the village. Some of the earliest
settlers had negroes in bondage. Among these was James Averell, Jr., who
worked his tannery by slave labor. One of his slaves, known as Tom
Bronk, was for many years well known in Cooperstown as the servant of
the former owner's son, William Holt Averell, and lived to a great age.
The clumsily written bill of sale by which Tom Bronk became the property
of James Averell, Jr., is still in existence:

Know all men by these Presents, that I, George Henry
Livingston, of the town of Sharon, County of Schoharie and
State of New York, for and in Consideration of the Sum of
three hundred Dollars Lawful money of the State of New York to
me in hand paid by James Averill Jr of the town and County of
Otsego and State Aforesaid At or before the Sealing and
delivery of these Presents, the Receipt whereof, I the said
George Henry Livingston do hereby acknowledge, have granted,
bargained and sold, and by these presents, do grant, bargain
and sell, unto the said James Averill Jr, his Executors,
Administrators, and assigns, one negro man About thirty Six
years of age and known by the name of Tom to have and to hold
the said negro man Tom to the said James Averill Jr. his
Executors, Administrators, and assigns forever; and I the said
George Henry Livingston for myself, my heirs Executors, and
Administrators the Said negro man unto the said James Averill
Jr. his Executors, administrators, and assigns, against me the
said George Henry Livingston, my Executors, and
Administrators, and against all and every other person or
persons Whomsoever Shall and will warrent. And forever Defend
by these presents. And also warrent the said negro man to be
Sound and in health. According to the best of my knowledge in
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the
Second Day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand
Eight hundred Fifteen.

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
In Presence of
ZACHARIAH HUGER
KOERL VAN SCHAYCK
GEORGE X HENRY LIVINGSTON.
his mark

A group of settlers who came from the Barbadoes brought with them
slaves, who were afterward freed, and the tombstone of Joseph Stewart,
in the Cooper family plot in Christ churchyard, emphasizes, in capital
letters, the fact that, although born a slave, he was for twenty years a
_free_ serva