Anthonij

Name

Anthonij. Anthonij’s name appears in one known document, a contract for his sale in 1646.[1] 

Origin

Anthonij was enslaved in 1646, which indicates he was of African origin.

Migration

Whether Anthonij was born in New Netherland or brought to the colony in bondage is unknown.

Settlement

Anthonij may have lived on Long Island, near present-day Brooklyn. Until 1646, he was enslaved by Fredrick Lubbersen, who owned land there.[2] In 1646, he was sold to Ritchert [Richard] Lord.[3] If that was the Richard Lord who lived in Hartford, Connecticut,[4] Antonij was probably taken there after 1646.

Biographical Details

Antonij was born between say 1606 and 1634. In his bill of sale, Antonij was called a “negro” without any qualifiers like “jongen” [boy],[5] which suggests he was at least a teenager. He was probably no more than forty years old when he was sold. He died at an unknown date after 28 November 1646.[6]

Enslavement

On 28 November 1646, Fredrick Lubbersen sold a “negro” [Black man] named Antonij to Ritchert Lord. The contact specified that Lord may “denselven negro sijn leefdagen sal mogen gebruijken” [use that same Black man for the rest of the days of his life], as Lord saw fit.[7] Fredrick Lubbersen may have sold Antonij to raise money. In September 1646, he owed 663 guilders each to Jan Jansen van St. Obijn and Hendrick Arentsen, for sugar he had purchased.[8]

Associations

Antonij was first enslaved by Fredrick Lubbersen until 1646, and then by Richard Lord.[9] 

Literature

Swan, Robert J. “The Black Presence in Seventeenth-Century Brooklyn.” Halve Maen 63 (December 1990): 1–6.

Citations

[1] Deed from Fredrick Lubbersen to Ritchert Lord, of a Black man named Antonij, 28 November 1646, in New Netherland, register of the secretary of the province, vol. 2, 1642–1647, p. 152; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/11268), identifier NYSA_A0270-78_V2_152f; citing series A0270-78, New Netherland Provincial Secretary Register of the Provincial Secretary, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

[2] Deed from Fredrick Lubbersen to Ritchert Lord, of a Black man named Antonij, 28 November 1646.

[3] Deed from Fredrick Lubbersen to Ritchert Lord, of a Black man named Antonij, 28 November 1646.

[4] “Richard Lord,” The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620–1633, 3 vols., vol. 2, G–O (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 1198–201. This volume actually covers the letters G-Q rather than G-O (the coverage is misprinted on the title page).

[5] Deed from Fredrick Lubbersen to Ritchert Lord, of a Black man named Antonij, 28 November 1646.

[6] Deed from Fredrick Lubbersen to Ritchert Lord, of a Black man named Antonij, 28 November 1646.

[7] Deed from Fredrick Lubbersen to Ritchert Lord, of a Black man named Antonij, 28 November 1646.

[8] Debt from Frederic Lubbersen to Jan Jansen van St. Obijn, 20 September 1646, in New Netherland, register of the secretary of the province, vol. 2, 1642–1647, p. 149; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/11236), identifier NYSA_A0270-78_V2_149e. Debt by Fredrick Lubbersen to Hendrick Arentsen, 20 September 1646, in New Netherland, register of the secretary of the province, vol. 2, 1642–1647, p. 149; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/11237), identifier NYSA_A0270-78_V2_149f.

[9] Deed from Fredrick Lubbersen to Ritchert Lord, of a Black man named Antonij, 28 November 1646.

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