c. 1810 – 1902
Hannah Mandeville was born into slavery, one of the first members of the African American Plane St. Church and active in the church. Her Newark News obituary said she was “well known to the negroes of this city and to many white people for her piety and good works”. The Daily Gazette wrote, “Until a year ago she was one of the most energetic members of the church society and was known for her charitable disposition and interest in the elevation of the race.”
Hannah lived at 224 Plane Street. In 1898, the Daily State Gazette and Newark News related that a group led by Mr. Hopwood (the Gazette reports them as a group of Italians) kicked Hannah out of her house and fired shots at her grandson Samuel. The Newark News detailed a title dispute, in part because Hannah had gone South for several years.
By 1900, Hannah moved to 11 Hackett Street, where she lived with her grandson. According to the Newark News obituary, she then became an inmate of the Alms House and died in the insane asylum, however, there that is left out of other articles.
Various articles state she was born in 1810 in Paulus Hook, Jersey City and was originally a slave on the Condit estate in Hudson County. After being freed by an 1820 Act of the Legislature, she moved to Pompton Plains at age 16, becoming a servant on the Speer Farm. There she met Anthony Mandeville, whom she married, and moved to Newark.
Anthony was employed by file cutter, John Hackett, who gave them a piece of land on Hackett Street. By 1873, the Newark atlas shows land of Hackett Street belong to Anthony Mandeville. Their house backed the house of Mary King, which was likely an Underground Railroad site. An 1897 article in the Sunday Call also suggests she owned a stable.
She is shown on the 1870 census in Newark with her husband Anthony (birth date given as 1825) and on the 1900 census at 11 Hackett St with her grandson (birth date given as 1807).
Bibliography
“A Reminder of Slavery Days” Newark News, 11-13-1902
Williams, Noelle Lorraine. Black Power 19th Century.
Hester, Alfred Miller. Story of A Slave, 1903.
“In and Around the State of New Jersey” Daily State Gazette Mar 18, 1898
“Roof Torn Down From Over Her Head” Newark News Mar 14, 1898
“New Jersey History relating to Negro Slavery…” Newark News Mar 15, 1903
1870 Federal Census
“Besieged in Her Home” Newark News Mar 15, 1898
“Suffered for Months” Newark Sunday Call Jun 6, 1897
“Newark’s Dead Ex Slave” Daily Gazette Nov 16, 1902