First Slave Auction in NY

The Atlantic Creoles were the earliest slaves in New Amsterdam, carried by the Dutch as early as the 1620s. They spoke many different languages, including Creole. Many of these slaves bore names from the places that they originally came from. Some examples include Anthony Portuguese, Simon Congo, Juan Guinea, Paulo d’Angola and among others. Having experience with the Atlantic, a lot of them were familiar with the legal systems, religion, trading practices of the western world. Because the Dutch West India Company owned them all, the Atlantic Creoles entered into servitude upon their arrival to New Amsterdam. Even though treated as slaves, they were able to assimilate into the New Amsterdam society. Many of them formed families, attended church, and baptized their children. Although the Atlantic Creoles were considered to be slaves, they still received wages from the Dutch company. This was because slavery was not clearly defined institution. Later on, many of these slaves ended up going into the lands near Wall Street, so they could serve as buffer against Native Americans’ attacks.