AR122

An Assembly Resolution honoring Thomas Mundy Peterson for being the first African American to vote following the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Whereas, Born in Metuchen, New Jersey on October 6, 1824 to a formerly enslaved mother and a free father, Thomas Mundy Peterson later moved to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where at the age of 45, he became the first African American to vote after the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which stipulates that any citizen has the right to vote, regardless of their race, color, or previous condition of servitude; and

Whereas, The 15th Amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870, when the required three-quarters of states ratified the amendment, although New Jersey was not one of those states; and

Whereas, On March 30, 1870, the United States Secretary of State certified ratification of the 15th Amendment; and

Whereas, One day later, on March 31, 1870, Peterson bravely voted in Perth Amboy in an election to revise the city’s charter; and

Whereas, Although Peterson was encouraged to vote by his boss, abolitionists, and social reformers, he reported that one white man tore up his ballot in anger at seeing an African American man vote; and

Whereas, That man was not alone in his racism as New Jersey was slow to adopt Reconstruction Era amendments, being the last northern state to abolish slavery; and

Whereas, After three-quarters of the nation ratified the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, New Jersey followed suit in 1866 and, later that year, ratified the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship and ensures equal protection under the law, only to rescind that ratification in 1868; and

Whereas, Almost one year after Peterson’s historic vote, New Jersey finally ratified the 15th Amendment on February 21, 1871; and

Whereas, After his pioneering vote, Peterson was appointed as a member of a committee of seven to revise certain portions of the Perth Amboy City Charter; and

Whereas, After casting his first vote, Peterson continued to vote in every election he could for the rest of his life; and

Whereas, Peterson continued his civic engagement as a delegate for the Middlesex County Republican Convention and later as a delegate in the New Jersey gubernatorial convention of the Prohibition Party, believing temperance was a critical issue; and

Whereas, Peterson also became the first African American to serve on a jury in Perth Amboy; and

Whereas, After a bipartisan committee confirmed that Peterson was the first African American to vote after ratification of the 15th Amendment, the people of Perth Amboy raised money to create a gold medallion commemorating his historic vote; and

Whereas, On May 30, 1884 the people of Perth Amboy presented Peterson with the medallion bearing his name, the engraved face of Abraham Lincoln on one side, and, on the other side, the inscription “Presented by Citizens of Perth Amboy, N.J. to THOMAS PETERSON, The First Colored Voter in the U.S. Under the Provisions of the 15th Amendment, at an Election Held in that City, March 31, 1870”; and

Whereas, Peterson proudly wore his medallion and was said to have never considered himself properly dressed without it; and

Whereas, In recognition of Thomas Mundy Peterson’s life and legacy, it is fitting and proper for the people of New Jersey to honor him; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House honors the life and legacy of Thomas Mundy Peterson, the first African American to vote following the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Mayor of Perth Amboy and Juanita C. Wooten, Ed.D, a descendant of Thomas Mundy Peterson.

STATEMENT

This bill honors the life and legacy of Thomas Mundy Peterson for being the first African American to vote in the United States following the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which stipulates that any citizen has the right to vote, regardless of their race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Born in Metuchen, New Jersey on October 6, 1824 to a formerly enslaved mother and a free father, Thomas Mundy Peterson later moved to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where at the age of 45, he became the first African American to vote after the ratification of the 15th Amendment. On March 31, 1870, Peterson bravely voted in Perth Amboy in an election to revise the city’s charter. Although Peterson was encouraged to vote by his boss, abolitionists, and social reformers, he reported that one white man tore up his ballot in anger at seeing an African American man vote.

New Jersey was slow to adopt Reconstruction Era amendments, being the last northern state to abolish slavery. After three-quarters of the nation ratified the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, New Jersey followed suit in 1866 and, later that year, ratified the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship and ensures equal protection under the law, only to rescind that ratification in 1868. Almost one year after Peterson’s historic vote, New Jersey finally ratified the 15th Amendment on February 21, 1871.

After his pioneering vote, Peterson was appointed as a member of a committee of seven to revise certain portions of the Perth Amboy City Charter. He also continued to vote in every election he could for the rest of his life. Peterson continued his civic engagement as a delegate for the Middlesex County Republican Convention and later as a delegate in the New Jersey gubernatorial convention of the Prohibition Party, believing temperance was a critical issue. He also became the first African American to serve on a jury in Perth Amboy.

Following confirmation by a bipartisan committee that Peterson was the first African American to vote after ratification of the 15th Amendment, the people of Perth Amboy raised money to create a gold medallion commemorating Peterson’s historic vote. On May 30, 1884 the people of Perth Amboy presented him with the medallion bearing his name, the engraved face of Abraham Lincoln on one side, and, on the other side, the inscription “Presented by Citizens of Perth Amboy, N.J. to THOMAS PETERSON, The First Colored Voter in the U.S. Under the Provisions of the 15th Amendment, at an Election Held in that City, March 31, 1870.” Peterson proudly wore his medallion and was said to have never considered himself properly dressed without it.