South Windsor
Connecticut
Wood Memorial Library and Museum Museum Musings From Main - February 28, 2025
Arts and Entertainment
March 5, 2025
From: Wood Memorial Library and MuseumMeet Prince, Flora and Sylvia
This past week we offered two presentation sessions of 2024's exhibit on researching evidence of slavery in South Windsor. If there is interest, we're more than happy to offer a presentation again. Worthwhile discussion took place about the context of slavery in Connecticut, some of the lingering mysteries of our research and the impact of the past on the present.
On the last day of Black History month, today's musing shares an overview of one of the panels of our slavery exhibit. In preparing for the exhibit a year ago, I realized that several seemingly disparate pieces of information collected all overlapped in one house on Main Street (the house is no longer standing). When considered together, the information weaves a fascinating, albeit confusing, timeline of events.
Of note to those who remember this story from the exhibit or one of this week's presentations: In writing this musing I inadvertently solved one of the mysteries associated with this timeline and have thus included this new information below. Of course, while it solves one mystery, it raises alternative questions...
"Prince Negro" and Flora
In June of 1777 a formerly enslaved man named Prince wrote his last will and testament, signing it "Prince Negro." He cites that he is about to go into the [Revolutionary] war. We have no idea of its value, but should he die he leaves his estate to Flora, "as long as she shall remain single and unmarried." Flora was enslaved by Rev. Joseph Perry on Main Street.
If Flora should die or marry, Prince directs that his estate be left to the child he had with Flora, also named Prince, so that he may "purchase his Friedom [sic] if it can be obtained." Prince is also enslaved by Rev. Joseph Perry. Should both Flora and young Prince die, Prince wills his estate to Rev. Joseph Perry "to pay him for his Trouble in taking care of Flora in her sickness & looking after her said Son." Rev. Joseph Perry is named executer of Prince's will.
Prince died in October of 1777, presumably at war. We have no idea what becomes of his estate. However, a text from western Massachusetts cites a 1978 Master's thesis that tells the story of Bushman Fuller, a former slave who falls in love with "Flora Perry" of East Windsor. Rev. Joseph Perry reportedly "insisted that Bushman pay him 100 bushels of [winnowed] wheat" in exchange for Flora's freedom so that they could marry in West Springfield on February 7, 1778.
One House, Many Stories
As you can see below, various sources linked together form a possible timeline of events once Rev. Joseph Perry remarries in 1781 and Naomi Verstille moves into his house. These include U.S. Census records and genealogy information on the Verstille family from Stiles.
Interestingly, according to U.S. Census data in 1820, 97 enslaved people remain in Connecticut. Eight of them reside in East Windsor. By 1830, the unnamed enslaved female aged 55-99 on Main Street is one of only 25 remaining slaves in the state.
The partially solved mystery is what happened to Flora, as I found information today for the first time that explains that Bushman Fuller is able to purchase her freedom.
But many questions remain.
Lingering Questions: You be the Researcher
What happened to Prince's estate when he died in late 1777? Flora was still alive and unmarried at that time; did she receive Prince's estate? If she did, was she not able or allowed to purchase her own freedom?
What became of young Prince?
Who is the unnamed enslaved person in the house in 1790? Is it Prince, Sylvia or someone else?
How, when and why do you think Sylvia came to the house?
Who is "Ann O. Vastill" and do you think it's relevant that we included this census record in this timeline?
Assuming it's the same person, who is the unnamed enslaved female in the house in 1820 and 1830?
Do you think Nancy and Charlotte's "negro Sylvia" was enslaved or free and still living or working at the house when it was rented? Why did Nancy and Charlotte want their tenant to care for Sylvia? What do you think Azel Bowers thought of this condition?
Do you think the church death record of "Sylvia, a colored woman" at age 82 in 1834 is relevant to this timeline?
Upcoming Related Programming
Examining slavery from a modern perspective is complicated. Our intent in searching for local evidence of slavery is not to pass judgement on the past in hindsight, but to ensure that we have a fuller picture of history. Should you join us for one of our upcoming programs on this topic, you will find that we focus on the research process and what little we know about the enslaved people we have uncovered, not who their enslavers were.
Book Discussion and Visit to the Stowe Center
(Join us for just one or all of the events in this series.)
Uncle Tom's Cabin Discussion Part 1, on Zoom: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 7pm
Visit to the Stowe Center: Saturday, March 22, 2025 10am
Uncle Tom's Cabin Discussion Part 2, In-Person: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 7pm
Main Street Hidden History Tour
(Outdoor set of lectures at several locations related to South Windsor slavery including approximately where Flora and Sylvia lived. Travel on your own, some walking on paved streets necessary. No specific homes will be featured.)
Sunday, May 18, 2025 2pm
No fee, but please pre-register online
For Further Reading