СНАРТER

ON THE

Black Citizens of West Simsbury.

JAMES BALTIMORE, known as Jim Balt, was an inhabitant of this town as early or earlier than 1774. He resided with or near Capt. Dudley Case, in the part of New Hartford that is now Canton. His first wife died as early as 1780, and left two children, viz., Polly, born 1775, and Sam, born 1778. Sam remained with Capt. Dud (so called) for nearly thirty years, and was indulged with greater privileges and liberties than commonly fall to the lot of colored people in families of wealth and standing. He appeared to talk as though he had a good share of influence and direction in the common departments of business, and was known to say that Capt. Dud, should never come to want while he lived. The sister, Poll, fared harder in the world, and saw much trouble and ill-usage. They both left this part of the country many years ago. James, the father, for second wife, married Susannah, daughter of Col. London Wallace. (Negroes received and valued military and civil titles of honor highly.) He was set up on the east end of the farm of Charles and Benajah Humphrey, south-east of the house of Bera Case. They had a number of children; part of them died in infancy and childhood. While the family remained in their tenement, it was the place of resort for colored people, both relatives and others, which is generally the case where the colored people have a shelter, a family, and something to live on for the present.

LONDON CHESTER, (called Governor, as it was understood that he had held that office among the Wethersfield negroes.) He was through the prime of life, the servant of Col. John Chester, the elder. It is not known at what period of time he received his freedom. He had a wife named Betty, and during the last years of her life he resided at the place now called Indian Hill, on the premises now owned by the Messrs. Pike. His wife died in 1787, and he after that time became dependent on the public for support. It appears from his own statements that he came from Africa quite young, as he spoke better English than was common for that race. One incident he used to relate, would show that he came to this country young. He said that in the early part of his life with Master Chester, he saw one morning what he thought to be a very pretty puppy; he accordingly seized him with a view to play with him, but the skunk soon convinced him that he was playing with the wrong animal. From that story originated the name of "Wethersfield puppy." He died near the close of the last century, aged about 80 years, a pauper supported by New Hartford.

CHARLES PRINCE married Tabitha Quamino; he had been several years in the employ of Capt. Dudley Case, and was viewed by the family and the people of the neighborhood, as an honest, industrious and meritorious citizen, and still more, he and his wife were called worthy members of the church. He died of consumption, A. D. 1828, and the process had already begun whereby he was wronged out of the small pittance of landed estate which his deceased patron had given him years before, but had not executed the deed; from that period the family appeared to sink under their misfortunes. Some died, some left the town, and very little is known respecting the circumstances of the survivors if any yet remaim.

SIMON FLETCHER, known as Lieut. Simon, erected a house, and lived in it on the land of Capt. Dudley Case. It should be borne in mind that Capt. Case, with his first wife Susanna, were reputed kind guardians of the blacks, and helpers of the indigent whites who lived on his premises or in the neighborhood. Simon's house stood by the brook, at the foot of the hill on the road leading to Harvey Mills residence. The name of his wife is not known, neither the number of his children, but among his children was Julius, who had his skull broken in by the kick of a horse; Julius was born about 1775. The family disappeared from this part as early as 1795. Simon was what is called a second or third rate fiddler, and the same may be said of a great share of the men of color of those times. On the east confines of

New Hartford, and on the north-west part of Old Simsbury, called Negrotown, were many blacks, and among them a good number of fiddlers. It was also observable, that wherever there was a colored family that possessed in good measure the comforts of life, there were sure to be plenty of hangers on.

CÆSAR WILCOX was probably brought from Africa after he had arrived to adult years. He through life, spoke very broken English. He, or his services, were called the property of Joseph Wilcox, 2d, or Jun. When his master 1759, Cæsar was

was found dead by his fall in the barn in the one who first discovered him; he went into the house to inform his mistress, but so broken was his language; that it required a long time with the help of signs, before he could make her understand what he wanted to communicate to her. He was afterward sold into the State of New York, where he remained till after the death of his master. The writer of this article once heard him say that he dug his second master's grave. It was currently reported that while living in the State of New York, he married or cohabited with a woman of his race, and they had some children. He in

some way left his New York residence and returned to Connecticut; the time not definitely known, but probably as late as 1780, after which he lived in an unsettled state, according as he found friends or employers; sometimes faring middling well, and sometimes very poor. When Canton was incorporated in 1806, he by agreement was taken by Old Simsbury, who supported him during the last years of his life. He died in 1812, quite aged, having seen enough of this world's kindness toward worn out blacks.

There have been several colored persons who have resided a few years in Canton, but not in family state at so early a period as what this work is treating of. This general remark is true with respect to Canton, as with other towns, and even with Connecticut, viz., that the colored race have strangely dwindled away, and in great measure disappeared within the last sixty-five years, and no one can tell what has become of them. There were, at different periods of time, between 1750 and 1776, some four or five negroes held as servants. Some of them had died, and those that remained were voluntarily released.

SKETCH OF THE

First Ecclesiastical Society of West Simsbury,

NOW CANTON.

ABOUT the year 1741, the people of West Simsbury began to hold religious meetings on the Sabbath, in private houses. From 1747 to 1750, two preachers, Rev. Adonijah Bidwell and Rev. Timothy Pitkin, were employed to preach, each for a short time. This section of the town was constituted a distinct parish by an act of the General Assembly, May, 1750. The Congregational church was organized, it is supposed, about the same time. The same year, Rev. Evander Morrison, who was from Scotland, was installed first pastor of the church. For some cause, Mr. Morrison was dismissed about eleven months after his installation. The next pastor was Rev. Gideon Mills, who was installed in 1759, and continued pastor of the church thirteen years. The third pastor was Rev. Seth Sage, installed 1774, and dismissed 1778. Rev. Jeremiah Hallock was the fourth pastor of the church. He was ordained October 26th, 1785, and continued pastor till his death in June, 1826, a period of about forty-one years. Rev. Jairus Burt; the present pastor, was ordained December 20th, 1826.

The first meeting-house was built in 1763, and was occupied by the society fifty-one years, having been taken down in 1814. A new house erected on the same spot, (now Canton Center,) was dedicated January 5th, 1815. (See Phelps' History of Simsbury, Granby and Canton.)