Slavery in the Lower Hudson Valley - The Journal News

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Philipsburg Manor
Philipsburg Manor is a living-history site that tells the story of the
23 enslaved Africans who lived and labored at Philipsburg Manor in
1750. A colonial-era provisioning plantation that exported food for
the sugar plantations in the West Indies, Philipsburg Manor also tells
the story of the development of commerce and cultural diversity
in colonial New York. Hands-on activities and tours of Philipsburg
Manor’s gristmill, farm, manor house, slaves’ garden, and activity
center open a window into what daily life was like in 1750 for
the enslaved community. In thinking and talking about
issues and events of that time, visitors to the
property gain an understanding of the
past and the present.
Establishing Slavery
In New York
The history of how Philipsburg Manor developed begins with the settlement
of the colony of New Netherland by the Dutch West India Company (DWIC)
in 1624. The Dutch had acquired the land from Native Americans through
purchase as well as through unfair practices. This colony was set up as a business,
and the main goal was for the DWIC to profit from trading beaver pelts and other
goods from America with Europe. In 1625, the Dutch, who had been involved in
the slave trade since the 1590s, brought the first group of eleven enslaved male
Africans to New Amsterdam (Manhattan Island) in order to build and support the
roads, houses, and forts of the new colony.
Despite efforts to draw Northern Europeans to New Netherland, the population
of the colony did not grow enough to support a trading post outside of the
Netherlands. As a result, the DWIC decided to bring more enslaved Africans to
New Netherland. Enslaved Africans labored as caulkers, blacksmiths, bricklayers
and masons to make improvements to the slow-growing colony. By the 1640s, the
African population in New Netherland included free persons of African descent.
Although few in number, these individuals had purchased or otherwise gained
their freedom. Free blacks owned land, married in the Dutch Reformed Church,
and passed along inheritances to their children.
The English seized control of New Netherland in 1664 and divided it into the
two colonies of New York and New Jersey. By 1720, 5,740 enslaved individuals
lived in the colony of New York (16% of the total population) and about half that
number lived in New Jersey. In 1750, the enslaved population of New York was
11,014 (14% of the total population), nearly double the figure of 1720.
Interpretation of map of New Amsterdam c. 1640