History of slavery in Connecticut facts for kids

Slavery was a part of life in Connecticut for many years. We don't know the exact date when the first African slaves arrived. However, stories like that of Venture Smith help us understand what slavery was like in the northern parts of the United States. One of the earliest records of slavery in Connecticut dates back to 1638. During the Pequot War, Native American prisoners were sent to the West Indies. In return, African slaves were brought to Connecticut. This kind of exchange became common after other conflicts too.

Connecticut's Path to Ending Slavery

Connecticut took steps to end slavery over many years. In 1774, the state passed a law called the "Act for Prohibiting the Importation of Indian, Negro or Molatto Slaves." This law stopped new slaves from being brought into Connecticut.

Then, in 1784, another important law was passed. It was called the "Gradual Abolition Act." This law didn't free all slaves right away. Instead, it said that any child born to a slave mother after March 1, 1784, would become free when they reached a certain age. Boys would be free at 25, and girls at 21. This was sometimes called "freeing the womb." However, this law did not free the parents of these children or any other adult slaves.

Slavery Ends in 1848

It took many more years for slavery to completely end in Connecticut. In 1844, Governor Roger Sherman Baldwin suggested a law to stop slavery for good. The state's government, called the Connecticut General Assembly, did not pass it then. But the law was brought up again in 1848. This time, it passed and was called "An Act to Prevent Slavery." This act finally ended slavery in Connecticut.

The last known slave in Connecticut was a woman named Nancy Toney from Windsor. She died in December 1857.

The Amistad Case and Connecticut

In 1839, a famous ship called La Amistad arrived in Connecticut. This ship was carrying Africans who had been kidnapped and sold into slavery. They rebelled and took control of the ship. The ship was steered into Connecticut instead of New York. This happened because, in the 1830s, slavery was still legal in Connecticut. The legal case that followed, United States v. The Amistad, became very important in the fight against slavery.

Nancy Toney: Connecticut's Last Known Slave

Nancy Toney was born around 1774 or 1775. She was baptized in Christ’s Church on November 27, 1774. Nancy was enslaved by Dr. Chaffee Jr. After he died in 1821, she was inherited by his daughter, Abigail Sherwood Chaffee Loomis. Dr. Chaffee Jr.'s will specifically stated that he was giving his "negro slave Nance" to Abigail.

In the 1830 federal census, Nancy was listed as a "free colored female." This is a bit confusing because there are no clear records in Windsor that prove she was officially freed. It's possible that the Loomis family started treating her as a free person without formally granting her freedom. The 1850 U.S. Census was the first to list everyone living in a household by name. In that census, Nancy was listed as a 72-year-old free Black woman living with James and Abigail Loomis. Nancy Toney died on December 19, 1857.

How Common Was Slavery in Connecticut?

Slavery was quite common in Connecticut, especially among wealthy people. According to some historians, in 1790, most rich merchants in Connecticut owned at least one slave. About half of the ministers also owned slaves. This shows that slavery was deeply connected to Connecticut's economy, religion, politics, and schools. It was a big part of how society worked in Connecticut.

Based on U.S. census information, there were 2,764 slaves in Connecticut in 1790. This was a little over 1% of the state's total population at that time. Over the next few decades, the number of slaves in Connecticut went down.

• In 1800, there were 951 slaves (about 0.34% of the population).
• In 1820, there were 97 slaves (about 0.04% of the population).
• By 1830, there were only 25 slaves left (about 0.008% of the population).