SUSSEX COUNTY -- Some time ago, a reader questioned if there had been black communities in the county and, if so, where were they located.

SUSSEX COUNTY -- Some time ago, a reader questioned if there had been black communities in the county and, if so, where were they located. After consulting with local historians and local history records, it appears that this query would be a perfect project for local history students in Sussex County to undertake.

Local historians assert that without the help of slaves and indentured servants, the county could not have been settled as quickly as it was.

The 1790 census reflected that there were 439 slaves in the county (which included the area where Warren County is today; it wasn't until 1824 that Warren County was formed). For some inexplicable reason, the number of slaves in the county in 1800 jumped to 514. By 1810, the number of slaves counted dropped to 478. In the 1820 census, for the first time, the number of slaves was broken down into males and females. Then, there were 172 male and 206 female slaves, bringing the total number of slaves to 378. In addition, there were also 259 free male blacks and 214 free female blacks, with a total of 473 free blacks.

By 1830, the census figures reflected that there were only 21 male and 30 female slaves. There were also 206 free black men and 195 free black women, bringing the total of free blacks in the county to 401. In 1840, there were 422 free blacks and 47 slaves remaining in the county.

Where did all of these slaves and free blacks reside? Presumably, that's what the reader was curious about.

Local records suggest that many slave owners owned one or perhaps a few slaves. It is guessed that these slaves would have lived on the property or perhaps even in a portion of the main house. As an example, in Vernon Township, the late Rubin Kadish identified the basement of a dwelling as where reportedly the Drew slaves were housed.

One of the largest known slave owners would have been David Hoops and subsequently Thomas Armstrong. Local history records show that in 1793, when David Hoops sold the farm known more recently as the Armstrong farm in Frankford Township to Thomas Armstrong, the sale included included 27 slaves. This farm, also called the Homestead Farm, was described as a self-sustaining plantation.

When the Barton family (earlier owners) owned the farm, they built two gristmills and manufactured potash (used for manufacturing soap). He was listed as the owner of four slaves, "one Negro wench and three children." It would appear that Armstrong apparently purchased these three children from Barton. For it was recorded in the Armstrong Bible that Libby, the daughter of Sarah, bought of Benjamin Barton, was born October 1792, Jack was born October 1784 and Bel was born Aug. 24, 1787.

Additional information on this farm may be found Charles Stickney's book, "Old Sussex County Families." Stickney wrote that when Armstrong purchased the property, a large part of it was covered by forest. A dam on the Papakating furnished power for a gristmill. Owing to the great number of slaves he kept and the improvements he made, "Armstrong's" became a landmark in Sussex County. Incidentally, maps of that period do show Armstrongs listed as a locality. A store and a post office as well as a school were also on the property. Unfortunately, Stickney and other local historians failed to record how and where all of these slaves were housed.

Then, there were the iron works. Apparently, some of the slaves were viewed as expert ironworkers. As an example, the late Kevin Wright wrote in his book, "A History of the Andover Ironworks," that "a large out-kitchen, measuring 18 by 30 feet, standing adjacent to the dwelling house, was attached to the main building by addition of the taproom in 1838 and now comprises the old hearth and tap room in the northeast corner of the (Waterloo) hotel. Six enslaved Africans, reputedly good Forgemen, occupied this dwelling."

Later in the book, Wright wrote that operations were suspended at Andover. "By articles of agreement, dated Sept. 20, 1777, he and Joseph Turner agreed to lease eight Negro men slaves, Viz: Tom Pipes, Harry, Mingo, Caesar, Peter, Burrouss, Jack Martin and George Jack, to John Patton of Bucks County, Pa., for one year beginning Oct. 1. They were to be employed as laborers under his direction in any reasonable service about said Patton's ironworks. Patton agreed to provide for said Negroes sufficient meat, drink, washing and lodging, together with one upper and one under warm woolen jacket, four new shirts, two pairs trousers, one pair breeches, two pair woolen stockings, and three pair shoes for each and every one of the above Negroes. He was not to let any of them suffer for want of a doctor in case of illness. At the conclusion of their term of service, Patton was to return them to the Union Ironworks, paying 35 pounds each to Tom Pipes, Harry, Mingo, Caesar and Peter; 30 pounds for Burrouss; 20 pounds for George Jack and 10 pounds for Jack Martin." This would suggest that these slaves were valuable as expert ironworkers and presumably they would be provided with decent lodging.

Local historian Myra Snook suggests that a few black families lived in close proximity to the Van Campen Inn in Walpack. In suggesting this, Snook notes that a black burial ground is located there. She describes this cemetery as containing no formal headstones or stones with inscriptions; just field stones usually pointed at the top. Snook has since learned the probable names of a few of the people buried there. Her research reflects that a free black, Absalom Ramer, formerly of Pennsylvania, purchased property from the then-owner of the Van Campen Inn. A former black slave, Caesar Soults, lived with this family in his old age. Also, among those guessed to have been buried in the cemetery would have been two of Ramer's sons as well as a daughter, Mary Ramer Stackhouse. Formerly a four-room cottage was located near the cemetery and Snook surmises that formerly this may have housed the Rosenkrans' slaves, who, in all probability, were buried there as well.

Records of the Stockholm Methodist Church reflect that an average of 18 "colored" people were members of the church in the 1830s and were described as "living in the mountains." It was guessed they may have been employed in some capacity in connection with the mining industry.

One county resident recalls that when she was growing up, there were a few black families residing in the area of Highland Avenue in Sussex. The Second Baptist Church of Sussex was housed in a one-story, 12-by-36-foot, wood frame building that was dedicated in 1932. Boasting a seating capacity of 25, it contained two entry doors, one for its worshippers and one used exclusively for the preacher. It lacked plumbing and water and closed its doors in 1994.

Tradition places a black community in Green Township. The 1830 census shows 20 "free colored persons" and 14 slaves in Green Township. Thomas J. Beirne, in the history booklet of Green Township, wrote that: "Legend has it that a large black settlement existed within the township. Although the time and exact location are unknown, older residents speak of a particular section near Huntsville .... The community supposedly consisted of a colony of free blacks. Remains of foundations and a cistern which were supposed to have been part of the colony can still be found, but little else is known."

Tradition places the McCamley slave village on Barret Road in Vernon. It was called Mt. Ephraim after the village in the Bible. The center of the village contained a log house that served as a church and a school. To this day, the spring on the property is called Ephraim's Spring.

Much more research is needed on slaves in Sussex County and where they resided. As proven by census records, slavery unfortunately was an integral part of our area and co-existed with the founding of the county itself.

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Jennie Sweetman is the history columnist for the New Jersey Herald. She may be contacted at jenniee@warwick.net.