Slavery & The Pursuit of Freedom in Wethersfield

In late November the Project:LUCID classes visited Wethersfield, CT and the Silas Deane and Webb Houses.  The tour focused on Slavery in Old Wethersfield as well as the roles of Joseph and his son, Samuel Webb in the Revolutionary War.

The 1752 Joseph Webb House served as George Washington’s headquarters in May 1781, and was later owned by Wallace Nutting. 

General Washington made three visits to Wethersfield including a visit in May 1781 when he stayed for five nights at Joseph Webb's house.  The project:LUCID students toured the Webb House, visited the Washington bedchamber and saw Wallace Nutting murals depicting Revolutionary War scenes, including the Battle of Yorktown, which is believed to have been first conceived and planned by Washington and the French General Rochambeau while in Wethersfield, CT. The students also learned through a hands on activity about the role of Joseph's son Samuel in the Battle of Bunker Hill and as aide-de-camp to General George Washington.

The Silas Deane House, circa 1770, was built for America’s Revolutionary War diplomat to France as both his residence and as a power base for his political aspirations.  


While touring the Silas Deene House, the Project:LUCID students explored the lives of Pompey, Hagar and other enslaved African Americans in 18th century Connecticut.  They toured the slaves' quarters at the Deane House and played a traditional West African game.


After the house tours the students visited Wethersfield's Ancient Burying Ground where they for a moment in front of the graves of some of town's slave inhabitants. 

Wethersfield's Ancient Burying Ground
Here are the "few remaining witnesses" of the lives of African Americans slaves that once lived in Wethersfield, CT including Quash Gomer, who purchased his freedom in 1766 from John Smith for 25 pounds.
"In Memory of Quash Gomer, a native of Angola, in Africa, brought from there in 1748 & died June 6th 1799, Aged 68 years." and "In Memory of Tenor Abro, who died April 5th 1795 in the 25th year of his age."

"In Memory of FRANCOIS (Abro) who was born in Africa, and died July 1st 1816, aged about 55 years."

The 18th Century Meeting House in Wethersfield was built between 1761 and 1764.


They next toured the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, which served as the town's Meeting House in the 18th Century.  They learned about  how John Adams once climbed the steeple of this church and how George Washington attended services here.  They also learned about the church's preparations for a traditional New England Thanksgiving service.