Caesar, Last Slave in New York

Portrait of Caesar, the last black slave in New York State, made circa 1859, long after he obtained his freedom. Born in 1737, Caesar served several generations of masters on the Rensselaer Nicoll estate near Albany. At the age of 80, he was allowed to retire, and remained with the Nicoll family until his death in 1852, at the age of 115 years. All slaves in New York were emancipated 10 years after his retirement, but it is unclear if the family ever told him that slavery was abolished before his death. This is one of the first photographic images of a black American

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

1737 1852 Negro Nicoll

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