SLAVERY IN HAMDEN

New Englanders usually think of slavery as a southern phenomenon. While there were slaves in

the north, the "peculiar institution" in this part of the country has been portrayed as rather benign, and

slave owning as rare. However, scholars are beginning to realize that there were more slaves in the

northern colonies and states than previously thought, that northern businesses and society profited

greatly from trade in human beings, and that northern slavery could be every bit as cruel as in the

south. Slave families could be broken up at any time, as when a master wished to avoid the cost of

bringing up children, or when he died, elderly slaves were often cast aside with no one to care for

them; compulsory breeding, while unusual, did occur, and Connecticut law mandated that slaves

caught for minor infractions such as traveling without a pass or after curfew, or speaking back to a

white person, were subjected to heavy fines, whippings, and re-sale. During the Connecticut

tercentenary in 1936, historian Ralph Foster Weld in his work. Slavery in Connecticut, noted,

"Relatively unimportant as was its stance in the total slave trade, Connecticut must yet bear its

measure of responsibility. There were sea captains who engaged in it, slave dealers who bought and

sold negroes, and public auction sales. Connecticut reproduced, on a small scale, the features of the

system as found elsewhere." With reappraisals of northern slavery receiving unprecedented attention,

it is appropriate to recognize Hamden's involvement—not for the purpose of singling out individual

slave owners for blame, but to provide a profile of slavery in our town's past.

Until 1786, when Hamden was incorporated, the communities that made up our town were a

part of New Haven. Slave owning figures for the country are sporadic and probably underestimated.

In New Haven county, there were at least 226 slaves in 1775, though New Haven itself reportedly had

none. Yale's president Ezra Stiles calculated 78 in the city in 1800, with the number peaking in 1810

at 310. How many, if any, slaves were in the northern parts of New Haven before the Revolutionary

period is not known; however, slave-owning families that were instrumental in the settlement and

development ofHamden included the Atwaters, Pardees, Munsons, and Goodriches. Figures for

Connecticut as a whole are equally revealing. For example, in 1730—about the time the hamlets of the

Hamden of today began to be settled in earnest—Connecticut had approximately 700 Indian and

African slaves. But a quarter of a century later, the total had mushroomed to nearly 4,000—mostly

Africans. And by 1774, the number of slaves in Connecticut had climbed to over 6,500.

Several factors account for this geometric increase. First, the development of the slave trade in

the mid-eighteenth century made it easier—and more lucrative—to import, sell, and purchase slaves.

Aside from the initial expense, owning a slave could be very profitable. Not only could owners save

the expense of hired help, but they could lease out their slaves to their neighbors for a daily fee, for

instance, at harvest time. For the most part, Connecticut masters—both men and women—owned one

or two slaves, a male for fieldwork or millwork and a female for household chores, though there were

some exceptions. For example, Col. Samuel Browne owned a Southern-style plantation in Salem, in

southeastern Connecticut, on which 60 or more slaves produced cash crops. These crops in turn were

sold in the transatlantic economy that connected New England, Africa, and the Caribbean—a

"triangular trade" that made many Connecticut farmers, merchants and mariners wealthy indeed.

Finally, owning slaves was a mark of social status and affluence. An elite group sought to own slaves

to explicit their wealth.

Hamden reflected other areas in New England in an increased number of slaves as the

eighteenth century progressed. In post-Revolutionary Hamden, a gentry class owned slaves.

The 1790 Census lists four men in town, concentrated in Mount Carmel, as each owning one slave at

the time. The wealthiest was "Squire" Bazel Munson (1730-1803), owner of an "extensive plantation"

that included a sawmill and a grist mill, where his slave or slaves may have worked, the gin and dried

corn that Munson produced in his mills he exported to the West Indies to feed slaves on sugar

plantations. Apparently Munson owned more than one slave at some point, since in an entry in lost

account book records a "sale of slaves." An inventory of his estate, done in 1803 for his widow listed,

beneath a horse valued at $9, a "black" valued at $7.10-perhaps an indication that the slave was

elderly.

Another "Squire" was Simeon Bristol (1739-1805). Bristol, whose house still stands on Whitney

Finally, there is Col. Samuel Bellamy (1757-1839). Perhaps his slave or slaves served at his

tavern and store near the Mt. Carmel Congregational Church. A relative later recalled that he "lived in

great style." Caught up in the westward movement, Bellamy moved to upper New York state in 1804.

When he passed away, he left $60,000 to Auburn Seminary.

Though these men lived through and served in the Revolution, with its call for liberty and

equality, they continued to own slaves into the nineteenth century. However, the Revolution did

impress upon some whites the blatant contradictions between republican principles and the existence of

slavery. It should be noted, too, that the New Haven area gave rise to some of the most ardent

advocates of abolition. Even so, there were many more in the state who, through a variety of motives-

politically, not wishing to offend the South and cause disunion; economically, wanting to continue to

profiting from slave trade and production; and racially, because of fearful of mixed-race society-

resisted putting an end to slavery. It was not until 1848, after a series of gradual "emancipation" laws,

that slavery was effectually legislated out of existence in Connecticut.

Antique Show Success

 Once again the annual antiques show and sale was a resounding financial success and a

joyful collaborative effort between the Hamden Historical Society and Giant Valley Association of

 Antiques Dealers. For twenty one years the knowledgeable dealers have created an inviting array of

 treasures in the warm attractive atmosphere of the Miller Library Complex. The Society is then able to

serve food throughout the weekend to nourish and delight both the dealers and the ardent shoppers.

A new twist this year saw Society members as well as Giant Valley folks greeting the attendees

 and collecting the money. There were 1,042 people in attendance this year, an increase of 230

 over last year.

The GVAAD presented a check of $3,000 to the Historical Society which will be an enormous

 help in our effort to fund a new cedar roof on the J.D. House. Thank you to the five new

 volunteers this year—Tom Hogan, Marlene and John Corolla who did a great job

at the front desk, ace sandwich maker Tom Sweeney as well as bake-table temptress, Liz Smith. Our

 fabulous contingent of "regulars" have not faltered in their well-practiced and joyful efficiency. So

 many of the workers are also talented bakers who provided fabulous goodies which are pure profit for

 this fund-raiser. Thanks to Lois Casey, Virginia Zukunft, Barbara Hogan, Connie and Tom Whalen,

 Ken and Laurie Minkema, Pam Rendeiro, Mary Embler, Nancy Faughnan, Al and Betsy German.

 Thank you also to major contributors Pauline Doheny, Louise Ayers, Barbara Doheny and Joyce

 Gilbert. Photographs courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society Library.