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Slavery in Rye and Southern
New York
by Claire Lynch
The Dutch introduced slavery to the colony of
New Netherland in 1626 when they brought eleven slaves originally
from Angola to New Amsterdam. Their job was to help create the
infrastructure of the new colony---build its fort, clear the
land, lay out roads. Under Dutch rule, slaves were often declared
free, or half-free during times when there was not enough work
for them on the condition that they provide labor upon demand.
Those freed could own land and marry in the Dutch church.
This changed with the English takeover in 1664.
All Africans were automatically classified as slaves, their
land confiscated, and rules enacted regulating when, where,
and how many blacks could congregate in a given place. Freeing
slaves was discouraged by requiring a 200 pounds sterling bond
to guarantee the slave would not become a public charge once
freed. The government was not so concerned about former slaves
becoming a drain upon public funds as it was about the danger
of having an insurrection, reasoning that free blacks would
make slaves discontented with their lot. Slave uprisings in
New York City in 1712 and 1741 reinforced this view.
Slavery existed in Rye from its earliest days.
In 1689 James Mott of Mamaroneck sold a fourteen year old boy
named Jack to Humphrey Underhill of Rye. That same year Jacob
Pierce, one of the original settlers, listed in his will a slave
named Rose who was to be freed upon his wife Mary's death. Pierce
owned the property on which the Square House was later built.
Pierce died in 1690 while a soldier on an expedition against
the Indians in upstate New York. His widow Mary married Isaac
Denham, the next owner of the Square House property. Twice he
petitioned the Court of Special Sessions, once in 1714 and again
in 1720, for compensation for slaves executed by the government
for unspecified offenses. He received 20 pounds sterling for
one man and 25 pounds sterling for the other.
Among Rye's most colorful stories is that of the
slaves brought here by pirates in 1698, landing at an inlet
near Oakland Beach. The slaves were then taken to Philipsburg
Manor. There are stories that Captain Kidd, a notorious pirate
of the times, buried treasure along the Rye coast. So far this
treasure has not been found.
Another evidence of the early existence of slavery
in Rye is through town records. In 1703 slaves sixteen years
and older were mentioned in Rye's rate of assessment as having
a value of twelve pounds each. In 1711, Rye residents were assessed
one shilling on every chimney and two on every slave. A 1712
census counted eighteen slaves in the Rye/Harrison area.
Dr. Ebenezer Haviland's grandfather, Benjamin
Haviland, was a Quaker. His son, John Haviland, in his will
dated March 11, 1747 lists three slaves valued at 50 pounds
sterling and a pair of oxen worth 10 pounds sterling. John's
daughter Abigail was given a horse, a mare, and a slave named
Abraham. Another son, Ebenezer Haviland, uncle of the Square
House's Dr. Haviland, in a will probated January 1, 1750, directs
that his "…man Tony be sold with all convenient speed and turned
into money." (Pelletreau, William, S. Early Wills of Westchester
County 1664 -1784. New York: Francis S. Harper, 1898.
p. 102).
In the 1755 census Rye had 38 male and 35 female
slaves. Peter Jay, John Jay's father, is listed as having eight
slaves, three male and five female. He was the largest slave
owner in the community with other owners having one or two.
Rye, east of Blind Brook, recorded 20 male and 22 female slaves,
including two males and one female owned by James Wetmore. It
is not clear whether this is a separate total or part of the
previous one.
In 1798 a census gave the number of slaves in
Rye at 123; by 1820 there were only fourteen. Some of this decline
was due to the growing sentiment for manumission. Laws passed
starting in 1785 began to weaken the institution of slavery
in New York. This, combined with abolitionist activity, resulted
in freedom for many of the enslaved. In our archives we have
documents of manumission for thirty-seven slaves who were freed
between 1793 and 1825. Slavery was outlawed in New York as of
July 4, 1827. We may recognize some family names of slave-owners
in these documents. Among them are Anna M. Jay who freed Hannah
in a 1793 will and Mrs. Mary Jay who freed Caesar in an 1824
will. Ezekiel Halsted freed Duke in 1804 and Jerry in 1810.
Philemon Halsted freed Rose in 1809.
Some slave owners are identified through the records
of Christ's Church. Billa Theall, did not manumit any slaves
according to our records, but did have four children of his
slave Sib---James, Silva, Harry, and Eliza Ann---baptized at
Christ's Church. Jane and Charlotte, described as black children
belonging to Peter Jay Munro, were baptized September 20, 1807.
Lukey, a woman belonging to Billa Theall, married
Simon Green, a free black man January 1, 1806. Jack, who belonged
to J.P. Delaney, married Rose, Philemon Halsted's slave, June
5, 1808. Jack, another of Philemon Halsted's slaves, married
Nanny, listed as belonging to N. Penfield, July 25, 1805. It
is likely that this N. Penfield is the same Nathaniel Penfield
who operated the Square House in the early 1800's after the
widow Haviland.
Lest we become discouraged by the knowledge that
slavery existed in our community two hundred years ago, we should
also know that the Rye/Purchase area was a vital link in the
Underground Railroad. Slaves escaping from the South often came
through Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York City, and along the
Sound Shore communities of New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Rye and
Purchase on their way into Connecticut and beyond. They were
aided by courageous Quakers and free blacks who risked fines
and imprisonment for helping runaways. The Fugitive Slave Act
of 1793 imposed a $500 fine for assisting slaves. This was raised
to $1000 in 1850.
For further information on this topic, read Vivienne
Ratner's article in the spring 1983 edition of Westchester
Historian entitled "The Underground Railroad in Westchester,"
available in the reference room of the public library.
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From the Educator
by Phyllis Prussin
Ever onward and upward with the Education Department
for 2002. This year, we have instituted several new programs.
Beginning in April, we have two new programs at the Knapp House,
both dealing with the importance of the Kitchen Garden in the
lives of farmers in the eighteenth century. "How Does Your Garden
Grow?" is a craft activity for schoolchildren in grades K-5
which emphasizes the use of herbs - their medicinal value and
their uses as pesticides in the homes of the 1700's. Scent was
extremely important for health, even to the extent that it was
believed that a pleasing scent would make people sleep better.
Participants will be making pillowbags filled with dried herbs
and flower petals to be placed under pillowcases at night. These
can be taken home and can also be used as sachets. At the end
of the session, students will be given a tour of the Knapp House,
and then they will drink some fresh brewed mint tea. It was
believed that herbal tea soothed upset stomachs. In fact, many
people today drink herbal tea if not to cure, then to alleviate,
certain symptoms. The other program is "Cloths of Many Colors."
Students will learn about cloth treatment and will be actually
dying wool with plant materials from the kitchen garden. For
our first session, we will be using onion skins for a brownish-yellow
color and beets for a reddish dye. We will also be using homemade
looms to demonstrate some rudimentary weaving techniques. So
far, classes from the Midland School have signed on for both
new programs.
There are two new traveling trunks: a Colonial
Costume Trunk and a Native American Trunk, which proved successful
with the Osborn School fourth grade. I have developed a "Christmas
250 Years Ago" slideshow and talk which I gave at the Resurrection
School. Also, we have expanded our senior citizen audience to
include a series of talks at the Osborn, the Schaffer Home in
White Plains and United Hospital.
Family programs this past school year included
Halloween stories in October, wampum-making in November, Linda
Russell, Balladeer in December, the February Valentine's Party
- thanks to Mari Galvin and Kristina Bicher - and the Salute
to Edith Read in March. All three local papers gave us a lot
of favorable publicity for these events and also for the summer
camp.
This past summer, the camp added some activities
regarding eighteenth century art, architecture and music. Flutist
Alison Smith, from the Rye Arts Center gave a brief concert.
For the final dinner in each session, the English Country Dance
Ensemble played dance music from the eighteenth century, and
we had a "caller" who taught all the campers, family and friends,
dances from the period.
Last but certainly not least, I want to thank
my loyal volunteers - Doug Carey, Emily Johnson, Claire Lynch,
Riva Mandel, Marianne Savage and Joan Williams - for their continuing
invaluable help.
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From the Archivist
by Richard Hourahan
New Visiting Hours at the Knapp House
The Visiting Hours of The Timothy Knapp House
Library and Archives are 9 AM to 4 PM, Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Saturdays. The purpose of the new weekend hours is to make
the resources of the Knapp House available at a time more convenient
to many of our city's residents. We hope you will drop by and
make it a part of your weekend routine.
From the Archives Exhibitions
From the Archives is a series of exhibitions which
change monthly and feature historical material from the archives.
It began in February with the show Giving, Selling, and Leasing:
Slave Transaction in Early Nineteenth Century Rye. In March
this show was followed by Early Women's Movements in Rye.
The schedule for the next three months is: April - Gilbert Merrit,
Colonial Businessman; May - The Great Rye Highway Controversy
of 1764; June - Mapping Rye
Personal Note
Thank you to all the visitors to the Knapp House
since October 29--when I began work as your Archivist--for the
interesting questions for which you are seeking answers from
our archives. Your seriousness of purpose and courtesy make
my job stimulating and fun.
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From the Curator
by Cynthia Danza
I have been the curator of the Rye Historical
Society since early February. The museum world is a very exciting
and welcoming change for me after spending the last twenty years
practicing law. I have an undergraduate degree in art history
and a masters in historic preservation. Since an important field
of interest of mine is American architecture, I am very lucky
to work for a historical society that is located in two of the
most architecturally and historically significant buildings
in the area.
The Society had three exhibits this past year
at the Square House that put on display parts of our extensive
artifact collection. These exhibits included fans, shoes and
Valentine Day cards. We currently have three reproduction colonial
costumes on display and recently installed a new exhibit of
old postcards of Rye in the lobby of City Hall. Work is progresing
on an exhibit of toys followed by an exhibit of Rye architecture.
Nancy Stampleman, our volunteer registrar, has
been working on accessioning new artifact and archival material.
Our other curatorial volunteers, Louise Lowry, Bernice Hall
and Dorothy McCarten have been as helpful as always, and we
thank them for all their hard work.
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In Memory of ...
Arlene Hawkins died September 21 at age 75. Arlene
lived in Rye for 44 years and was a professional calligrapher.
Her book, "Read About Rye," is still used in Rye
City schools. She was a charter member of the board of
directors of the Rye Historical Society, and one of the
founders of the Rye Presbyterian Church nursery school
and church thrift shop. Arlene is survived by her husband,
Bryon, three daughers and four grandchildren.
William F. Dornbusch died in Bennington, VT. February
7 at age 95. Mr. Dornbusch's love of history led him,
along with Goddard Light, Judge Frank McCullough and William
Selzer, to found the Rye Historical Society and became
its first President. Under his leadership, lectures on
historic subjects were presented, Volume I of the Newsletter
appeared, a reference library was started, and the first
exhibition was mounted in the Council Room. He was the
recipient of the first Ebenezer Haviland (EBBY) Award
in 1984. Mr. Dornbusch is survived by his wife, Katherine
(Jones) of Bennington, VT., a son, daughter and six grandchildren.
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| Volunteers |
Board of Trustees |
Square House
One Purchase St.
Rye, NY 10580
967-7588
Office & Shop
Mon - Fri
9am - 4pm
Museum Tours
Tues. - Fri
1pm - 3:30pm
Knapp House
265 Rye Beach Ave.
Rye, NY 10580
967-8657
Open Mon., Wed., & Sat.
from 9am - 4pm
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| Doug Carey |
Fred Cummings, Co-President |
| Bernice Hall |
Betsy Robertson, Co-President |
| Barbara Johnson |
Daniel O'Day, Co-Vice President |
| Emily Johnson |
Eugene McGuire, Co-Vice President |
| Dan Kelly |
Carol Latsis, Secretary |
| Louise Lowry |
Mari Galvin, Treasurer |
| Claire Lynch |
Kristina Bicher |
| Mary Maloney |
Meighan Corbett |
| Riva Mandel |
Christopher Cummins |
| Ida Mangini |
Mark DeBease |
| Maryanne Savage |
Peter Larr |
| Nancy Stampleman |
Leslie Lombino |
| Joan Williams |
Susan Morison |
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Dean Neely |
| Staff |
Anne Poler |
| Catherine Abrams, Director |
Karen Quirke |
| Phyllis Prussin, Education Curator |
Elizabeth Reynolds |
| Cynthia Danza, Curator |
Carol Sellon |
| Richard Hourahan, Archivist |
Frances Wiener |
| Janice Tiso, Office Manager |
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