To the left is a newspaper advertisement of a $50.00 reward for two run-away slaves, BILL and JOE, in "Pompton-plains" in 1802. They were owned by Simon Van Ess and Henry Berry.

In "Slave Records of Morris County, New Jersey: 1756 - 1841" compiled and edited by David Miltros, copyright 1991 by the Morris County Heritage Commission, there is listed on page 15 a 1789 ESTATE INVENTORY of Simon (Seijmon) H. Vanness, Pequannock Township:

1 Negro Tom.....................Pounds   0.0.0
1 Negro Jom.....................Pounds 80.0.0
1 Negro Lad Joe..............Pounds 35.0.0
Negro Wench Diana.......Pounds 65.0.0

Is "1 Negro Lad Joe" the same as the "JOE" listed in the advertisement? What do you think?

Researched and prepared by Ed Engelbart for the Pequannock Historic District Commission.