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KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I CATHERINE BRINCKLY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK WIDOW FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION OF THE SUM OF EIGHTY-POUNDS CURRENT MONEY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO ME IN HAND PAID AT AND BEFORE THE UNSEALING AND DELIVERY OF THESE PRESENTS BY ROBERT WEIR THE RECEIPT WHEREOF I DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE AND MYSELF THEREWITH TO BE FULLY SATISFY'D CONTENTED AND PAID HAVE GRANTED BARGIND SOLD RELEAS'D AND BY THESE PRESENTS DO FULLY CLEARLY AND ABSOLUTELY GRANT BARGAIN SELL AND RELEASE UNTO THE SAID ROBERT WEIR A NEGROE BOY ABOUT SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE NAM'D ISAAC TO HAVE AND TO HOLD THE SAID NEGROE BOY ISAAC UNTO THE SAID ROBERT WEIR HIS EXECUTORS ADMINISTERS AND ASSIGNS FOR EVER. AND I THE SAID CATHERINE BRINCKLY WIDOW FOR MYSELF MY HEIRS EXECUTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS DO COVENANT AND AGREE TO THE ABOVE NAM'D ROBERT WEIR. . . TO WARRANT AND DEFEND THE SALE OF THE ABOVE NAM'D ISAAC A NEGROE BOY AGAINST ALL PERSONS WHATSOEVER. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND SEEAL THE TWELVTH DAY O
1804réf. 42382New York 1804. Single sheet written in ink script on recto. A deed 8" x 12-3/4" recording the sale of the 17-year-old "Negroe Boy Isaac" to Robert Weir by Catherine Brinckly 12 January 1804. Signed at the end "Catherine Brinkly" and witness John Brinckly. Toned old folds stabilized with text preserved by matting in a contemporary frame. Good plus. British policy in the early 17th century under the Duke of York owner of substantial interests in the Royal African Company encouraged importation of slaves to New York. By the early 18th century slavery was a cornerstone of the City's economy. Slave Codes rigidly regulated the activities and lives of slaves. But by 1804 slavery in New York was in decline thanks to tireless emancipation efforts of the New York Manumission Society Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. In 1799 New York passed an Act emancipating everyone born after 1799. But "It was not until March 31 1817 that the New York legislature ended two centuries of slavery within its borders setting July 4 1827 as the date of final emancipation and making New York the first state to pass a law for the total abolition of legal slavery. When Emancipation Day finally arrived the number of emancipated men and women freed was roughly 4600." Celebrations and parades occurred throughout the state web site of Historical Society of the New York Courts. By this deed Isaac became the property of Robert Weir 1770-1825 a prosperous New York merchant from Scotland who had recently married Mary Katherine Brinckley Brinkley 1783-1840. Mary Katherine Weir is known as composer of the song "The Lord of the Castle." Their infant son Robert Walter Weir 1803-1889 just six months old when this deed was signed became a well-known Hudson River School painter; two of his sons also became famous artists. Robert Sr. declared bankruptcy in 1813 due to French confiscation of shipping goods. "Weir Robert 1770-" Robert Weir Papers Brigham Young University Library Vault MSS 511 Series 1. The grantor Catherine Brinckly was likely Weir's grandmother-in-law mother of Mary Katherine's father Thomas Brinckley born 1754; or some other close relative. We located Thomas Brinckley spelled with the "ck" listed in early New York City directories as city marshal. His name last appeared in 1794 at Cedar Street and Catherine's name began appearing in 1795 at the same street with "widow" following her name. The 1810 census shows one free person of color living with the Robert Weir family and no enslaved people suggesting that Weir had emancipated Isaac . "Weir Family Background" Chester County Historical Society website accessed August 2026; Duncan's New York City Directory and Register for 1794 1795 1800; Claghorn Charles: WOMEN COMPOSERS AND SONGWRITERS Univ. of Michigan: 1996 pp. 231; Ancestry website census and genealogical records. unknown books
