Keder or Kedar [Albertson] - KEDA2
Title
Keder or Kedar [Albertson] - KEDA2
Description
African descent
Contributor
Jackie Dinan
Status
Enslaved
Location or Address
Southold
Enslaver or Household
William Albertson (1752–1818)
Source/s
Original Southold parish register accessed at Ancestry.com under the collection entitled, U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701–1970>New York>Southold>First Presbyterian Church>Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths>1749-1832>image 256/340.
Excerpt of "Keder and His Family" from Long Island Traveler, January 23, 1879. Written by Joseph Wickham Case.
1810 Federal census at Riverhead. Snip of enumeration of Keder Albertson [indexed as Hedon Albertson at Ancestry.com].
Excerpt of "Keder and His Family" from Long Island Traveler, January 23, 1879. Written by Joseph Wickham Case.
1810 Federal census at Riverhead. Snip of enumeration of Keder Albertson [indexed as Hedon Albertson at Ancestry.com].
Links
Male or Female
Male
Biographical Text
Transcription of Long Island Traveler excerpt, January 23, 1879, by Joseph Wickham Case:
The birthplace and parentage of Kedar are uncertain. He was brought by William Albertson to Hashamomack about the year 1780, a slave. He had with him his wife named Chloe, and one child also named Chloe. During her residence on the Neck, she had another daughter named Bloom, and a son named Maltby. About the year 1781, Kedar’s wife Chloe died, he then married Peg. By her he had 14 children. He continued to live at Hashamomack and with the large force of men and boys always to be found there, he helped to plant the corn, and reap the harvests and herd the cattle, till 1793 when, the mansion, house though large, could scarcely accommodate the rapidly increasing number of both the white and black population, and it was deemed advisable to thin out, and Kedar was accordingly permitted to emigrate, and occupy the house upon the farm of Mr. Alberston at Aquebogue. This farm extended to from the Bay to the Sound and forms the line of division between the Towns of Southold and Riverhead. Here were born some 8 or 9 of his younger children. In 1819, Kedar died, aged about 80 years. He was buried in the old Southold cemetery, where all his family lie. His widow Peg died in November 1820, also aged about 80 years.
Kedar always assumed the sir name of Derby, and his children have always retained it, although neither he nor they could ever tell how they came by it. Kedar was of a social happy disposition, never letting the cares of this world worry him, and never forgetting that hard work and excessive toil might shorten his days. Peg performed her part to the satisfaction of all, most of the time being devoted to the care of her own, and the children of her Mistress.
Kedar and Peg inhabited, with their Master and Mistress, the old mansion erected by Lieut. Joseph Conklin at the water’s edge and helped to pull it down, and on the erection of the new brick house, still had quarters assigned them in its eastern wing. Of the seventeen children born to Kedar, the whole were [sic] steady, honest, and devoted to the interest of those whom they served. As time rolled on, the members of this large family became widely scattered. Some of them hovered around their old paternal hearth through life. And who can tell of the many happy hours, and the kindly greetings the wandering ones enjoyed in visiting their old home. And with what a heartfelt delight, all, both black and white, welcomed them to a cosy seat by the glowing fire by the broad kitchen hearth, and to all the hospitalities the old mansion could offer.
The birthplace and parentage of Kedar are uncertain. He was brought by William Albertson to Hashamomack about the year 1780, a slave. He had with him his wife named Chloe, and one child also named Chloe. During her residence on the Neck, she had another daughter named Bloom, and a son named Maltby. About the year 1781, Kedar’s wife Chloe died, he then married Peg. By her he had 14 children. He continued to live at Hashamomack and with the large force of men and boys always to be found there, he helped to plant the corn, and reap the harvests and herd the cattle, till 1793 when, the mansion, house though large, could scarcely accommodate the rapidly increasing number of both the white and black population, and it was deemed advisable to thin out, and Kedar was accordingly permitted to emigrate, and occupy the house upon the farm of Mr. Alberston at Aquebogue. This farm extended to from the Bay to the Sound and forms the line of division between the Towns of Southold and Riverhead. Here were born some 8 or 9 of his younger children. In 1819, Kedar died, aged about 80 years. He was buried in the old Southold cemetery, where all his family lie. His widow Peg died in November 1820, also aged about 80 years.
Kedar always assumed the sir name of Derby, and his children have always retained it, although neither he nor they could ever tell how they came by it. Kedar was of a social happy disposition, never letting the cares of this world worry him, and never forgetting that hard work and excessive toil might shorten his days. Peg performed her part to the satisfaction of all, most of the time being devoted to the care of her own, and the children of her Mistress.
Kedar and Peg inhabited, with their Master and Mistress, the old mansion erected by Lieut. Joseph Conklin at the water’s edge and helped to pull it down, and on the erection of the new brick house, still had quarters assigned them in its eastern wing. Of the seventeen children born to Kedar, the whole were [sic] steady, honest, and devoted to the interest of those whom they served. As time rolled on, the members of this large family became widely scattered. Some of them hovered around their old paternal hearth through life. And who can tell of the many happy hours, and the kindly greetings the wandering ones enjoyed in visiting their old home. And with what a heartfelt delight, all, both black and white, welcomed them to a cosy seat by the glowing fire by the broad kitchen hearth, and to all the hospitalities the old mansion could offer.
Birth Date
1739, calculated from his reported age (80 years) at his death (in Long Island Traveler newspaper).
Death Date
September 19, 1819
Biographical Notes
Oral tradition says that Keder was brought to Hashamomack around 1780, enslaved by William Albertson. He fathered eighteen children (sixteen surviving into adulthood); three by his first wife, fifteen by his second wife. He lived in Hashamomack until about 1793, when he moved to the Albertson's farm at Aquebogue. Information concerning Keder and his family was published in the Long Island Traveler, January 23, 1879, much of which has been confirmed.
The 1810 Federal census confirmed Keder Albertson’s residence in Riverhead (the town in which Aquebogue lies), as head of a household with three free people of color.
Keder's first wife was Chloe (#377). They had three children: Chloe (#1855), Bloom (#379), and Maltby (#1641). Keder's second wife was Pegg (#1640). They had fifteen children: Titus (#1584), Lymas (#1643), Catherine/Cate/Kate (#1644), Eunice (#1645), Sylvia (#1646), Keturah (#1647), Peter (#1648), Lucinda (#1649), Abel (#1650), Phillis (#1651), UNK (#1652), Flora (#1856), Derby (#1857), Margaret (#1858), and John (#1854).
Kedar's children took different surnames upon gaining their freedom, including Freeman and Derby.
The 1810 Federal census confirmed Keder Albertson’s residence in Riverhead (the town in which Aquebogue lies), as head of a household with three free people of color.
Keder's first wife was Chloe (#377). They had three children: Chloe (#1855), Bloom (#379), and Maltby (#1641). Keder's second wife was Pegg (#1640). They had fifteen children: Titus (#1584), Lymas (#1643), Catherine/Cate/Kate (#1644), Eunice (#1645), Sylvia (#1646), Keturah (#1647), Peter (#1648), Lucinda (#1649), Abel (#1650), Phillis (#1651), UNK (#1652), Flora (#1856), Derby (#1857), Margaret (#1858), and John (#1854).
Kedar's children took different surnames upon gaining their freedom, including Freeman and Derby.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Keder or Kedar [Albertson] - KEDA2,” Plain Sight Project, accessed April 20, 2024, https://plainsightproject.org/items/show/1639.