CRG

Anthony Thompson, the oldest and best-known colored man in the Oranges,
died at his residence, at the junction of Washington Street and Eagle Rock
Avenue, Tory Corner. West Orange,--on Tuesday night, Aug. 1884. He was
the last of the old slaves of Essex County, and died of old age and a
complication of troubles.

Uncle Anthony, as all his neighbors called him was a tall, powerfully built man
of great strength and endurance. His great- grandmother was the queen of an
African tribe and his grandmother, when a young girl, was stolen, with a
number of others, by a slave trader and brought to this country. Uncle Anthony
was born in Raritan, Somerset Co., in 1798, his mother being a slave in the
family of Rev. Dr. Philip Duryee, pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church of that
place. Two of Dominie Duryee's grandsons, John G. and Joseph D. Harrison,
are now living and carry on the flour and feed business at No. 502 Broad
Street, Newark.

While Uncle Anthony was a baby, Dominie Duryee sold out and removed to
Little Falls (now Passaic County), and Anthony's mother was sold to one David
Still, Anthony being sold with her. About a year after Anthony and his mother
were sold to Samuel M. Ward, of Crane town (now Montclair.) They lived with
Mr. Ward until the latter's death, in 1822. In his will Mr. Ward gave Anthony
his freedom, but requested he should remain with Mrs. Ward until her death.
She died in September, 1828, and Anthony, being then twenty-four years of
age, was his own master. His mother was too old to begin life anew, and was a
town charge. In those days the poor were sold off to whoever bid the lowest
price for taking care of them.

Anthony, though he was just starting out in life bought his mother for one
hundred dollars, took her home and cared for her until her death in a most
filial and kindly manner. In 1828 he moved to Orange and bought a little place
on Washington Street. He lived there till 1833, when he bought the place
where he ended his days.