A New Map of Part of the United States of North America, Containing those of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. John Cary, 1806, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
We are excited to share that we have published a new database, New Jersey and Pennsylvania: Slave Birth Records, 1788-1839. This valuable database adds 3,585 names and 3,035 records to the 10 Million Names Project.
Both New Jersey and Pennsylvania passed gradual abolition acts—New Jersey in 1804 and Pennsylvania in 1780. Afterwards, both states began recording the names of enslaved people. This database includes records for Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, and Sussex Counties in New Jersey and Centre, Cumberland, Fayette, and Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania.
This database is presented in partnership with Family Search as part of the 10 Million Names Project, which aims to recover and restore the names of the estimated 10 million women, men, and children of African descent who were enslaved in the U.S. prior to 1865.
This database was made possible with the help of our long-time volunteer, Sam Sturgis. We greatly appreciate all of his hard work on this project! If you are interested in volunteering for the 10 Million Names Project, please contact our 10 Million Names Volunteer Manager, Danielle Rose, at Danielle.Rose@americanancestors.org.
Please note: This database is available to all American Ancestors members, including Guest Members, at no cost. Consider membership.