Tom

Tom was one of several people enslaved by Dutch farmer Nicholas Vechte. He had a wife named Bet – who was also enslaved – and at least one child, a son named Frank. Like many enslaved people, Tom may have built American fortifications and been asked to defend the homestead while his enslaver evacuated to safety. While his neighbor, Jaff, enslaved by Vechte’s son-in-law, Rem Couwenhoven, appeared in a 1777 runaway slave ad, Tom most likely remained at the Old Stone House. Yet he was separated from his family a year later anyway, when Nicholas Vechte died and in his will gave Tom to his grandson, Nickleas Couwenhoven, along with six cows and three horses.