USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 51
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > East Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 51
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > South Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 51
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Bloomfield > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 51
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor Locks > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 51
USA > Connecticut > Tolland County > Ellington > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut : including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 > Part 51
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When slavery was first introduced into Connecticut we do not know,' nor does it seem ever to have been directly established by law,
1 Matthew Grant's Old Church Records mentions among the deaths in 1644, "one Hager." If as is probable, this was meant to be the same as Hogar, it would seem to have been a negro woman, possibly an Indian.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
although indirectly sanctioned by legislative enactments, and frequently recognized by the courts. In May, 1660, the court decreed ~ that neither Indian nor neger serrants shall be required to train. watch, or ward."?
Henry Wolcott, Je's, inventory. in 1680, names CYRUS, valued at £30. This is the first slave in Windsor (and probably in Concetient ) of which we have any record. We have also seen a deed of sale of a negro boy named Pamir, in 1694, to Eleazer Gaylord, of Windsor, from Andrew Belcher. of Boston. In 1720 John Anderson, on the east side of the river, was assessed for a negro man. The record of burials in the Old Burying Ground of South Windsor gives the deaths (but not the names) of twenty-one negro slaves between the years 1786 and 176%. Eleven of these belong to the Wolcotts, three to the Ehners, two to the Rockwells, two to the Cooks, one to the Ellsworths, and two unknown. So that portion of Ancient Windsor appears to have been abundantly supplied, for that day, with slaves.
The importation of slaves into the State, however, was never very large, and in 1751 was prohibited altogether. In the Revolutionary war. freedom was granted to all slaves who enlisted and served through the war. Several such will be found in the list of Windsor soldiers in that war. The last colored survivor of the Revolution, who dwelt in Windsor. was OLIVER MITCHELL, who died, as was supposed, from a fit, in his boat in which he had been to Hartford for the purpose of drawing his pension money, in March. 1840.
In 1784, the legislature, assuming that " Policy requires that the abolition of slavery should be affected as soon as may be consistent with the rights of individuals and the public safety and welfare," enacted that no negro or mulatto child born after the first day of March in that year, should be held as a slave after they had arrived at the age of twenty-five years. Masters of slaves were also permitted to release them, on application to the selectmen of the towns, provided such slaves were in good physical and mental condition, and between the ages of twenty-five and forty-five years. In 1788, a statute was passed. obliging all masters, within six months after the birth of each slave, to duly notify the town clerk of such birth, ete .. on penalty of seven dollars for each month's neglect. This was intended to guard against the illegal holding, by userupulous masters, of those who were entitled to their freedom. In 1797, it was enacted that the children of slave mothers born after August of that year, should receive their freedom at the age of twenty-one. At the same time, the carrying of slaves out of the State for sale was prohibited : and thus gradually the institution of slavery decreased, and finally disappeared, in 1848, by a formal act of abolition.
2 Col. Rec., i. 349.
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THE SLAVES OF WINDSOR.
The following anecdote is preserved in connection with the libera- time of slaves. Anaged and faithful Windsor slave, working in the field with his master, was observed to be very moody and silent. At length he broke the silence by saying that such a neighbor had given his slave his freedom, and modestly suggested that .. Massa ort to give me free- dom." The master quietly replied, " Well, Toni, you may have your freedom." " May 1. Mass - when ?" " Now." was the reply. " What, now, Massa, right away ?" exclaimed the surprised slave. . Yes, Tom, you may stick up your fork where you are, if you choose, and he free." Tom stood looking upon the ground more moodily than ever, while his master went on with his work. After a half-hour's consideration, Tom resimmed his labor, remarking with a knowing look, - No, Massa, you have de meat, now you may pick de bone. I no go and take care old Tom myself."
Those who released slaves who were too far advanced in life when the act was passed to be legally affected by it. generally took the precan- tion to obtain a release from the authorities of the town from all responsi- bility for their future maintenance. Among a family of slaves released without this precaution. some members who had removed to East Wind- sor became poor in their extreme old age, and the authorities of that town. finding that they had not been legally liberated, obliged the heirs of their old master (the family of the late Daniel Pinney ) to support them.
Those of whatever age, who were incompetent to support themselves, were still slaves unless the town chose to release their owners. Such Was Old NANCE, whose death recently occurred in the family of Col. James Loomis. She was born on Greenfield Hill. Fairfield County, Conn., and remained in the family of Hezekiah Bradley until she was four years old, when she was given to Charlotte Bradley Chaffee, wife of Dr. Hezekiah Chaffee of Windsor. At his death in 1821, she became a household gift and charge, commended to the especial care of his daughter, Mrs. Abigail Sherwood Loomis, in whose family she was most kindly cared for to the day of her death in 1%57, aged 82.
The first record of negro slavery in Connecticut appeared in the in- ventory of Henry Wolcott. Jr., in 1650. Old Nance, perhaps, closes the record within half a mile of the spot where the first one lived.
For many years previous to the American Revolution, and as late as 1820, or thereabouts, it was the custom of the Connectient negroes -in that spirit of emolation and imitation which is peculiar to their race and the monkey tribe - to elect a governor for themselves ; and not a gov- ernot only, but a deputy, staff officers, sheriff, and squires or justices of the peace, who were all elected with much discretion, pomp, and cere-
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
mony, and exerted the same functions among those of their own color as their more lordly prototypes of the white race.
Negro election and parade generally came off on the Saturday she- ceeding the election day of the whites, and was participated in by those who came up to the capital with their masters, and such others as were able to be present. " They of course made their election, to a large ex- tent, depatatively, as all could not be present, but uniformly yielded to it their assent. . . . The person they selected for the office in question was usually one of noch note among themselves, of imposing presence. strength, firmness, and volubility, who was quick to decide, ready to command, and able to flog. If he was inclined to be a little arbitrary, belonged to a master of distinction, and was ready to pay freely for diversions, these were circumstances in his favor. Still it was necessary he should be an honest negro, and be, or appear to be, wise above his fel- lows. . . The precise sphere of his power we cannot ascertain. Probably it embraced . matters and things in general ' among the blacks; morals, manners, and ceremonies. He settled all grave disputes in the last resort, questioned conduct, and imposed penalties and punishments sometimes for vice or misconduct. He was respected as gubernor, say many old gentlemen to us, by the negroes throughout the State, and obeyed ahnost implicitly.
" Ilis parade days were marked by much that was showy, and by some things that were ludicrous. A troop of blacks, sometimes a Inn- dred in number, marching sometimes two and two on foot, sometinies mounted in true military style and dress on horseback, escorted him through the streets, with drums beating, colors flying, and fifes, fiddles, clarionets, and every - sonorous metal ' that could be found, . uttering martial sound.' After marching to their content, they would retire to some large room which they would engage for the purpose, for refresh- ments and deliberation. This was all done with the greatest regard to ceremony. His ebony excelleney would pass through the files of his procession, supported by his aids, with an air of consummate dignity, to his quarters, and there receive the congratulations of his friends, and dis- pense the favor of his salutations, his opinions, and his appointments."'
The following amusing story is related concerning one of the ocra- sions at Hartford. Dinner was duly set, the dignitaries had marched in and taken their places around the " groaning board," the governor at the upper, and the deputy governor at the lower end of it, when the latter with delicate regard for the proprieties of the occasion, exclaimed, " Mr. Gulmor, seems to me dere ort to be sumthin said on dis 'easion." ~ Will
Somnie's Hartford in the Old. " Time, whose chapter on the negro governors of Ilart ford is exceedingly humorous and vivid.
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ANCIENT NEGRO CUSTOMS.
Mr. Deputy say sumthin ?" responded His Excellency. Thereupon the Deputy spread himself and began. " Funder above de Hebens. Litnin on de earth, Shake de tops of de trees. Table spread afore ns. no cat a'set, eat a'bimeby, for Christ's sake, Amen." " Well done," exclaimed the governor, " well done, Mr. Deputy ; I no idee you such able man in prayer." And straightway the company fell vigorously to work upon the object of the meeting.
We do not know that Windsor ever gave birth to a negro governor. Vyro Trainings were also common. At one time subsequent to the Revolution, training was held at Pickett's Tavern, about half a mile above Hayden's Station. General Ti, a slave belonging to Capt. Jona. Ellsworth, commanded on that occasion. His master, being a captain of the cavalry, furnished him with his own uniform, accoutrements, and watch, to the chain of which he added several huge seals, and set him upon his own war steed. So General Ti rode forth that day, " the ob- served of all observers." Such exhibitions were a source of no little ainsement to the whites, who often visited them to witness the evolu- tions and performances of their sable competitors. On this occasion, as we learn from an eye witness, the general was early on the ground, and becoming somewhat impatient at the tardiness of the soldiers belonging to the Pine Meadow (Suffield ) District, he ordered up his horse and rode through the crowd to take a survey of the field, and things in general. Puiling ap his horse in the immediate vicinity of Esquire Bissell, and other prominent Windsor citizens, he exclaimed, " Wonder why do troops don't come on from do north." The squire, who was a bit of a was, with a sympathizing air, inquired, " What time is it, General ?" Dropping the bridle rein, he drew up his watch, hand over hand, and holding it out, exclaimed with scornful dignity. " Look for yourself, gom- men, by -. " which not a little amused the squite and his friends, who happened to know that the general could not tell the time himself.
When the attempt was made to form the regiment. there was no little difficulty in arranging the soldiers so as to make the best appearance -- for most had some bit of uniform, but no two alike. The general, anxious to put the best foot forward, hit upon a plan, and issued his orders ac- cordingly. Rising in his stirrups, he shouted, " All you what got white stocca, rocker shoe, stand in de front." This order was readily under- stood, and the front rank was soon formed of those who were equipped with shoes and stockings. Then came another order from the chief, " All you what got rocker shoe and no white stocea, stand in de rear " ; and then, with the self-satisfied air of one who felt that he had ~ gone and done it." the general exclaimed, " Now you niggers what got no white stocca, and no rocker shoe, stand out of de way."
During some of the evolutions of the day, which were badly per-
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
formed, the general's passions got the better of his dignity, and he es- claimed, with heartfelt bitterness, " A nigga allas will be a nigga, don't know unthia, and allus did."
Caro, also, is remembered by some of our oldest citizens as a self- appointed tythingman, who exerted himself on the Sabbath to keep the boys in order, and attended to the ringing of the bell. He was aceus- tomed to go around the town regularly to colleet his remuneration for his services as bell-ringer, and when any one refused his or her mite to the volmimy contribution. he would say, " Well, no pay, shan't hear um hell."
At the commencement of the present century, and for some time after. there were many negroes in Windsor; but they all seem to have been, or to have ultimately become, a poor, shiftless, lazy set of free negroes.
No town in New England can boast a worthier ancestry than Ancient Windsor. In social position, intellectual culture, sincere and fervent piety, and sterling integrity of character, her settlers Were equalled by few, and surpassed by none. They were not mere random ad- ventureis, seeking some fairy Utopia, and bound together by flimsy bonds of selfish interest. but a high-minded, large-hearted Christian brotherhood -- selected with consummate tact and rare judgment from the wealthiest and most cultivated counties of England by the master mind of Res. John White, who, when he saw them set sail from Plymouth harbor, felt that he was casting forth upon the waters precious bread, which, with God's blessing, was to enrich and beantify the ends of the earth. There was WARHAM. " a famous preacher," and MAVERICK, with a reputation equal to his years. There was WOLCOTT, whose ancestral antecedents, wealth. and personal character would have commanded respect in any com- mnity, and LEDLow, with legal abilities, and ideas far in advance of the age in which he lived. Masox, also, with a reputation among the best warriors of the continent. I'HELPS, ROCKWELL, GAYLORD, and others, all picked men, each possessing some trait or valuable quality essential to the welfare of the whole community. Woman, too, was there, with her sustaining and cheering influences, herself upheld by that deep current of religious faith which underlies the character of het ses. And in every heart - to a degree which we perhaps can never experi- ience, and therefore can never fully understand -- dwelt that glorious light of Christian love and truth which maketh free. It sustained them in the hour of trial, it humbled them in the hour of prosperity, it real- lated their every action, it developed the exercise of every virtue and talent, it softened the thousand nameless little asperities of individual character and social life, and thus contributed to the perfect and har-
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A WORTHY ANCESTRY.
monions working of the whole social polity. Such was the character of the first generation.
But, as has been elsewhere aptly said, the emigration from a civilized to a new conutry is necessarily a step backward into barbarism. The second generation did not fill the places of the fathers. Reared amil the trials and dangers of a new settlement, they were in a great measure deprived of the advantages, both social and educational, which their parents had enjoyed. Nearly all of the former could write - which can not be said of their children. Neither did the latter possess that depth of religions fer ling, or earnest practical piety, which distinguished the first comers. Religion was to them less a matter of the heart than of social privilege, and in the half-way covenant controversy we behold the gradual " letting down of the bars " between a pure church and a grasp- ing world.
The third generation followed in the footsteps of their predecessors. Then came war : and young New England brought from the long Cana- dian campaigns stores of loose camp viees and recklessness, which soon flooded the land with immorality and infidelity. The church was neglected, drunkenness fearfully increased, and social life was sadly corrupted. Bundling - that pernicious custom which prevailed among the young. in some portions of New England, to a degree which we can scarcely credit -undoubtedly tended largely to sap the fountain of morality.' Next came the American Revolution, which merely prolonged the evil: for war, even where necessary, is always an evil. So that not until the commencement of the present century can it be said that any return was made to the purity of the first generation. And it is our solemn conviction that all those who croak the romantic tune of " Alas! the good old time," will find, on careful examination, that in every respect, politically, morally, religiously, the present world, with all its vices, is no worse - nay, that it is infinitely better off - now than then.
We would not, however, be understood as saying that piety, moral- ity, or education died out after the first generation, or was wanting among their descendants. The history of Windsor evidences that ro- ligion and education were always dear to her children, and that in every generation there have been many whose lives and characters come down to us as a blessed legacy. These good men possessed a marvelously
' Certain stric tures made upon this statement in our first edition led the author to investigate the subject more fully, with the result of historically establishing the wide- spread prevalence of this custom in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and elsewhere. His researches were published, in a limited edition, entitled, Bundling ; its Origin. Propres. und Delim in Jurist, by Henry R. Stiles, M. D., 169, pub. by Joël Munsell, Albany, N. Y., 1865.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
strong faith and belief in special providences. Events which we should attribute to natural causes were by them referred directly to divine power. Wars. pestilences, victories, accidents - in short. all the thousand and one incidents which make up the life of a nation or of an individual -were considered as so many direct interpositions and revelations of God's will. They prayed with a fervency which grew out of this intense faith in God's power and willingness to answer prayer. And in New England history there are many instances in which we can nardiy could that their prayers and faith were singularly answered.
The following Windsor legend is quite to the point :
"Once upon a time" - as all good story-tellers commence - the good people in Windsor had suffered for a long time from an excessive drought, until at last, viewing it as a judgment of God upon them for some of their sins, they resolved to hold a fast day, to be spent in humiliation and praver. In the lower part of the town dwelt a godly man by the name of Barber, to whom some of the people from up town extended a very pressing invitation to join them in this day of prayer. Mr. Barber happened to have a great quantity of hay ent at the time, and felt that he needed dry weather just then, and could scarcely spare the time to pray, while so much of it was out. But, with true Christian good feeling, he consented to join his brethren at the upper end of the town in their prayers for rain. When the time arrived Mr. Barber appeared at meeting, with his overcoat on his arm (although it was clear, hot, scorching weather ), and on being wonderingly interrogated as to his motive of bringing it, replied that he "came to pray for rain. and he expected it." Before the day elosed the rain did come, sure enough, and, still more wonderful to relate, in passing, as it did pretty generally, over the town, it passed around Mr. Barber's land, and left his hay uninjured.
Among some of the Rev. Timothy Edwards's manuscripts we find :
" A Record of Some Remarkable and Gracious answers of Prayer, Remarkable [Providences] and some other things of a Spiritual Nature I have met with in the course of my Life, and first of Remarkable Deliverances, Recoveries."
A few extracts will show our readers the nature of these remark- able incidents :
"1. When I was a little child (as I have been told by my Father as I remember) I fell into a Tub of Water, an y" providence of God sent one to my Relief and y' strangely, who passing by upon Occasion, Saw me and took me out almost dead.
"2. When I wasa School boy I took a gun In my hand, which was an Indian's hunt- ing Gun, and as he said y' was y" owner of it, a gun that Sellom or never missed fire. This gun was charged with a brace of bullets. I held it out against one of my school- mates, John Hunter by name, who was old Goodman Mitchell's Servt. I aimed at hi- breast putting my hand to y" pricker, he being at abont & foot distance, and said these
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REV. TIMOTHY EDWARDS' SPECIAL PROVIDENCES.
wil as I remember. 'Oh, Hanter, if you were an enemy now how I could shoot you down,' thinking no harm at all, not being aware y'ye gun was charged or if it had been that there was any danger of its going off, but the cock being half bent, went down, and it either fired or as standers by affirmed flashed in ye pan, and yet no harm ensued. Those that stood by were amazed to see how narrowly the boy escaped, and so was my father, being called in out of y" Shop, together with y Indian, both whom very much wondered when they heard how it was. My Father looked upon it as a little less than a miracle and said . If Mr. Mather's Book of Remarkable Providences had not been out before, he would have that put in amongst them.' I was also much amazed and affected with God's wonderful goodness to me in keeping of me so [ ] immeriously from wantonly, though [ j killing one of my neighbors, and therefore E ] to keep y" Record of it by me."
On another occasion he tumbled off a cherry tree and liked to have broken his neck -only he didn't : and again he came very near going under the ice while skating - if some one had not called to him, and caused him to stop. And then he remembers that, when a boy at the grammar school at Hartford, he one day performed some very foolish feats of climbing on a cherry tree, by way of " bravade to show some of my mates (one of them, at least, viz., Thos. Oleott's son ) how venture- some and bold I was, and yet God safely brought me down again," on to the solid earth, which was a sincere cause of gratitude to this pions man in all after life.
We have room for but one more example of the Rev. Timothy's hairbrea Ith escapes:
" When I was a school boy, as I was eating some [very] mellow peaches, the stone of one [slipped] down as [I was] sucking of 'em, and stuck in [my] throat, and [ ] sprech and my breath so [ ] neither I strove [ ] couldn't, the boys seeing how it was elapt me on the back, but all wonkl not do. I saw plainly that I could not help myself and if God didn't help I should surely die. I was very apprehensive and much afraid of death. my thoughts then I think I can remember pretty exactly, and they were these : . Now, if God don't wonderfully and miraculously h AIp (which Iinwardly desired him to do) I shall d'e bye-and-bye. Death is a coming towards me apare. I am not far off from it. I have beard of dying, but now if God be not very gracious 1 shall quickly know what it is, and I am afraid God will not help me. I have so sinned against him, bet, oh. that he would though!' Thus being very sensible of my dying and dangerous condition, I, secing straining and striving vas to no purpose, I was ready to despair of help though as I remember I had some little hope at least in the power and merey of God. Only one thing the boys advised me to do, and that was to go down to the river and drink, which was so far off, that if God had not helped me. I should have dropped down dead long before I came there. However I was willing to make any experiment or take any likely course to save my life, for which I was so cod- cerned in my mind, that I did not think of the impossibility of getting any help by doing as they advised me. Accordingly I went to my master to ask leave to go out, and by the time I came half way to him I thought with myself, ' what do I go to ask leave for" I can not speak and besides my life lies upon it. I have need to make all haste I cau, I may venture to go out without leave to save my life, and so I turned back again before I came to him and run in a fright and in baste towards the door - as to go down to the river, and when I came to the door, unexpectedly without any straining or striving at all, when I had not many moments more to live, the peach stone
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
came out as though it went of itself. God, by his power, brought it ont from me and saved my life; he helped me when I couldn't help myself. yea, and when all the men in the world couldn't help me, when I was almost past help, being just at death's door. Then I was 'as a brand plucked out of the burning.""
Apprenticeship. - The following Indenture, found among the Thom- ax Stoughton Mes., afford a good illustration of the great care taken in arranging the terms of apprenticeships in the olden time :
"THE: I 1. 0. u Jonathan Stoughton, son of Thomas Stoughton of Windsor in the county of hartford and Coloney of Connecticut in new england, with his father's consent hath put him selfe an apprentice to Nathan day of the abouc-sd windsor county and coloney: blacksmith and white smith to Learn his art, trade or mistery after the maner of an Apprentice to serne bim until he the sd Jonathan Stough- ton attaines to the age of twenty-one years, during all which time the stappratice his mins ter faithfully shall serue, his secrets keep, his Law full commands gladly obaye, he shal! not do any damage to his sa master nor see it don by others withont giveing notice thereof to his sd master. he shall not waste his s' master's goods or Lend them unLaw . fully to anes, he shall not commit fornication nor contract matrimony within the s terme. at cards, dice or any other unlawfull game he shall not play whereby his >1 master may sufer damage. he shall not absent himself day nor night from his master's service withoat his Leave. nor hunt ale houses, Taverans or playhouses butt in alt things behave him selfe as a faithfull apprentice ought to do during ye s terme, and the sd master shall do his utmost to teach and Instruct the s1 apprentice In the boue mentioned blacksmith and white smiths trade and mistery and to teach or cans the s. off withbe Taught us att va Attinatich to such a degree that he may be able to keep a book well, and provide for him mest, drink, apparel, washing and Lodging and plusick in sickness and helth sutable for such an apprentice during the se terme, and att the end of st terme the st master shall furnich the sd apprentice with two good new suits of apparel boath wooling and lining for all parts of his body sutable for such an apprentice besids that apparel he carieth with him, and for the performance of all and every the s4 covenants and agreement either of the sa parties bind themselves unto the other hy these presents in witness whereof they have interchangeably put their hands and seals this first day of September in the year of our Lord god, 1727. sined, sealed and delivered In presence of
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