Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-04
the LAST NEW JERSEY SLAVE.



place at Morristown, N. j., for LOG
years, says the New York sun Ex-
Congressman A. W. Cutler has traced
her so far back beyond all question. There
are some things which make him think
she is still older. 1t is possible, even
| iprobable, that she is 10 years old. But
n view of the doubt he gives her age
as 106 and makes the statement conf
| IDENTIFY.
The members of the family call her
Jennie, or Aunt Jennie. So do the
| townsfolk Her last name is a matter
of tradition. She sometimes hesitates
| herself when asked what it is, so un-
familiar is she with it, She is colored
and servant. Everybody in Morris
town knows all about her, although few
have seen her, for, though she is strong
and active and accustomed to walk out
of doors in all sorts Of weather, she has
not been outside of the front gate in 30 |
years.
Old Jennie was born slave in the |
days when they had slaves in New Jer- |
sey. Tradition has it that she was born
in negro hut adjoining the house
whera she now lives. The place was
then known as the Condit place. 1t was
large, fertile farm, and on it stood the
family mansion Of Sllas Condit, a great
man in the days of the revolution, when
he represented New Jersey in the Con-
tinental Congress. II was very re-
spectacle thing then TO own slaves, and
Silas Condit had plenty of them. Tradi-
ton says that Jennie was likely young
negress, black and jolly, and favorite
in her masters family. Silas Condits
I daughter married Col. Joseph Cutler of
the New Jersey state militia, and, in
. course of time, inherited her fathers
mansion and acres. The estate soon be-
came known as the Cutler place, as it is
to-day. Col. Joseph Cutler was the
father of Congressman A. w. Cutler.
:, He died many years ago.
In 1904 New Jersey abolished slavery
9 by a gradual emancipation which ex-
Q tended over two years. Thus Jennie
!; became free, but like most slaves of
u northern slave owners she did not avail
e herself of her liberty. She had no
l. "folksn except the Cutters and no home
, except the Cutler place. Her former
s. master showed no disposition to cast
! her off. So she stayed there in volun-
IS tary service, together with most Of the
/ family slaves, and she nursed the chill
le dren of her young master and mistress.
" She was buxom young woman of 16
le years or more when she nursed little
81 Miss Cutler, the ex-congressman's older
le sister. Little Miss Cutler became Mrs.
James B. Hyndshaw, and would be
n more than 80 years old to-day if she
y had lived. She died long ago, but the
u young colored woman who nursed her
10 when baby is still strong and active
n and smokes her daily pipe with as much
az regularity and pleasure as ever. Jennie
Is | fanraaA tho She
10 did not nurse the present generation
On She was getting old and was in othei
81 occupations when they were children
" Even then, and that was long ago, sht
'e., was the last Of the Cutler slaves anC
III among the very few Of the New jersey
40 slaves still alive.
~ For many years Jennie has beer
y, moody and silent, seldom speaking ex
us cept when spoken to. II must not b.
se- supposed that she is morose or that he
a temper or disposition Is not agreeable
PIE She is merely very quiet or self-con
n tanned. She enters into the family JOY
y and sorrows heartily, but after fashio
no of her own. Mrs. Cutler is the only on
ne of the family now living who possesse
L; the art of drawing her out" Even t
'no Mrs. Cutler she seldom speaks Of oil
10 times. This is no recently develope
ler' habit on Jennies part. II has grow
po, with age, of course, but as far back {
lnd the present members of the family ca
re- remember Jennie has been noticeabl
ac- rcticent. There is q story about tn
the which has come down by traditio
Ia through generations of negroes, fro
vas the time when Jennie was a your
lew woman When Jamie was vo,,nr an
ana comely-all the traditions make HI
| a frl ch.a nj
In very gay and happy, and had
and hearty laugh and no end of nonsense
,cre her tongues end. She was great favo
aol, tie in her masters family, and she h,
hea many admirers among the youi
DC negroes There could be no gatherin
ooo, among the young colored people wit
ears out Jennie, and of course she inspir
jealousies among the colored girls OF t
the neighborhood. One evening Jennie we
hor- TO picnic. Before the festivities we
'un- over she was missed. There was gre
lent search for her, but she was not four
ave Then it was thought that she had r
has away. But the next morning she
the turned to her home They asked |
ypo- where she had been, but she would I
the tell She shook her head lnysteriou,
bend and mournfully. She never told wi
ome, had happened to her that night, and
cited was never learned, But that night I
the sunshine went out of Jennie's life FIR,
to that time her lips were closed 20 cl
their and laughter She avoided the society
! by her gay friends. She lived much by Ii
self She did not encourage the att
the tons Of young men, and she never m
very ricd.
POSES Now, what was the matter W
tains jennie? The colored people shake II
ming heads when you ask the question. III
flee, reply in low voices that she '
ed IN "hoodooed." If you ask what I
sated means they only shake their heads az
prob mysteriously, 1t is plainly a very aw
.hout thing to be hoodooed. 1t is also pl
from their talk that devils have hi
me is in the operation.
nion Now, at tue age of 106, Jennie
who very interesting old woman. She is
! will erect, but she holds herself well
nun walks slowly, but firmly, and desp
the aid of cane. Her face is IN
by wrinkled, and her hair is gray.
nd is sight and hearing are fairly good.
y the pretends to read, although whether
ested knows how or not is a secret which
n. has iealously guarded from the KIN
ledge of the present members OF
family She has not been require
work for many years Still she w
Del daily. She brings in wood from
state pile in the back yard, and the sum
more kitchen is her special charge.
,rimi- kitchen she sweeps and dusts
y the arranges every day, whether uset
wide not with most scruDulous pains. w