Seamen's Protection Certificate for James Forten Dunbar (1810)
Philadelphia City, ss.
On the twelfth day of July one thousand eight hundred and ten
Personally came before Alexander Tod, Esq. one of the Aldermen of the City aforesaid, James Forten Dunbar, mulatto aged 11 years, 4 feet seven inches high, with his shoes, yellow complexion, Black hair, 11 years of age, marked mark of inoculation on his left arm, scar on his left thumb, scar on his right shin by the bite of a dog, Born free, being legally sworn, says, that according to the best of his knowledge, he was born in Philadelphia City.
At the same time appeared James Forten being also sworn, says, that he has known and been well acquainted with said James Forten Dunbar for some years, and that according to the best of his knowledge and belief, he the said James Forten Dunbar was born at the place aforesaid. Witness my Hand and Seal, the day and year first written.
James Forten Dunbar
his x mark
James Forten
Sworn before Alexr Tod
Alderman
- Title
- Seamen's Protection Certificate for James Forten Dunbar (1810)
- Description
- Seamen's Protection Certificates were documents authorized by an act of Congress in 1796 to protect U.S. sailors from being impressed into the service of foreign navies. For Black Americans, they also served as a way to document their free status. This certificate was issued for James Forten Dunbar, a free man of mixed ancestry who spent a long career at sea as a sailor and sail-maker aboard merchant and naval vessels, including service in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War.
- Date
- 1810-07-12
- Subject
- African Americans
- Document Type
- Government Record
- Document Category
- Primary Source
- Archival Source
- RG 36, Records of the U.S. Customs Service, 1795-1875, Proofs of Citizenship, Entry UD-1066A, Philadelphia, 15E3: 16/20/4, Box 28, James Forten Dunbar, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
- Digital Repository
- Wikimedia Commons
- Title
- Seamen's Protection Certificate for James Forten Dunbar (1810)
- Description
- Seamen's Protection Certificates were documents authorized by an act of Congress in 1796 to protect U.S. sailors from being impressed into the service of foreign navies. For Black Americans, they also served as a way to document their free status. This certificate was issued for James Forten Dunbar, a free man of mixed ancestry who spent a long career at sea as a sailor and sail-maker aboard merchant and naval vessels, including service in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War.
- Date
- 1810-07-12
- Subject
- African Americans
- Document Type
- Government Record
- Document Category
- Primary Source
- Archival Source
- RG 36, Records of the U.S. Customs Service, 1795-1875, Proofs of Citizenship, Entry UD-1066A, Philadelphia, 15E3: 16/20/4, Box 28, James Forten Dunbar, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
- Digital Repository
- Wikimedia Commons