HALF INDIAN JACK

COMING SOON

"Like other area farmers, Van Vorst owned Black slaves to care for his property. One of his slaves, "Half Indian Jack," was reportedly a British spy during the Revolutionary War. He died at 102 years of age and is buried at the rear of lot No.153 on Wayne Street."

http://njcu.libguides.com/vanvorst2 

"As an example, Mr. Cunningham mentioned Half-Indian Jack, a black man portrayed in one account as a buffoon, a "root doctor" who would "make his coppers" by convincing slaves that he had supernatural powers. Mr. Cunningham also found a passing reference to the fact that Half-Indian Jack was a spy for the British.

Taking into account the fact that the British were promising freedom to slaves who would help their cause, he researched sources that were more in sympathy with the Crown. He found that Jack was a hero in the eyes of the British, his efforts against his slave masters depicted as being entirely justified." https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/02/nyregion/curiosity-leads-to-discoveries-in-black-history.html