February 2, 1799--Aaron Dean's Will Seals Fate of His Slaves

"Innisfree" Dean House 739 Georges Road

Aaron Dean, Sr., was one of the "founding fathers" of South Brunswick (previously part of the South Ward of Middlesex County).  He owned several acres of land and he owned several slaves.  The fate of these slaves was sealed in Dean's will, dated February 2, 1779.  Aaron Dean, Jr., received a young slave, named Frank.  The deceased's wife, Charity, received two female slaves, Pat and Dine.  His daughters, Margaret and Ruth, were to receive Pat and Dine after Charity's passing.  John Dean was to receive a young slave whose name was unknown.  Daniel Dean acquired a servant, named Robert.  In Daniel's will, Robert was to be manumitted and given thirty dollars upon the death of Daniel's wife, Ruth.  Abraham Dean acquired an indented young female, named Abigail, who went to Abraham's wife, Isabel, at his passing.  Finally a female servant, named Dinah, was manumitted at the age of twenty.  This information, though incomplete and sparse, indicates that almost all those who descended from the original Aaron Dean (whom the Deans part of South Brunswick Township is named after) possessed servants--be they slaves, indentures, or black freemen--for generations.  The last Dean servant was Peter Baker, who lived in a cottage adjacent to the Dean homestead.  He had outlived the last of the local Dean family members and was left on his own.  In his final years, when Peter could no longer work, he became a charge of the Township.  "Old Pete",  as he was known by locals, passed away after living a long, full life.  It was discovered that he had used much less than what the Township had allotted him (close to $700 remained unused).  Before he died, Pete Baker requested that these monies be returned to the Township and given to someone who needed it more than he did.  Sometimes the true heroes hide in the history.  Most times we never bother to find them.  Such is not the case in this blog--hats off to "Old Pete."