dyckman farmhouse

The history of the Dyckman farmhouse conveys the story of gradual emancipation and
freedom in New York (1790-1850). From 1790, with a total of seven enslaved people
within the household, to 1840, the first census year when no African Americans, slave or
free, are included in the return, the Dyckman household reflects what was happening
throughout the state.

Recently, funding from the Medical Center Neighborhood Fund has allowed us
to conduct more research to try and discover more about the lives of Free
Black and Enslaved People in Northern Manhattan. Research is still being
finalized, but we can share a few things at this point:

In 1820, there were three people living in the farmhouse whose stories are missing:

Hannah, Free Black Woman (between 26-45 years old, birth and death dates unknown)
According to family tradition, Hannah was a cook for the family and was born at the
farmhouse, the daughter of an enslaved woman.

Free Black Boy (under age 14, name, birth and death dates unknown)
Census record in 1820 on identify the head of household (Jacobus Dyckman) by name, other
household members are identified only by race, gender and age range. We have not been
able to discover yet what his relationship to Hannah may have been.

Enslaved Male (name, birth and death dates unknown)
Again, census records give only a limited amoutn of information, but do raise interesting
questions about the social structure within the household and the relationship between free
and slave.

So far, research has uncovered the fact that in 1820, sixteen other African Americans were
living on the twenty farms around the Dyckma farm. Twelve people were free, but four
people were still enslaved. As research work continues into this story and many stories of
people who have lived at the farmhouse we will be updating the website.