all slaves remaining in Connecticut. At this time
there were but six slaves remaining in bondage within the state.

"Throughout the whole history of this slavery thraldom in
Connecticut, some curious laws were passed, showing that the
Puritan was not fully satisfied with the situation. In 1702,
there was enacted a law which arose from the practice of turning
loose a slave who had broken down, and was of little use, and
abandoning him, thus forcing him to care for himself. This law
obliged the last owner of the slave and his heirs, and
administrators, to pay for the care of these wrecks of humanity.
In 1711 it was further enacted, that in case the former owner
refused to give the care required, the selectmen of the town
where the owner resided, should care for the needy slave, and
collect with costs from his owner. In 1774 it was enacted that
'no Indian, Negro, or mulatto slave, shall at any time hereafter
be brought or imported into this state, by sea or by land, from
any place or places whatsoever, to be disposed of, left or sold,
within this state.'

"In 1784, a law was passed which provided that no Negro or
mulatto child born after March 1, 1784, should be held in
servitude beyond the age of 25 years. In 1797, a further
enactment released all colored children from slavery, when they
'had attained the age of 21 years.' Connecticut gradually was
'coming to her own' again. Even the ministry received a change of
heart, for in 1788, the general association of ministers of
Connecticut declared the slave trade to be unjust, and that every
justifiable measure ought to be taken to suppress it. In 1789,
Connecticut shippers were prohibited from engaging in the slave
trade anywhere.

"One of the interesting points to note in this gradual
metamorphosis is that as the number of slaves gradually
diminished, the number of free Negroes correspondingly increased,
showing that but comparatively few left the state. The caste
system was in full force everywhere. It was very evident in the
church. For years the system of 'dignifying the pews,' as it was
termed, was practiced. That is, assigning seats to the different
members of the parish by a committee appointed for that purpose.
For a man must go to church whether he wished to or not, and pay
h