The Tunis Post Estate” Lamington, NJ (1764)

Morris County State Library

Slaves were listed along with other chattels in the inventories of estates and were often passed on to hairs by wills.  Its said that Jans Van Dyke; home had a kitchen full of black folds.  Tunis Quick of Ten Mile Run at one time had 14 slaves and Wimon Wyckoff of Sex Mile Run willed a female negro slave to each of his five daughters with one left over for Granddaughter.  The Tunis Post, an appointed helper of the North Branch Reformed Church who lived near the mouth of the Lamington River and died during 1764, he had as a part of his estate the following slaves:

ONE NEGRO NAMED HAM, VAKYED AT 70 POUNDS

ONE NEGRO NAMED  ISAAC, VALUED AT 30 POUNDS

ONE NEGRO NAMED SAM, VALUED AT 70 POUNDS

ONE NEGRO NAMED BETTY, VALUED AT 10 POUNDS

ONE NEGRO NAMED JANE, VALUED AT 60 POUNDS

ONE NEGRO WENCH NAMED SAWR, VALUED AT 30 POUNDS.

(The name Sawr is short for Saertje, the Dutch diminutive for Sarah).  In their church liturgy the Dutch gave recognition to the bonded servants.  In the church there is no difference between bond and free, but all are one in Christ.  Dutch Reformed Church records disclose the names (only the first names) of male and female negro slaves baptized and admitted to church membership.  Very often there were notations such as slave of, man or woman of color, or servant.