It is a common misconception that slavery was rare in New York state.
According to The Long Island Museum’s 2019 exhibit “Long Road to Freedom: Surviving Slavery on Long Island,” in 1749 14% of the population of Suffolk County was comprised of enslaved persons.
The first U.S. Census, conducted in 1790, records approximately 3,260 people living in the Town of Huntington, of which 221 were enslaved, and 74 were free people of color.
The document pictured here, just acquired by the Huntington Historical Society, is a transactional record of the sale of two enslaved persons by Philip Platt of Huntington to John Mulford in “Easthampton.”
Document Transcription
(Please note: This is a direct transcription and includes errors or variations in spelling. Blanks denote a word that is indecipherable.)
Know all men by thes presents that I Philip Plat of Huntingtown in the County of Suffolk and Colony of New York for and in consideration of the sum of forty nine pound paid before the ensealing of these present have bargained and sold unto John Mulford of Easthampton in County and Province above said one ______ Negro woman known by the name of Rosean and a negro boy named Dago.
To have and to hold the said Negro woman and child unto John Mulford of Easthampton a ganest the claim of any persons or person whatsoever as slaves unto the said John Mulford to him, his heirs and __________ for ever.
As witness my hand this sixth day of April in the year of our Sovereign Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty two signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us
James Harries Philip Platt
Abraham Gardiner
