--INTERROGATING THE GOVERNOR AS THE NUMBER OF
NEGROES IN THE COLONY IN 1680.--THE LEGISLATURE (1690)
PASSES A LAW PERTAINING TO THE PURCHASE AND TREATMENT OF
SLAVES AND FREE PERSONS.--AN ACT PASSED BY THE GENERAL COURT
IN 1711, REQUIRING PERSONS MANUMITTING SLAVES TO MAINTAIN
THEM.--REGULATING THE SOCIAL CONDUCT OF SLAVES IN 1723.--THE
PUNISHMENT OF NEGRO, INDIAN, AND MULATTO SLAVES, FOR THE USE
OF PROFANE LANGUAGE, IN 1630.--LAWFULNESS OF INDIAN AND
NEGRO SLAVERY RECOGNIZED BY CODE, SEPT. 5, 1646.--LIMITED
RIGHTS OF FREE NEGROES IN THE COLONY.--NEGRO POPULATIONS IN
1762.--ACT AGAINST IMPORTATION OF SLAVES, 1774.

Although the colony of Connecticut was founded between the years 1631
and 1636, there are to be found no reliable data by which to fix the
time of the introduction of slavery there.[435] Like the serpent's
entrance into the Garden of Eden, slavery entered into this colony
stealthily; and its power for evil was discovered only when it had
become a formidable social and political element. Vessels from the
West Coast of Africa, from the West Indies, and from Barbadoes, landed
Negroes for sale in Connecticut during the early years of its
settlement. And for many years slavery existed here, without sanction
of law, it is true, but perforce of custom. Negroes were bought as
laborers and domestics, and it was a long time before their number
called for special legislation. But, like a cancer, slavery grew until
there was not a single colony in North America that could boast of its
ability to check the dreadful curse. When the first slaves were
introduced into this colony, can never be known; but, that there were
Negro slaves from the beginning, we have the strongest historical
presumption. For nearly two decades there was no reference made to
slavery in the records of the colony.

In 1680 "the Committee for Trade and Foreign Plantations" addressed to
the governors of the North-American plantations or colonies a series
of questions. Among the twenty-seven questions put to Gov. Leete of
Connecticut, were two referring to Negroes. The questions were as
follows:--

"17. What number of English, Scotch, Irish or Forreigners
have (for these seaven yeares last past, or any other space
of time) come yearly to plant and inhabit within your
Corporation. And also, what Blacks and Slaves have been
brought in within the said time, and att what rates?