Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0
Uncovering the Silent Past: A History of Enslavement in Cheshire
For many of us who have walked the streets of Cheshire for decades, our local history is often defined by colonial charm, the Farmington Canal, and the rolling hills of orchard country. However, a deeper look into the archives of the 18th and 19th centuries reveals a more complex and sobering narrative. Slavery in Cheshire dates back to at least 1726, and while earlier historical accounts often minimized its presence, modern research has uncovered an extensive web of enslavement that touched the town’s most prominent families and industries.
The institution of slavery persisted in Connecticut until its final abolition in 1848, making it the last New England state to officially end the practice. In Cheshire, the legacy of this era is etched into the very economic foundations that allowed the town to flourish during the colonial period.
The Engine of Wealth: The West Indies Trade
Cheshire’s early growth was not an isolated agricultural success; it was fueled by the transatlantic slave trade. Many of the town’s leading families—names like Cook, Hull, and Hall—were deeply integrated into the "West Indies Trade."
These families operated as merchant-mariners, owning and captaining vessels that served as a vital link in the "Triangle Trade." The cycle of complicity was multifaceted:
Direct Transportation: Local merchant ships transported enslaved Africans to the Caribbean and
brought back commodities like sugar and molasses.
Supplying the Plantation System: Cheshire’s local economy became a "provisioning" center. Our farmers, coopers (who built the barrels for transport), and mill owners profited by exporting cattle, wheat, potatoes, and lumber to Caribbean sugar plantations.
Feeding Enslavement: Because Caribbean planters focused almost exclusively on profitable sugar cane, they relied on New England towns like ours to provide the food and materials required to sustain their enslaved labor force.
Beyond the maritime trade, domestic enslavement was a reality within Cheshire’s borders. The 1790 census confirms that several residents were enslavers, utilizing enslaved people as domestic servants or farm laborers to maintain their estates.
Key Figures and the Spirit of Resistance
The history of slavery in Cheshire is not merely a list of statistics; it is a collection of human stories, many of which highlight a profound drive for liberty.
Prince Freeman
One of the most documented cases involves Prince Freeman. In 1769, shortly after his marriage, Rev. John Foot traveled to Branford and purchased an eight-year-old boy named Prince for £30 "to wait on his wife." The original bill of sale, a chilling reminder of the era, bound Prince to Foot "against all lawful claims and demands" for the term of his natural life. Despite this beginning, Prince and his wife, Lucy Dix, eventually lived as free members of the community, leaving a lasting legacy in the town.
Legal Battles for Freedom
The courts of the late 1780s became a battleground for civil rights. In 1788, a man named Philip sued Moses Blakesley of Cheshire for illegally holding him in servitude, asserting that he had been born free. Philip won his case and was awarded damages. Similarly, in 1788, John Merriam sued Thomas Yale for selling him a man named Sharp as a "slave for life," only to discover Sharp was actually a free man who had been unjustly commodified.
The Rescue of 1792
The Long Path to Emancipation
Like the rest of the state, Cheshire followed the Gradual Abolition Act of 1784. This law was a compromise; it did not free those already enslaved. Instead, it decreed that children born to enslaved mothers would only be granted freedom after they reached the age of 25. This meant that for decades, the "peculiar institution" remained a legal reality in our neighborhoods.
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During the Revolutionary War, some found a different path to freedom. Chatham Freeman, a slave belonging to Noah Yale, was offered his manumission if he would serve as a substitute for Yale’s son who had been drafted. Chatham survived the war, returned home as a free man, and his descendants continued to live in the Cheshire and Wallingford area for many years.
Based on the historical records of the town, specifically those found in the History of Cheshire,
Connecticut, from 1694 to 1840, several prominent residents and families are identified as slave owners during the 18th century.
In the early days of the New Cheshire parish, it was noted that very few individuals were wealthy enough to own more than one or two people. According to the birth records and historical accounts, the following residents were identified as enslavers:
Rev. Samuel Hall: The first settled minister of the congregational church in Cheshire is recorded as having owned several enslaved people.
Elnathan Beach: A prominent early settler who owned three or four enslaved individuals.
Captain Cook: A member of the influential Cook family involved in the West Indies trade, he is noted for holding several people in bondage.
Col. Benjamin Hall: Another leading figure in the community’s early history who was an enslaver.
Rev. John Foot: In 1769, shortly after his marriage, he purchased an eight-year-old boy named Prince from Enoch Staples of Branford for £30. The bill of sale specifically noted Prince was to "wait on his wife."
Noah Yale: Owned a man named Chatham Freeman. During the Revolutionary War, Yale offered Freeman his freedom if he would serve as a substitute for Yale's drafted son.
Abel Curtiss: Owned a man referred to in records as "Black Boss," who also served in the war.
Moses Blakesley: A resident who was sued in 1788 by a man named Philip, who asserted he was being held in servitude illegally despite being born free.
Thomas Yale: In 1788, he was involved in a legal dispute for selling a man named Sharp as a "slave for life" to John Merriam, when Sharp was actually a free man.
The records indicate that by the time of the 1790 census, while the number of enslaved individuals in the parish was relatively small (estimated between 20 and 25), the practice was woven into the households of the town's most established religious and civic leaders.
Remembrance and the Witness Stones
Today, we are finally beginning to acknowledge these individuals and their contributions to our town.
The African Burying Place: Located within Hillside Cemetery, this area once held the remains of many of Cheshire's enslaved and free African-descended residents. While many markers have been lost to time, the headstone of Henry Peter Freeman, who served as the sexton at the Congregational Church, remains as a silent witness.
Witness Stones Project: Modern initiatives are working to restore the names of the enslaved to the public consciousness. By placing permanent markers and conducting deep archival research, the project ensures that the lives of people like Prince, Philip, and Sharp are no longer obscured by the shadows of history.
As we look back at the formation of Cheshire, it is vital to include these details—the names, the dates, and the industries—to understand the full story of our community. History is rarely simple, but it is always worth knowing in its entirety.
For further exploration:
JubeRoad: A Digital Journey Through Local History
The Connecticut State Library: Uncovering New Haven Archives
ConnecticutHistory.org: Slavery and Abolition
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| History of Cheshire, Connecticut, from 1694 to 1840 |
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