“A Highly Regarded Citizen” of Windsor, Born Enslaved

2026-02-04T14:44:15-05:00July 7th, 2025|Tags: , |

On March 1, 1928, a man in his 70s died in his home. Edward Hill had lived in Windsor for almost 60 years and was a successful farmer, property owner, Grace Episcopal Church member, constable, and volunteer Windsor Fire Company member. None of this is particularly remarkable—until you learn that Edward Hill was a Black man who was born enslaved.

Nancy and Toney, Part 2

2025-03-21T17:11:24-04:00January 23rd, 2025|Tags: , , , |

As the Revolutionary War reached its end, Nancy Toney and her father Anthony went to New York City, one of the last British strongholds left in the colonies. There they were supposed to be safe until the British could send them to Nova Scotia in the fall of 1783. Unfortunately, they were not. Nancy was kidnapped, and she never reunited with her father.

Nancy and Toney, Part 1

2025-03-21T17:14:46-04:00December 4th, 2024|Tags: , , , |

Nancy Toney's portrait hangs in Chaffee House, where we talk about her connection to the site, her time in town, and her status as one of the last people enslaved in Connecticut. Recently, new information on Nancy and her family has surfaced. This new knowledge fills in missing years and places much of what we’ve known about Nancy into a new context. This is a story about Nancy, her father Toney, and a bid for freedom.

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