson regarding the sale of an enslaved man named Jef
1794-02-27
Finley, Robert
A letter detailing Robert Finley's account of speaking with Samuel Snowden and Mr. Mattison about an enslaved man named Jef. The letter mainly details Jef's personal qualities and skills, as Neilson wishes to purchase Jef but has no prior account of…
Colonel James Neilson Portrait
1940
Colonel James Neilson as a young man. Frontispiece to the 1940 book, Colonel James Neilson: A Business Man of the Early Machine Age in New Jersey, 1784-1862, by Robert Thompson.
Receipt to John Neilson for the sale of a black girl Dine
1815-04-17
Clark, Hannah
John Neilson served as an administrator for the estate of Rev. Joseph Clark after he died. This receipt shows that Neilson sold an enslaved woman named Dine to George Farmer for $75 on behalf of Clark’s estate.
George Farmer owned a large estate…
George Farmer owned a large estate…
Receipt to John Neilson for the sale of a black girl Grace
1814-08-04
Clark, Margaret
John Neilson served as an administrator for the estate of Rev. Joseph Clark after he died. This receipt shows that Neilson sold an enslaved woman named Grace to a Mr. Linn for $150 on behalf of Clark’s estate.
Manumission of Phillis by slaveholder John Neilson, original certificate
1822-01-16
North Brunswick (N.J.). Overseer of the Poor
Slaveholder John Neilson manumitted Phillis on January 16, 1822. This item is the original certificate of manumission signed by the Overseer of the Poor of the Township of North Brunswick (Abraham Van Arsdalen) and two Justices of the Peace for…
Manumission of Ambo by slaveholder John Neilson, original certificate
1822-01-16
North Brunswick (N.J.). Overseer of the Poor
Slaveholder John Neilson manumitted Ambo on January 16, 1822. This item is the original certificate of manumission signed by the Overseer of the Poor of the Township of North Brunswick (Abraham Van Arsdalen) and two Justices of the Peace for…
Bill of sale for Mark, aged 25, to James Neilson for $200
1816-10-15
Taylor, Benjamin
Benjamin Taylor sells an enslaved man named Mark to James Neilson (1784-1862) for $200 on October 15, 1816. Mark is approximately 25 years old. Neilson promises to manumit Mark on March 12, 1821.
Bill of sale for Mark for $20 until he turns 25
1838-12-16
Neilson, James
James Neilson (1784-1862) sells a black man named Mark to Abraham Veghte for a term of five years for $20. Mark is a 20-year-old slave for a term, and he will serve his new master until he reaches age 25 in the year 1843. Mark will then attain the…
Receipt to James Neilson for the purchase of Elizabeth
1815-01-23
Van Arsdalen, Abraham
Receipt issued to James Neilson (1784-1862) for a purchase of an enslaved woman named Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was previously enslaved by John Powers. The receipt indicates that Elizabeth was sold because John Powers was in debt to Staats Van Deursen…
Elizabeth was previously enslaved by John Powers. The receipt indicates that Elizabeth was sold because John Powers was in debt to Staats Van Deursen…
Bill of Sale for Prince, to John Neilson
1815-05-25
Vermeule, Cornelius C.
Cornelius C. Vermeule sold an enslaved man named Prince to John Neilson for a term of four years, three month, and six days for $150.
Certification of Tony’s consent to be sold to John Neilson for 5 years
1798-04-24
Phillips, Elijah
Elijah Phillips, a judge of the Middlesex County Court of Common Pleas, certifies that an enslaved man named Tony consents to be sold to John Neilson.
Bill of sale for Tony
1798-04-24
Read, Thomas
Thomas Read and Moses Scott (on behalf of Archibold Read) sold a man named Tony to John Neilson for $100.
Bill of Sale for Teunis, to James Neilson
1814-04-20
Baldwin, Joseph
Joseph Baldwin sold a 26 year old man named Teunis to James Neilson for $175.
Bill of sale for Flora, Phillis, and Ann, sold to John Neilson
1787-01-31
Bleecker, Anthony L.
Anthony L. Bleecker sells to John Neilson an enslaved woman named Flora and her two female children Phillis and Ann for 120 New York pounds.
Woodbury Hall catalog record
1973
Gunn, Lloyd Ray
This is the record for the Woodbury Hall from the Catalogue of building and place names at Rutgers, the State University, compiled by Lloyd Ray Gunn for Rutgers University in 1973. The building was erected in 1959 as part of the Neilson Dormitories…
Neilson Dining Hall catalog record
1973
Gunn, Lloyd Ray
This is the record for the Neilson Dining Hall from the Catalogue of building and place names at Rutgers, the State University, compiled by Lloyd Ray Gunn for Rutgers University in 1973.
Wood Lawn Mansion photograph
2014-04-16
Rutgers University
Photograph of the Wood Lawn Mansion, located on the Cook-Douglass Campus in New Brunswick. The mansion was originally built in 1830 by Colonel James Neilson (1784-1862) as a residence for his family. The mansion was later bequeathed to Rutgers…
Portrait of John Neilson (1745-1833)
1881
Rosenthal, Albert
Etching of John Neilson by Albert Rosenthal. Rosenthal copied Neilson’s portrait from a painting in the possession of the family. The print pictured here was issued in Philadelphia in 1881.
Permission slip for Phillis to join the African Association
1820-01-01
Neilson, John
Slaveholder John Neilson (1745-1833) gives permission to Phillis, an enslaved woman, to join the African Association on January 1, 1820.
Receipt issued to Colonel John Neilson recording the sale of an enslaved black man who was taken from the enemy in war
1777-11-30
Bullman, Thomas
In this Revolutionary War era document, Thomas Bullman records that he received 55 pounds from Colonel John Neilson (1745-1833) for the sale of an enslaved black man. The name of this black man is not recorded here, but the receipt mentions that the…
Permission slip for Mark Harris to join the African Association
1817-01-21
Neilson, James
Slaveholder James Neilson (1784-1862) gives permission to Mark Harris, an enslaved man, to join the African Association on January 21, 1817. [Mark was first sold to James Neilson on October 15, 1816. Mark was married to Ambo, a woman who was enslaved…
Birth record for Clara, daughter of Ambo, reported by slaveholder John Neilson
1812-12-19
Middlesex County Clerk
Slaveholder John Neilson reports that an enslaved woman named Ambo gave birth to daughter Clara on September 14, 1812.
Birth record for Eliza, daughter of Ambo and Mark, reported by slaveholder John Neilson
1820-05-03
Middlesex County Clerk
Slaveholder John Nielson reports that an enslaved woman named Ambo gave birth to daughter Eliza on July 2, 1816. Eliza's father is Mark, Ambo's husband.
Birth record for Ann, daughter of Ambo and Mark, reported by slaveholder John Neilson
1820-05-03
Middlesex County Clerk
Slaveholder John Nielson reports that an enslaved woman named Ambo gave birth to daughter Ann on June 23, 1814. Ann's father is Mark, Ambo's husband.
Birth record for Mark, son of Ambo and Mark, reported by slaveholder John Neilson
1820-05-03
Middlesex County Clerk
Slaveholder John Nielson reports that an enslaved woman named Ambo gave birth to son Mark on July 27, 1818. Mark's father is Mark, Ambo's husband. [Per New Jersey law, Mark became a slave for a term until he reached 25 years of age in the year 1843.…