History of South America

Was New Jersey slave free during colonial times?

New Jersey was not a slave-free state during colonial times. Slavery was legal in New Jersey from the time of its founding in the 17th century until it was abolished in 1804. During this time, an estimated 12,000 enslaved people lived in New Jersey. The majority of enslaved people in New Jersey were of African descent, but there were also some Native American and European indentured servants.