New Brunswick in Middlesex County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Will’s Way
Photographed By David Weintraub
1. Will’s Way Marker
This plaque honors Will, an enslaved black man who worked to lay the foundation for the Old Queens building in 1808. In recognition of Will’s labor and the role of slavery in Rutgers’ early history, the walkway from Hamilton Street to the entrance of Old Queens has been named Will’s Way
Erected by Rutgers University.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Industry & Commerce.
Location. 40° 29.946′ N, 74° 26.787′ W. Marker is in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in Middlesex County. Marker is on Hamilton Street east of College Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Brunswick NJ 08901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Queens (within shouting distance of this marker); Queen’s College (within shouting distance of this marker); Men of Rutgers College (within shouting distance of this marker); Theological Education in Old Queens (within shouting distance of this marker); Class of 1924 Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Geology Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line);
this page online
More about this marker. Most people don’t think about New Jersey as a slave state, but New Jersey had a slave population until the passage of the 14th Amendment when the last of the 13 slaves were freed.
New Jersey emancipation began in 1804, but a gradual emancipation meant that slaves were held as “indentured servants” until their adulthood. Old Queens started being built in 1809 five years after “emancipation”.
Also see . . . Old Queens (Wikipedia). Old Queens is the oldest building on the Rutgers University New Brunswick campus. (Submitted on January 30, 2021, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Additional keywords. Enslaved labor
Photographed By David Weintraub
2. Will’s Way Marker
Another plaque on Old Queens
Photographed By David Weintraub, January 24, 2021
3. Will’s Way Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2021, by David Weintraub of Edison, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 242 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 20, 2021, by David Weintraub of Edison, New Jersey. 3. submitted on January 24, 2021, by David Weintraub of Edison, New Jersey. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
