Rider’s connection to slavery is through the campus property once owned by Benjamin Van Cleve, a known slaveholder, prior to the University’s ownership.
Benjamin Van Cleve's Life
Benjamin Van Cleve was born in New Jersey in 1739. His parents John Brandt Van Cleve and Cornelia (Van Mater) Van Cleve were of Dutch ancestry and moved to the area from Monmouth County. Van Cleve gained prominence as a public official during the American Revolution and the founding era of the United States. He entered local government as colonial resistance to British imperial policies grew. At the age of 36, Benjamin Van Cleve answered the call to fight for independence. As an officer in the First Hunterdon militia, he led troops in the Battle of Long Island in 1776. He resigned from the army on November 13, 1777 after being elected to the New Jersey Assembly. He continued to serve in the state legislature until 1802 and was chosen Speaker of the Assembly multiple times during the 1780s. He also served as a justice of the peace and judge for many years.
Few documents have been found that give voice to Van Cleve’s opinions about slavery in his own words. However, several records demonstrate his participation in and support of slavery.
1778, 1779, 1786, and 1799
Tax records document that Benjamin Van Cleve owned at least one enslaved man in each of those years. Tax lists provide an incomplete record because only enslaved males fit to work between the ages of 16 and 50 were assessed.
1778
A runaway advertisement for an enslaved woman named Dinah owned by Benjamin Van Cleve was published in the New Jersey Gazette on December 31, 1778.
1785
Voted to reject a proposal that called for gradual abolition in favor of a more conservative focus on manumission. As Speaker of the Assembly, Van Cleve broke the tie vote to pass a motion to appoint a committee to draft a bill for preventing the slave trade in New Jersey and to regulate manumission. While this bill would limit international slave trade, it had no practical effect on supporting enslaved people in New Jersey, whose population would persist as children were born into slavery, and restricted the growth of the free Black population through regulating enslaved people's release from slavery.
1792
Paid bond for Samuel Hunt indicted along with nephew Elias Hunt for manslaughter in a horrific case of the whipping to death of a 15-year-old enslaved girl named Hagar owned by Samuel Hunt.
1794
Voted against gradual abolition as a representative of Hunterdon County in the New Jersey Assembly.
1795
Witnessed the age of an enslaved man named Guy being freed by the slaveholder Bernard Hanlon of Trenton. Only enslaved persons between the ages of 21 and 35 could be legally freed. The rationale for this requirement stemmed from the prejudiced view that free Blacks would be unable to support themselves.
1798
Voted in favor of maintaining slavery as a racial system of perpetual bondage passed from mother to child and for strengthening restrictions on enslaved peoples. He continued to oppose gradual abolition as a representative of Hunterdon County in the New Jersey Assembly.
1802
Voted to postpone discussion of gradual abolition until the next legislative session as a representative of Hunterdon County in the New Jersey Assembly.
1804
Did not participate in the vote for the Gradual Abolition Act because he lost re-election to the New Jersey Assembly.
1808
Witnessed the manumission of an enslaved woman named Rachel by his daughter Elizabeth Van Cleve. Rachel had two sons, Charles and Luas, born under the Gradual Abolition Act, who would not gain their freedom until 1829 and 1832 respectively. No records have been found that Van Cleve personally freed an enslaved person.