Slaves in Colonial Saybrook

When one thinks of slaves in colonial times, they likely think of southern plantations and cotton fields. They may also think about repressive "masters" that were said to own them. The owning of slaves - or "indentured servants" - was a part of colonial America in New England as well. And the Saybrook colony was no exception.

It is generally thought that New England slaves worked side-by-side with those that owned them, almost as business partners. They learned their owner's trades becoming shipbuilders, farmers and coopers. Contrary to the slave's way of life down south, it is said that northern slaves often lived with their owners, eating at the same dinner table. Saybrook resident Captain Elisha Hart and his family owned, among others, a "large, pompous, supertious woman" named Leah who was said to rule the kitchen and was much loved by the Harts. When she died, she was said to be buried in the Cypress family plot of the Harts, although a stone bearing her name - Leah Lathrop Hart - is not present or recognizable.

Much of the evidence of slave ownership and its existence at the very core of Saybrook life comes in the form of the records of what the deceased passed down to his heirs. Amongst the list of "material" goods passed down are the references to "negro boy Phillip" or indian servant "Cesta". This brings up the point that all servants and slaves were not of African American descent. Native Americans also served in what was called these vital roles as well.

The photo at left shows three gravestones of slaves that lived in Saybrook toward the end of the 18th and into the 19th century. The marker on the right, inscribed "In Loving Memory", is that of Rose Jackson, who died at the age of 68 in 1856. A small stone, typical of a child's marker is seen just beyond. There is no inscription on the small stone. The plot is located in the southeast corner of the lot within the old section. It is not known if the two broken markers to the right of Rose's marker are the burial sites of two other slaves.