John K. Dyke
City Historian

For more photos from the Junteenth celebration, click here.

PERTH AMBOY – Thank you to Anna Daily, Jeanette Wilson & all of the organizers & friends. Today we are all very excited as this is Perth Amboy’s first official celebration of Juneteenth. Some may ask, what has Juneteenth to do with New Jersey or with the City of Perth Amboy?

Well, this is a celebration that affects us all as a nation. It’s a day that asks us all to look back, together, and see our connections, to recognize our responsibilities in the present, and to strive toward building that “more perfect Union” our Constitution calls for.

As you know we, as a country, are experiencing an important reckoning regarding social justice. There are many conversations about discrimination, mistreatment, and police brutality. We have all heard and perhaps even participated in these discussions of how civil rights have been delayed and at times, ignored and even denied.

Historically, dating back to 1865, Juneteenth is a day of celebration and reflection…..celebration and reflection. The celebration is of African-American emancipation, via the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The reflection is upon our past, that is our history. That history being both national & local. Today, I have been asked to talk about our local history…..Perth Amboy history.

To many people, the subject of American Slavery evokes thoughts of antebellum Southern plantations. Some think of States such as South Carolina, Virginia or Georgia. However, throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th Centuries, slavery remained widespread throughout the North. Situated at the junction of the Arthur Kill & Raritan River, with easy access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Raritan Bay, Perth Amboy served as a main port and Capital City for the 18th Century Colony of New Jersey.

Initially from the islands of Barbados & Montserrat, the first enslaved persons were brought into Perth Amboy. A short period of time afterward, slave ships arrived here directly from the Coast of West Africa. As a center of government, commerce & shipping, Perth Amboy –sadly—became a major port for the importation of enslaved persons.

During the 18th Century, Perth Amboy’s City Dock was located on the site of the present-day Ferry Slip and was the location where many disembarked smaller slave ships. The larger ships docked in the Raritan Bay and sent long boats to bring enslaved people to the City Dock. The captives were then forced up Smith Street to the corner of Water Street. Barracks were built near this intersection in order to accommodate the slave trade. From these Barracks, the enslaved people were claimed by their new so-called “owners.”

You may ask how this all came about. During the 18th Century, the Colonies of New York & Pennsylvania collected tariffs on imported enslaved people. However, for a period of 48 years, the New Jersey Colony did not charge this tax. Between 1721 and 1769, New Jersey allowed the duty-free importation of enslaved people. In order to maximize profits, slave ship captains selected Perth Amboy as a port of entry, while New York City and Philadelphia were typically bypassed. In many cases, enslaved people, designated for other Colonies, were sent by wagons from Perth Amboy to other regions.

From 1726 to 1790, New Jersey’s Black population grew 500% (2,581 to 14,198). New Jersey’s enslaved work force made a tremendous contribution to the Colony’s economic development. Within the Colony, much of the physical labor was completed by enslaved people. At one time, almost every household in Perth Amboy owned enslaved people.

History isn’t always pretty; and we need to tell the ugly side of it. I’ve mentioned some of the tragic parts, but there is also a bright side to Perth Amboy’s past. Perth Amboy became a major station of the Underground Railroad Movement. Often, people who escaped from slavery were brought to Philadelphia by URR guides, such as Harriet Tubman. Further transport was arranged by URR Station Operator William Still. In many cases William’s brother, Dr. James Still brought these same people through the State of New Jersey and into the Eagleswood section of Perth Amboy. On the Western border of Perth Amboy, the Eagleswood Community transported “passengers” of the URR via the Raritan River and by wagon. At Eagleswood in Perth Amboy, they found safe harbor. Here they were fed, cared for & their wounds medically treated.

And so, in some ways, the City Of Perth Amboy had come full circle, that is, from a Port Of Slavery to a Port Of Freedom. And, in time, Perth Amboy set a national precedent. Here, the first & second African-American Voters under the 15th Amendment cast their votes in Perth Amboy City Hall. Those men are Thomas Mundy Peterson & Marcus Curless. Their bravery & courage, as well as all of those who came before them, serve to inspire us.

On this day, let us reflect upon, remember and celebrate Perth Amboy’s first official Juneteenth Holiday and all the aspects of our local history. These legacies are an important part of our personal stories, of our City’s history, and…..without a doubt….. an important part of our Nation’s identity.