Four New Witness Stones to Honor Enslaved Ancestors in New Paltz

Four new witness stones will be dedicated at Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz, New York, on June 19, coinciding with the celebration of Juneteenth. These stones will commemorate the lives of four individuals—James, Molly, Gerritt, and Hendrick—who were enslaved by the Hasbrouck family, one of the original settlers of the area. The Hasbroucks were among the French Protestant Huguenots who established the European settlement in 1677.

According to Ulster County Historian Eddie Moran, the new stones will bring the total number of witness stones at Historic Huguenot Street to eight. The initiative is part of a collaborative effort among Historic Huguenot Street, the Margaret Wade Lewis Center for Black History and Culture, and the Witness Stones Project. The project aims to restore the history and honor the humanity of enslaved African individuals.

Uncovering the Lives of the Enslaved

Moran noted that the installation of these stones reflects a deeper investigation into the lives of James, Molly, Gerritt, and Hendrick. Research included analyzing a census from 1703, which revealed that nine African individuals were enslaved in New Paltz. This census was recorded shortly after the arrival of Betty, the first documented African woman enslaved in the community.

Historical records indicate that the first reference to James, Molly, Gerritt, and Hendrick occurred on August 26, 1712. On this date, Jean Hasbrouck instructed that Gerritt and James be passed to his son, Jacob Hasbrouck, while Molly was designated for Jacob’s sister, Elizabeth. Moran described this arrangement as one of the most troubling examples of dehumanization and family separation within Ulster County history.

“It’s one of the most horrifying examples of dehumanization and family separation we see in Ulster County,”

Moran stated, emphasizing the emotional weight of these historical injustices. He highlighted a stipulation that if Molly had children, her first daughter would be removed from her care at just one year old.

Historical Context and Community Impact

In addition to the personal tragedies of these individuals, their stories intersect with broader historical events in the region. In 1714, a document referenced Gerritt as he relayed important information concerning a potential attack by Dutch colonists on the Esopus Native Americans. This instance illustrates how enslaved individuals, despite their legal status, played significant roles in their communities.

Moran commented on the significance of this event, stating, “Here you have a man whose humanity is denied by the law, making a choice that impacts everyone around him.” This highlights Gerritt’s agency, despite the oppressive circumstances of his life.

The dedication ceremony for the witness stones will take place during the Margaret Wade-Lewis Center’s Juneteenth Jubilee event. Moran plans to present further insights into the lives of these four individuals later in the spring. Juneteenth, recognized as a national holiday since 2021, commemorates the liberation of enslaved people in the United States, marking the day in 1865 when federal troops enforced the end of slavery in Texas.

As the witness stones program expands, Moran acknowledged the challenges of memorializing all those who were enslaved in New Paltz. He estimates that thousands were enslaved by European settlers in the region. The initiative currently focuses on the earliest known individuals enslaved by each of the original Huguenot families.

The newly dedicated stones will complement existing memorials for Jack and Betty, the first recorded enslaved residents of New Paltz, as well as Anthony and Susanna, who were enslaved by a patentee but likely did not reside in the settlement.

This ongoing effort to honor and remember the enslaved individuals of New Paltz serves as a poignant reminder of the region’s complex history and the enduring impact of these narratives on contemporary society.