John Hasbrouck, "A Most Estimable Citizen"

John Hasbrouck, A Most Estimable Citizen reveals the story of a Black child born under New York’s gradual abolition acts in 1805 in New Paltz and explores the personal stories of how the laws impacted him, his enslaved parents Peg and Phillip, and other family members. Having learned how to read and write, John later kept two remarkable account books, purchased land, and was one of the town’s earliest Black voters. The account books, in particular, reveal new information about John’s interactions with both the White and Black community in New Paltz. To view the online exhibit, click here.