The city where the first African American man voted
In short: In 1870, a single vote in Perth Amboy changed the trajectory of American democracy. This historic waterfront city served as a colonial capital, a gateway for enslaved people, and an industrial powerhouse, weaving together threads of revolution and civil rights into its very soil.
Perth Amboy's significance dates back to its early colonial era. Settled in 1683 by Scottish colonists, it served as the capital of East Jersey from 1686 to 1702. Following the unification of the colony, it alternated as a provincial capital with Burlington until 1790. The city's geography—situated at the mouth of the Raritan River and adjoining Raritan Bay—made it a vital maritime hub. It was New Jersey’s primary inbound port for African slaves and served as a crucial way-station for travelers moving between New York City and Philadelphia via a ferry that operated from 1684 to 1963.
The city is also home to significant revolutionary landmarks. The Proprietary House, completed in 1764, housed William Franklin—the estranged son of Benjamin Franklin. In 1776, William was arrested there and convicted of treason during the American Revolution. The oldest municipal building still operating within America is situated nearby, known as Perth Amboy City Hall. New Jersey achieved first-state status for ratifying the Bill of Rights when the General Assembly gathered there on 20 November 1789.
The city's role in civil rights is equally foundational. In Perth Amboy, Thomas Mundy Peterson registered as the initial African American voter under Fifteenth Amendment rules on 31 March 1870. This milestone occurred during a period of intense industrial growth; by the mid-19th century, factories like A. Hall and Sons Terra Cotta fueled a diverse population of immigrants from across Europe. Today, while it remains a hub for industries like oil refining and chemical manufacturing, it preserves these layers of history through its historic waterfront and colonial architecture.
Interestingly, Perth Amboy also holds a peculiar place in American pop culture. Humorist James Thurber famously used the city's name as a source of childhood anxiety, leading to his story about an "inconsequential guy from Perth Amboy" which was later adapted into the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Perth Amboy, New Jersey
- Also: Perth Amboy | Middlesex County, Colonial History, Port City | Britannica
- Also: Wikidata — Perth Amboy · CC0
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