News

From the Greenwich Sentinel on May 16, 2024

Four enslaved individuals who resided at Bush-Holley House in the 18th and 19th centuries were honored at a ceremony on April 26th at Greenwich Historical Society in collaboration with the Witness Stones Project, an organization dedicated to restoring the history and humanity of enslaved persons of color who contributed to communities throughout the Northeast.

Students from Sacred Heart Greenwich and Greenwich Academy who were instrumental in researching the lives of the four enslaved as part of their collaboration with the Witness Stones Project, shared what they learned about their lives and their impact on the community. They included Mary Kate McBreen, Claire Ryan and Mackenzie Malouin of Sacred Heart and Chloe Cerniglia of Greenwich Academy.

Witness Stones Founder and Executive Director Dennis Culliton discussed the relevance of the initiative for Greenwich and the other communities in four other states that have collaborated with his organization in honoring their enslaved populations. Teresa Vega, a local historian, genealogist and descendant of African Americans who resided in Greenwich, provided historical background on the lives of the enslaved in the community. Bobbie Walker, Jr., assistant head of school for student and community life at Greenwich Academy, who was instrumental in providing leadership and support to the students, commented on the importance of the program for educational enrichment and involving students in the narrative about the lives of the enslaved.

Following the ceremony, the students placed Witness Stones Memorial markers engraved with the known birth and death dates and primary occupations for each of the four enslaved in the Historical Society’s Witness Stones Memorial Garden adjacent to Bush-Holley House. There are now 14 markers in the garden honoring the 16 persons known to have been enslaved at Bush-Holley.

Historical Society Executive Director and CEO Debra Mecky commented on how the partnership with the Witness Stones Project and students from Sacred Heart and Greenwich Academy has helped the Historical society to enhance its mission. “It is a privilege to once again host this reception in honor of Greenwich’s enslaved individuals whose legacy is largely forgotten, yet who deserve to be honored for their contributions in making Greenwich the desirable community it is today. Our mission for strengthening the community’s connection to the past, to each other and to the future is enhanced by their dedication.”

Background on Witness Stones Collaboration:
The Historical Society first collaborated with The Witness Stone Project in 2021 on this initiative dedicated to teaching school-age children about enslaved persons in their hometowns using primary sources like deeds, wills and letters. Students and teachers from Sacred Heart and Greenwich Academy have worked diligently, with the support of the Historical Society, in researching the daily lives of the enslaved. The ceremony is the culmination of their work.

While the number of enslaved people estimated to live in Connecticut varies widely, research suggests that there were approximately 5,100 enslaved persons in Connecticut in 1774. Numbers for after the Revolutionary War are still being studied. Greenwich Historical Society research estimates there were around 300 enslaved people who resided in Greenwich during the 18th and 19th centuries. Fifteen enslaved individuals who resided at Bush-Holley House in Greenwich from 1790 – 1830 have been identified through inventory and census records.

For more information on the event: https://greenwichhistory.org/witness-stones/