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On September 26, 2016, the Witness Stones Project’s Dennis Culliton received the Charles Hubbard Award for the his research and education work on slavery and African Americans in Guilford. Continue reading.
6. N. Loysel to Dr. Thomas Pynchon, Vol. 15, p. 200.jpeg
Doctor Thos A. Pynchon
Know all Men by these presents that Nicholas Lozelle of Guilford in New Haven County & State of Connecticut for the consideration of the Sum of Five hundred pounds ??? to my full satisfaction of Thomas A. Pynchon of said Guilford the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge I have bargained sold & Delivered and by these presents do Sell & deliver unto the said Pynchon the whole of my personal property consisting of one Negro Man Named John & one Named Joe, one two years old horse, my cattle all my household furniture and every other article of moveable property_______ To have & to hold the said bargained premises to him the said Pynchon his heirs & Assigns forever and I do hereby bind my self & my heirs Executors Administrators to warrant and defend the said bargained premises to the said Pynchon his heirs & Assigns forever against all claims & demands whatsoever. And I do sign further covenant with the said Pynchon that the same is free & clear of all incumbrances_______ In Witness thereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 26th day of June 1794.
In presence of
Nathaniel Rosseter N’ Loysel {Seal}
Sally Burgis
New Haven County ss Guilford June 26th 1794
Personally appeared Nicholas Loysel Signed & Sealed of the written instrument & acknowledged the same to be his free Act & Deed before me.
Thos. Burgis Jun’r Justice of Peace
Rec’d for Record June 26th 1794
& is truly entered Test____ Thos. Burgis Jun’r Reg’r
Emancipation of Candace by Hooker Bartlett et al
Guilford Grantor – Grantee Property Records
Volume 14, page 233 (Transcribed)
Hooker Bartlet, (et al) Their Letter of
Emancipation to Their Negro Girl Candace
To all People to whome these Presents shall come Greeting
Know ye that we the Subscribing Authority being apply’d to by Hooker
Bartlet Samuel Bartlet Nathaniel Bartlet & John Elliot Jun’r all of
Guilford the County of New Haven & State of Connecticut do Exam-
Ine into the State of Health and age of their Negro Servant & Slave
Candice as also her Disposition Respecting being made free do Certify
that an Actual Examination the said Candace is in good Health and is
not of Greater Age than forty five years or less age Twenty five
Years and is desirous of being made free ————————-
Given under our Hands & Seals in said Guilford this 18th
Day of January Anno Domini 1793
Tho’s Burgis Jun’r (Seal) Justices of the Peace
for the County
William Starr (Seal) of New Haven
Know all men by these Presents that we Hooker Bartlet Samuel Bartlet
Nath’l Bartlet and Jon Elliot Jun’r all of Guilford in New Haven
County and State of Connecticut being Jointly & Severally Masters and
And owners of a certain Negro Woman Named Candace a Slave for life
Impowered for the Purpose by one certain Statute law of said State Intitled
an Act in addition to an alteration of an act concerning Indian Mulattos
& Negro Servants & Slaves having thus far conformed to the Act and Previous-
Ly obtained a Certificate from under the Hands of two of the Civil authority
Within and for s’ County as required by said Act Now we the said Hooker
Bartlet Samuel Bartlet Nathaniel Bartlet and John Elliot Jun’r
do by this present writing or letter of Emancipation from the date
Of these presents forever hereafter Emancipate and make free our said Negro
Woman Candace and for our Selves our Heirs Executors & Administrators do
renounce give up and forever Quitclaim all right and Title to the whole or
any part of her Services & Earnings Emoluments also all right to Control the person of
her the said Candace Either directly or indirectly in any matter whatever. And
furthermore we the said Hooker Samuel Nath’l & John for ourselves our Heirs
Executors Administrators and assigns do Covenant & Grant to and with the
Said Candace her Executors Administrators and assigns that the s’d Candace her
Executors Administrators & assigns shall & may from Time to Time and at all
Times hereafter Lawfully Peaceably & Quietly have hold receive take and enjoy
To her & their own proper use & behoof the advantage of all her S’d Services
Earnings and Emoluments and all or any the Proceeds & Profits thereof with out
Let trouble Molestation or Interruption of or by us the said Hooker Bartlet Samuel
Bartlet Nathaniel Bartlet John Elliot Junior our Executors Adm’r or assigns or
(Any others Persons or Persons whatsoever Lawfully claiming from by or under us) or any of us or by
any or either of our Acts means or procurements — In Witness whereof we have here-
Unto Set our Hands & Seals this 18th Day of January Anno Domini 1798
Signed in the presence of Hooker Bartlet (seal)
William Starr {Rec’d for record Jan’y 19th 1793 } Samuel Bartlet (seal)
Joseph Cruttenden {& is truly Entered – } John Elliott Jun’r (seal)
Nathaniel Graves Jun’r {Test. Tho’s Burgis Jun’r Jun’r Reg’} Nathaniel Bartlet (seal)
Know all men by these Present that I Elias Cadwell
of Guilford in New Haven County & State of Connecticut
for the Consideration of the Sum of Twelve pounds lawful
Money Rec’d to my full Satisfaction of Joseph Weld,
Sam’l Lee, Sol’ Stone, Sam’l Johnson Jun’r & others
Select Men for s’d Town, have bargained Sold & achieved, &
by these presents do bargain Sell & deliver unto said
Select Men & to their Successors in said office one
Certain Negro Girl named Dinah ———
To have & to hold said Negro Girl Dinah to them
The said Select Men & to their Successors in said office for the
full end & term of four years fully to be compleat &
ended; after which time said Girl shall become free, and
Thereby be entitled to all the privileges granted by our
Laws to Emancipate Slaves —– Further I the said Cadwell
do hereby relinquish all right & title in & to the s’d Girl; and
hereby do & will warrant & defend s’d Girl to said Select
Men & to their Successors in Office, as being free from
all Claims and Demand whatsoever —– In Witness
whereof I have Hereunto Set my hand & Seal this
17th Day of August 1792 —————
In Presence of ——-
Jedediah Lathrop (signed) Elias Cadwell (signed)
Sally Smith (signed) (his seal)
This is the last Will and Testament of Ruth Naughty, widow of David Naughty who died 33 years earlier. In his will, he directed his executrix (Ruth) to free the enslaved couple Montros and Phillis and their children at her death. Her will frees only Montros and Phillis and explains why she felt she did not have to free their children Pompey, Moses, Aaron and Candace. Persons not mentioned are Flora (who had died in November of 1771), another one of Montros and Phillis’ children, and Cesar, Flora’s son.
Doctor John Redfield Executor of the Last Will & Testament
Of Ruth Naughtye late of Guilford Dec’d Exhibitted s’d Will
Which was Proved & Approved in Court & Ordered to be Recorded.
The s’d Executor Excepted the Trust therein Commited to him.
In the Name of God Amen. This Fourteenth Day of
December 1771 ___ I Ruth Naughtye of Guilford in the County of New
Haven & Colony of Connecticut in New England widow being under
Infirmityes
Infirmities of Body but of Sound mind & Memory thanks be given to God
therefor, Calling to mind the mortallity of my Body & Knowing that it
is appointed for all men Once to Die Do Make & Ordain this Last
Will & Testament that is to say Principally & first of all I Give I Give &
Recommend my soul into the Hands of God that Gave it; & my Body
I Recommend to the Earth to be Buried in decent Christian Burial
at the discretion of my Executor Nothing Doubting but that at the
General Resurrection I shall Recieve the same again by the
Mighty Power of God. And as touching such wordly Este where _
with it hath pleased god to bless me in this Life I Give Demise and
Dispose of the same in the following manner & form. ________
Imprimus —- My Just Debts and Funeral Charges being first paid
Whereas my Late Husband Mr. David Naughtye late of Guilford
Deceas’d by his Last will & Testament (whereof I was made Executrix
Ordered that after my Decease his negro Man Named Motross & his
Negro Woman named Phillis & their Son (a Negro Boy) named Pompye
and any other Children that should be born of sd Phillis should all be
made free & no Longer Servant or Slaves, & whereas the Debts due
from the Estate of sd Dec’d surmounted the personal Estate as t’
Inventory in which sd Negroes were included so that I might lawfully
Have sold sd Negroes for the paying of sd Debts or have kept as Slaves to
my own Estate but by the Divine Blessing on Labour & Industry I have
paid all the Debts of my sd Husband out of my own Estate so far as sd
Negroes & several other necessaries amounted to, but I being willing
that the two old Negroes (viz) Montross & Phyllis should injoy their
Freedom and the Legacies which by my sd Husbands will
were given to them, My Will is that sd Montross and Phillis be
free and no Longer Servants or Slaves, & that my sd Husbands
will be fully performed with respect to them~~~~
Item ___: As to the sd Pompye & the other children which have been born
Of sd Phillis since the date of my sd Husbands Will (viz)
Moses, Aaron & Candace thinking it much better for them to Live
in some good Regular & Religious families as servants than to enjoy Freedom I
Have with their free Consent & Choice when they were Come to years
of Discretion Bound them all out by Indenture for Life (viz) the
Sd Pompye to Mr. Eben’r Dod of sd Guilford, Moses to the Rev’d Mr. Amos
Fowler of sd Guilford Aaron to Mr. Levi Hubbard of Guilford & Candace
Candace to Mr. Eben’r Parmelee of sd Guilford & Ann his wife during
Their Lives and after their Decease to Ensign Hooker Bartlet widow & Ruth his
Wife & it is my will and I do give the sd Pompye to the sd Eben’r
Dod, & I also Give the sd Moses to the sd Amos Fowler, & also In give the
sd Aaron to the sd Levi Hubbard I also Give the sd Candace to the
said Eben’r Parmele & his Wife during their Lives & at their Decease
to Ruth Bartlet Widow to the aforesd Hooker; They & Each of them
performing what they by Indenture are bound to Do. ——
Item — I give & Bequeath to my Negro Man Montross Four Pounds lawfull
mony to Buy him a Jhersy Coat & Vest, & Leather Breeches & also two
Pounds Lawful mony to purchase things most Convenient for him
Item — I give and bequeath to my Negro Woman Phillis her Bed Beding & Bed-
Stead also my silk Crape Frock, my largest Iron Pot & my Iron Skil-
Let & four Pewter Plates, one Pewter Platter, Funnel, one pair Tongs
One Slice, one Trammel, Box Iron & heaters, Gridiron, Warming pan & one
Preel two pair sheets one frying pan, one small spinning wheel & Great
wheel one Large Trunk & my Copper Coffee Pott & tea Kettle. —–
Item — I give & bequeath to my Negro man Pompey five pound Lawful mony
In Lieu of the Clothing which his Master Gave him by Will which I used
To pay his sd Masters Debts, which sold for sixty Pounds Old Tenor
Whis is Equal to five pound Lawful mony; I give to sd Pompie my
Great Bible & also Four Pounds Lawful money. ——————–
Item — I give & bequeath to my Negro Girl Candace my bed Bedding & Bedstead
on which I lye two Pillows & other furniture Belongings to it my Little
Iron Pot on Iron Skillet four pewter plates, two pewter Platters, on Looking
Glass, one Dutch Spinning Wheel one New great wheel, tow pair sheets
two pillow Coats my Callimance Frock, One White Holland Holland
Apron, One Chest of Drawers, my Light coloured shalloon Quilt &
Broadcloath short Cloak also I give to sd Candace my Trundle Bed
& Bedclothes & Bedstead my desk, my Large Brass Kettle a
Large Pewter Bason & my Callico Frock & my Dark Colour’d
shallom Quilt. —————————————
Item — All the Remainder of my Everyday Wearing apparel I give to the sd
Phillis & Candace with all my shifts & Caps to be equally divided between them
Item — I give and Bequeath to my Negro Man Moses four pounds lawful mony-
Item —I give and Bequeath to my Negro Man Aaron four pound lawful mony—
Item — I give & bequeath to sd Pompie, Moses Aaron & Candace all my books
Eccept my Best Bible to be equally Divided between them.
Item — I give & Bequeath to the Church of the first Society in Guilford four
Pounds Lawful Mony to purchase a Silver Cup for the use of the Lors
Table which Cup shall have my name Engraven on the same
Item — My will is that my Gold Chane & Locket my Ring & Piece of Gold
two Silk Damask Frocks, my silk Quilt my Furbelow’d Scarf my
broad Cloth Ridinghood & head together with all the Remander of my
movable Estate to be sold & the mony that shall arise upon sd sale togehter
with all the mony that is due to me by Bonds, notes, or Book, or mony that may be in my House or Else where belonging to me, shall be loan’d out
upon good Security (Except what mony is or shall be otherwise disposed of in this
my Will and the Interest thereof from time to time shall be disposed of
for the Maintenance of my two Old negroes (viz) Montros & Phillis or to
Either of them that shall stand in most need of it; & the Principle shall
not be disposed to them Except the necessitous Circumstances of Either
or Both of them shall or may require it in which Case only it may
be used for their Relief. ——————-
Item — I Give & Bequeath the Ballance in any there be on two of
Hand Given to me & Executed by by Abraham Hodkin, this Balance
I Give unto David Benton son of James Benton Jun’r of Guilford.
Lastly — I Do Hereby Constitute Ordain & Appoint my Trusty Friend Doctor
John Redfield of Guilford aforesd Executor of this my Last Will & Testament
to whom I give my best Hand Irons & also five pounds, Lawfull mony
to Purchase him a Silver Watch; And I do hereby revoke & Disannul
All other & former Wills Testaments & Executors by me at any time be-
fore named or made Rattifying &Confirming this & no other to be my
last Will & Testament — In Witness wereof I have herunto
set my Hand & Seal the day of the date first above written ————–
Signed Sealed, published, pronounced &
Declared by sd Ruth Naughtye
As her last Will & Testament in (signed) Ruth Naughtye (seal)
Presence of us
Sam’l Stevens Messrs. Sam’l Stevens, Frederic Redfield
Frederic Redfield & John Eliot the witnesses to the forefo-
John Eliot ing Will personnally appeared before
The court of Probate Held in Guilford July
Ye 21; 1772 & made oath that they saw Mrs. Ruth Naughty sign & Seal the
Foregoing instrument & heard her declare the same to be her Last Will and
Testament & that according to their Judgement she was of sound mind & memory
At the doing thereof & that they all signed to the same as Witnesses in Reference
Of the Testament ————————– Test. Eben’r Parmele Jun’r Clerk ——-
Indentures are traditionally an agreement between two parties where one party agrees to provide labor in recompense for money loaned to them (in many cases, a ship’s passage from Europe to the New World) or in recompense for a skilled learned such as an apprenticeship. Indentures usually had time limits and responsibilities of both parties under the indenture. This indenture continues the servitude of Moses and is without time limits, without training and without payment to Moses, he receives what we would call room and board. Other documents refer to Moses’s brothers and sisters with other members of the Guilford community.
This Indenture (Witnesses that) Ruth Naughtye of Guilford
in the County of New Haven (in the Colony) of Connecticut in New England w(?)
(for and In Consideration of the payments herein aftermentioned) Hath &
by these Presents Doth Put out, and Bind her Negro Man Named, Moses
a Servant to Amos Fowler of Guilford aforesd, Clerk, to Serve him from
the day of the Date hereof During the whole Time and Term of the Natural
Life of the sd Moses, and until his Death; During which Term the sd
Negro Man Shall Constantly Serve the sd Amos Fowler his Heirs Ex-
-ecutors or Admt’rs according to his or theirLawful Commands; And
the sd Amos Fowler or him self his Heirs Executors & Admt’rs Doth
Covenant and Promise to find and provide for sd Negro Man Sutable
Meat, Drink, Apparrel, Washing and Lodging During the sd Term
both in sickness and health, and to pay all Rates & Taxes that
may arise on sd Negro Man’s Head; And the sd Amos Fowler Doth
for himself his Heirs Executors & Admt’rs further Covenant and Promise
not to Sell or Dispose of sd Negro Man in Service to any other Persons
but that the sd Moses Shall Remain and be kept in the Service
of him the sd Fowler and his Heirs During the whole Term of his
(sd Moses’s) Natural Life; And the sd Amos Fowler, for himself his
Heirs Executors and Admt’rs Doth further Covenant and Promise to pay
to sd Ruth Naughtye (for sd Negro Man’s Service) Twelve Pounds, Law-
-ful money, a year, to be paid Yearly and every Year During the Term of
the Natural Life of the sd RuthNaughtye, and no longer ——————-
In Witness whereof the Parties have Interchangeably Set to their hands and
Seals this Ninth Day of November Annos Domini 1762 ———————
Signed Sealed and Delivered (signed) Amos Fowler
In presence of —————–
John Redfield
Nath’l Hill
Last Will and Testament of David Naughty(e)
Dated: 26 June 1738
The last will and testament of David Naughty(e) was written in 1738 and lists how his estate would be distributed upon his death. He instructs his executor, heir, and wife Ruth Naughty to free his slaves Montros, Phillis, Pompey, and their future children. He leaves his slaves money, land, and a dwelling house on the death of Ruth.
Mrs. Ruth Naughtye Executrix of the Last Will & Testament of
Mr. David Naughtye Late of Guilford Dec’d Exhibited A Will
which was proved and approved in Court & ordered to be Recorded.
In the name of God amen; This Twenty Sixth day of July Anno Domini 1738_
I David Naughty of Guilford in the County of Newhaven in the Colony of Connecticut in New England being under Some Infirmities of body, but of Sound mind memory Thanks be given to god Therefor; Calling to mind the mortallity of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye, Do make and ordain this my Last Will & Testament; that is to Say; principally & first of all, I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body I Recommend to the Earth to be buried in Decent Christian burial and Discretion of my Executors. Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall Receive the Same again by the mighty power of God; and as Touching Such Worldly Estate Wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this Life I Give Demise and Dispose of the Same in the following manner & form ___
Imprimis ___
my just Debts & funeral Charges being first paid; I Give & Bequeath to my well beloved wife Ruth Naughty the use & Improvement of all my Estate both Real & personal to be possessed & Enjoyed by her During the time She Shall Remain my Widow, and in case She Shall marry then I give to her only my best bed and furniture and my best Silver Tankard; Which is all She is to Enjoy of my Estate after Such marriage
Item ____
I give and bequeath to my nephew David Naughty, Son of my Brother Peter Naughty all the Residue & Remainder of my Estate both Real & personal whatsoever or wheresoever after I Decease or marriage of my s’d wife; he paying out of my personal Estate or the Incomes of my Real Estate what I do hereafter order him to pay, and also Excepting What I otherwise order & dispose of in this will that is to say first my will is and I do order that my negros (viz) my negro man named Montros, my negro woman named Phillis and my negro Boy named Pompye (at the Decease of my sd wife Ruth) Shall be free and no longer Servant or Slaves; and also any Child or Children that may hereafter be born of S’d Phillis Shall be free in like manner at the Decease of my s’d wife; also within three years after s’d Montros Shall become free as afores’d. There shall be built for s’d Montros a house of Sixteen feet Square and one Storie high with a Sutable Roof, a Chimney & Celler, with Doors floors and all things necessary & Sutable for a family to Dwell in, well finished, Which house Shall be built & Set on a Lot of Land near the nutplain farms which I bought of James Bishop Continuing
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Containing about four acres; whi Lot I to s’d Montros his Heirs & assigns forever; I also give to s’d Montros one Cow & a Calf which House & cow & calf Shall be provided & built at the Cost & Charge of my nephew the S’d David Naughty or his Heirs. And further my will is that S’d Montros with his wife and family shall have Liberty to Dwell in my House at the nutplain farm, from the time he Shall become free till his House be finished on S’d Lot abovementioned and Shall have the Improvement of his sd Lot in t’ mean time and also I do order and Enjoyn sd David to pay to sd Montros Phillis & Pompy the Sum of Ten pounds a year yearly and every year So Long as the sd Three negros Shall Live, Which Shall be paid out of the Incomes of sd Lands. For the more Comfortable maintainance & Support of sd negros; and in case of the Death Of Either or any of sd negros there shall be abated one Third part of sd Sum upon t’ Death one of them and Two Thirds at t’ Death of two of them, and the Surviver or Survivers Shall Still have Each their third part of sd Sum paid to them & t’ Longest Lived of them, and Sd David Shall also provide for sd negros Two Beds (viz) a feather Bed & a Chaff Bed, a Table, Some Chairs, a porrige pot, a Kittle, and a pail for their House Keeping
Item __ I Give and bequeath to to my niece Margret Naughty one hundred pounds to be paid to her by her Brother t’ sd David Naughty within three years after sd David Shall come into the possession of the Estate I give to him I also give a mourning suit of all sorts to be provided for her at my Decease by my Executors To Margret Naughty Nothing
Item ___ I Give and bequeath to my Two nieces Ruth Naughty & Joanna Naughty Each of them a mourning Suit to be provided for them by my Executors at my Decease ___
Item ___ I Give all the Rest of my wearing apparrel to my negro man Montros
Item ___ I Give my Lands Lying in Saybrook to my abovesd nephew David Naughty and to his Heirs & assigns forever in fee Simple, and all the Residue of my Lands Lying in Guilford & in Litchfield I give to my sd nephew in fee tail So that it shall be to to the use and behoof of him sd David Naughty During his natural Life, and after his Decease to be to the use & behoof of t’ Eldest male Heir of his Body Lawfully to be begotten. During the Life of Such heir, and at the Decease of Such male Heir to the next male heir in the Line Decendant bearing the Surname of Naughty till that name be Extinct in the natural Course To be always to t’ use & behoof of one person only at one time, and in Default of Such male heir, by sd David to be begotten to the use & behoof of the Eldest female heir of the Body of sd David to be Lawfully begotten, and to the Eldest male heir of such female he changeing his Surname (if need be) to that of Naughty, by obtaining a grant for t’ same, and in Default of Issue male or female of the Body of sd David to be lawfully begotten, Then at the Decease of sd David Such Lands Shall be to t’ use and behoof of Eldest of my nieces that Shall be then Surviving During Life. and to her Eldest male heir obtaining the Surname of Naughty as above sd, and for want of Such Issue of the Eldest of my sd nieces to t’ next eldest In Like manner, & to her male heir and so to Decend as afore Specified ___
My True Intent & meaning is and it is my Will that all my Lands Lying in Guilford & Litchfield aforesd Do forever after my Decease Remain & be the Estate of but one person at one time to be always held an feetail (?) forever and So to Decend that the male heir en t’ Line Decendant Shall always have to prefe rence
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And for want of Such male heir the female heir in t’ Same Line to be preferred, and for want of heirs male or female in the Line Decendant then the next male heir in the Colatterl Line to be preferred. And for want of Such male heir t’ female heir in t’ Same line to Inherit : and Whatever it Shall happen that sd Lands Shall fall to one who shall not have t’ Surname Naughty; Such heir Shall, heir Shall Procure a Grant to be Surnamed Naughty, or otherwise the next of t’ same blood who Shall procure that name Shall Inherit sd Lands, and sd the Same Shall be held & Decend from Generation to Generation forever to my own name & Blood as afore Specified.
Lastly___ I do hereby Constitute ordain and appoint my well beloved wife Ruth Naughty Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament untill my nephew David Naughty Shall arrive at the age of Twenty one years and the he sd David Shall be also Executor of this my sd Last Will & Testament; and I do hereby Revoke and disannul all other & former Wills Testaments and Executors by me at any time before named or made, Ratifieing and Confirming this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament; In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal Dated as above Written
Signed Sealed Published Pronounced & Declared by the sd David Naughty
as his Last will & Testament in the presence of us
David Naughty
Ebn’r Parmele At a Court of Probate held in Guilford June 19th 1739
George Hill Ebenezer Parmele George Hill & Sam’l Hill Jun’r the Witnesses to sd above written Sam’l Hill Jun’r will personally appeared before this Court and made oath that they Saw Mr. David Naughty Late of Guilford Dec’d Sign & Seal the above written Instrument & heard
him Declare t’ Same to be his Last Will & Testament. And that he was of Sound mind & Memory at t’ doing thereof according to their best Judgement 7 that they together all
Signed as Witnesses in presence of t’ Testator
(Signed)
Test Sam’l Hill Clerk
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