Stories of Slavery in New Jersey

Sunday, January 31, 2021 @ 3 pm via Zoom
Presenter: Rick Geffken, Author & Trustee of the Shrewsbury Historical Society
Many will probably surprised at the revelation that New Jersey, in 1866, was the last northern state to abolish slavery. Dutch and English settlers brought the first enslaved people to New Jersey in the seventeenth century. By the time of the Revolutionary War, slavery was an established practice on labor-intensive farms throughout what became known as the Garden State. Lewis Morris brought Barbadian slaves to toil on his estate of Tinton Manor in Monmouth County. Colonel Tye, an escaped slave from Shrewsbury, joined the British Ethiopian Regiment during the Revolutionary War. Charles Reeves and Hannah Van Clief married soon after their emancipation in 1850 and became prominent citizens of Lincroft. Author Rick Geffken reveals stories from New Jersey’s dark history of slavery.
Rick has written numerous books including: Highland Beach, Gateway to the Jersey Shore, 1888-1962 with Chris Brenner; and Lost Amusement Parks of the North Jersey Shore with George Severini. His latest book is Slave Stories from New Jersey (Publication date: 1/04/2021). He is a Trustee of the Shrewsbury Historical Society; Past-president and a Trustee of the Jersey Coast Heritage Museum at Sandlass House; and a member of the Monmouth County Historical Association.
For information on Rick Geffken's book "Stories of Slavery in New Jersey": www.arcadiapub...
Also there is a shoutout at the end to authors Elaine Buck and Bev Mills of "If These Stones Could Talk." For more on their book: wildriverconsu...