New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-28
UNDER THE FIFrEEATH AMENDMENT.
HOW THE FIRST COLoRED VOTER CAST HIS
BALLOT.

IFPOW An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRIBUsE.l
PERTH AMEoY n J Oct. 27.--NewJcrScy
claims the honor Of being the birthplace and residence
of the first coloIcd in tue country who voted Under
the Fifteenth Amendment. His name II Thomas Ii.
Peterson and he is citizen ~ this which, accoId
ing 10 local lore is the oldest chartered city in tio
United states" antcating that OF NcwlorS
City by day. This claim 10 antiquity may not meet
with general acceptance but here IN this quaint old paro
II has become matter of education and IL would not bc
safe express open disbelief in the cherished dogma
Peterson live, with his family IN a neat ncc,toy cot
tagc overlooking the waters Of Staten Island Sound, aud
he received THE TRIBUSE's correspondent with neat
courtesy He past middle age. of medium height with
dark cOmlieNiou yet without the characteristics African
features. He a full beard and hi face i bright
and Intelligent, with an honest and manly expression fht
would rrcdi-posc his He has none ot the
negro dialect In HI. conversation and his language = ui-
usually and wccho,rn for one OF his race The
apartment into which he showed his visitor comfort
ably and tdily furnished and gave evidence ~ ts simple
decorations education and taste. An open piano stood
At one side Of the room with several sheets of muse
the rack and several woIks Of standard authors weic
Wing a cpntTc-tlblc.
II Is true" he replied in answer to queTy;" WAS.
believe the first man in the United states 10 vote uudr
the Fifteenth Amendment. and il yOu think would b" OF
any will De very glad II give yoU the partir-
lars of the occasion OF my first voting The proct-
nation OF the Secretary Of state al Washington alnolnc-
the adoption OF the Fttrcutn Aninhhchl 10
,tItutipn wa. made wednesday,. March 80, 1870, aud
on the following day special election WAS held here IN
Perth Amboy was working FOR Mr. j. L. krarny on
the morning of The day at election and dd not think "f
voting until he came Ia the stable where was at
tending his horses and advised M 10 20 Ia The polls aAd
exercise citizen, priv ileSc The celarcity election vas
comm. Oft in Few days. and thought would postpone
voting until that occasion, after Mr. k"iuJ sIoA'
to me hc>itatcd dcclc whether should vote ~ not
when went home to diuucr al noon met Nr. Marcus
Spring. Of Eagc,wood. place Hbolt mile ont ot ""a,
ami hr too advised claim the righ of >,fa.e az
the polls still did think much OF IL, and it "aS
not until met friend of Mr.. Spring. Nr Palmer That
decided to vote that day. Mr. Palmer declared ne
would not leave mo until had voted and We walked To-
-,Dcr to IA, polls, The question az stake that day
not party issue. hat rested upon the adoption ot new
charter Ad,,r, had arisen GA ia" part u! some people
of The town for revised charter while others wished 10
surrender the charter altogether and revert 10 town
.hip government A. advanced 70 the polls one man
OF red me a ticket bearing the words revised charter
and another one marked no charter had always
heard that Perth Auboy was the oldest chart rcl CITY IN
the country. and thought would not vote 70 give ur
our charter after holding It 80 long; - chose re's't
charter ticket judge Ezra Arnold who died year
or two Sincc that time an inspector % 'eci'h
and as deposited my ballot he turned to nae aud said,
Tom you are the first in the United stat To vote
under the Fifteenth Amendment nou GIT lt-le OF 10 &c
the time but brief mention Of the !'et IN IN"
New York papers few days later. aud have since been
t,l1 thar il i, officially recorded Ia Washington. oar
sid, won tlr election by q vote of 23O Ia 81, and may
mcntinl a cUinCidenC" that Was artery tlh PP''""'
Que OF "a committee 90 seven Ia revise the ca tflti
Only one her cOlOy'd man voted tlt d'A. lie WIS
man No worked Tor MI spring. aud do not Know MS
rcrl name We used 10 call Elm Marcus Si1ng, after
hi. Cluuovsr lie moved away nom here some l'dl'
AGO and do not know where BE- Is now hut no one ever
,rr,.,n,d rIy being the voter under the tltrrh'h
Amendment 80 far have been able To learn thriH
was election U any other STATE nor Ih any o''l '"Nh
ia NcW-IrI>ty on That day.
Peterson WIS horn iu Mctuchcn. y. J., q town about
siN miles FROM here October I, 1871. lil> liihcr;
TbouYs Peterson born IN Rcrgtn County, y j., Hbt
died about Thirty five years His Woth'r, nHud'h
name wa, Lacy Green, and she Is Still l'ing AT an &c
yr,rd age. The former came OF Ircc parhls ent no
latter parents had been slaves ia ~ ~, No.,
family I'M Monmouth County. IN an htt'I1'", Iiu n,i'n
lrntr and one sister most Of whom are dead hc brLS
the hrt son When four years Old, MS lHi''' VINO Ms
a lalucr. removed to Perrin Auhol, anu f'l,i'@h nus
r,.5 L,,. over since ON February 10. 1871, D" was
married ~ Daphne Reeve. whose ll h"u "''l 'lHF'S
ON me, BEN estate Perth AnbOy. ANA 10y ihl> matligS
hc has had five sons AMI three u'SL'tN' l,a ne II
Still living. BY occupation peterson l. "a l' "l "a
work At different times he has Mmhrt "t 'ol'i1l3IH
Kcaruy the Hon. james Parker collector l"5t@ JN-o
Paterson and other old llnllco OF llt l'' ne y H""
commonly known a. Tom MuudN' than by his own
name Ms father worked for Mr.. MUntyr OF .lc-
tchrn for many years" he suil IN explanation OF tl5
called by his employers Slhllhc. ihH'lt,l ~. i''o
ana IL hl, even descended tn my children In Lct MIST
voted under the name ~ Mundy.' go
lu National and state Affairs | am k'puNl'h
Through and through" said Peterson m Response tu
question is 10 his political productions. II i WIN NE
rot only the simple question o. the superiority OF tpi'
the night vote feel In gratitude hound to give D. Wac
little support | can. Ia local Affairs am nor nn"uu IVY
party ties and try 10 vote for the best man. For seven
wears was employed nv the city mor oi the puho
ago was a delegate to the Republican County CONVEX
ton"