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In 1995 I published my first book 'Chains Unbound: Slave Emancipations in Greenwich, Connecticut.' My original intention was for it to be used as an educational resource. This is an online companion site that I've created, especially for those of you utilizing online resources and smartphones. I've also included additional items and news articles not found in the 1995 edition. Jeffrey Bingham Mead, Historian and Author. October 13, 2014.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Emancipation of Sib by Estate of Lucy Heusted (1799)


by Joshua Purdy and Israel Peck, Executors
for the Estate of Lucy Heusted
Volume 14, Page 420-421
Signed: October 9, 1799
Recorded: October 9, 1799   
State of Connecticut Fairfield County ss In Greenwich  these
may certify that application has been made to us the subscribers Justices of the 
peace in and for said Fairfield County by Joshua Purdy of Rye in Westchester
County and State of New York as of the last Will and Testament of the
widow Lucy Heusted late of said Greenwich the other of the executors of the said
last Will and testament of said Lucy Heusted dec'd expressing their desire
(according to the will of said dec'd) to emancipate and make free the negro 
girl called Sib of the estate of said dec'd. And according to to the Statute Law of this 
State Entitled "An act in addition to and alteration of an act concerning 
Indian, Mullatto and negro servants and slaves" we have enquired, examined
and find the said Sib to be a healthy person and between the age of twenty five 
and forty five years of age and have personally examined said Sib who wishes
to be made free and emancipated as aforesaid. We therefore hereby cer-
tify that the said Sib is a proper person to be emancipated and made
free agreeably to said Statute Law. Given under our hands and Test of 
Office the 23rd day of Seprember AD 1799.                Jabez Fitch   Justice of peace
.                                                                                      Ebenzr Mead  Justices of peace

Know all men by these presents that on receiving the above certificate 
and by the direction of the will of the said dec'd Lucy Heusted We the Subscribers
Joshua Purdy of Rye in Westchester County and State of New York and Israel Peck
of Greenwich in Fairfield County and State of Connecticut as executors of the last
will and testament of said dec'd Lucy Heusted Do hereby give, grant, emancipate, 
make free and set at liberty the said negro slave Sib free and clear from us
as executors of said will and from any demands of any other person claiming
her as the estate of said dec'd. And from the date hereof said Sib is permitted 
to go for herself and is to be a slave to no person and to transact her 
own business which we give said Sib agreeably to the directions of the
will of said dec'd Lucy Heusted as aforesaid. As witness our hand and
seals the 9th day of October AD 1799.                   Joshua Purdy   L.S.
In presence of                                                          Israel Peck        L.S.
Abraham Peck
Anna Peck

Rec'd to record October ye 9th, AD 1799
and recorded by me Jabez Fitch  Register


Emancipation of Morris by Amos Mead and Richard Mead (1802)

Volume 15, Page 392
by Amos Mead and Richard Mead
Signed: November 23, 1802
Recorded: November 23, 1802     

State of Connecticut Fairfield County ss In Greenwich 
This may certify that application has been made to us the Subscribing Justices 
of the peace in and for Fairfield County by Amos Mead Esquire and
Richard Mead of said Greenwich expressing their desire to emancipate their negro 
man Morris, and according to to the Statute Law of this State entitled an Act 
in addition to and alteration of an act concerning Indian, Mollato and negro 
servants and slaves. We have enquired, examined and find the said Morris to 
be a healthy person and between the age of twenty five and forty five years of age and 
have personally examined the said Morris who wishes to be made free and
emancipated agreeably to said Statute Law. Given under Our hands and 
test of office the 23d day of November 1802.
.                                                                   Jabez Mead
                                                                                                Justices 
                                                                                                of peace
                                                                    Gilbert Close


Know all men by these presents that on receiving the above certifi-
cate We the Subscribers Amos Mead and Richard Mead of Greenwich 
in Fairfield County and State of Connecticut  Do give, grant, emancipate 
and make free and set at liberty our said negro man Morris from
and after the date hereof free and clear from us and our heirs and every  
other person or persons claiming him for or under us or them and from &
after the date hereof he the said Morris is permitted to go for himself and 
be a slave to no person and to transact his own business. In witness whereof 
we have hereunto set my hands and seals the 23d day of November 1802

Jabez Fitch                                                   Amos Mead    L.S.
                          Witnesses   
Gilbert Close                                                Richard Mead  L.S.  

Emancipation of George Moore (Formerly named Torkey) by Amos Mead, Esquire; Silas Mead; Solomon Mead; Abraham Mead; Jared Mead-heirs of Ebenezer Mead, Esq. (1796)

by Amos Mead, Esq.; Silas Mead, Solomon Mead, 
Abraham Mead, Jared Mead -heirs of Ebenezer Mead, Esq.
Volume 14, Page 292
Signed: May 10, 1796
Recorded: June 15, 1796     

State of Connecticut Fairfield County ss In Greenwich these
certify that application has been made to us the Subscribers Justices of 
the peace in and for Fairfield County by Amos Mead, Esquire, Silas
Mead, Solomon Mead, Jared Mead and Abraham Mead, heirs of Ebene-
zee Mead Esquire late of Greenwich dec'd expressing their desire to 
emancipate and make free their negro man George Moore
(formerly called Torkey) and according to the Statute Law of this State 
n such case made and provided, we have enquired, examined and 
find the said George Moore to be a healthy person and between the age 
of twenty five and forty five years. We have personally examined said George
Moore who is desirous of being made free as aforesaid.  We do therefore 
hereby certify the said George Moore to be a proper person to be made free 
according to said Statute Law. Given under our hand in said
Greenwich the tenth day of May AD 1796.


                                                                    Jabez Fitch           Justices 
                                                                    John Mackay       of peace
                                                                    Silas Mead              L.S. 
                                                                    Solomon Mead        L.S. 
                                                                    Amos Mead             L.S. 
                                                                    Jared Mead              L.S. 
                                                                    Abrm Mead             L.S. 

Rec'd to record June 15th AD 1796
and recorded by me Jabez Fitch  Town Clerk


Emancipation of Morris by Amos Mead and Richard Mead (1802)

Volume 15, Page 392
by Amos Mead and Richard Mead
Signed: November 23, 1802
Recorded: November 23, 1802     

State of Connecticut Fairfield County ss In Greenwich 
This may certify that application has been made to us the Subscribing Justices 
of the peace in and for Fairfield County by Amos Mead Esquire and
Richard Mead of said Greenwich expressing their desire to emancipate their negro 
man Morris, and according to to the Statute Law of this State entitled an Act 
in addition to and alteration of an act concerning Indian, Mollato and negro 
servants and slaves. We have enquired, examined and find the said Morris to 
be a healthy person and between the age of twenty five and forty five years of age and 
have personally examined the said Morris who wishes to be made free and
emancipated agreeably to said Statute Law. Given under Our hands and 
test of office the 23d day of November 1802.
.                                                                   Jabez Mead
                                                                                                Justices 
                                                                                                of peace
                                                                    Gilbert Close


Know all men by these presents that on receiving the above certifi-
cate We the Subscribers Amos Mead and Richard Mead of Greenwich 
in Fairfield County and State of Connecticut  Do give, grant, emancipate 
and make free and set at liberty our said negro man Morris from
and after the date hereof free and clear from us and our heirs and every  
other person or persons claiming him for or under us or them and from &
after the date hereof he the said Morris is permitted to go for himself and 
be a slave to no person and to transact his own business. In witness whereof 
we have hereunto set my hands and seals the 23d day of November 1802

Jabez Fitch                                                   Amos Mead    L.S.
                          Witnesses   
Gilbert Close                                                Richard Mead  L.S.  

Emancipation of Peg by Nathaniel Mead (1804)

by Nathaniel Mead
Volume 15, Page 449
Signed: November 28, 1804
Recorded: December 22, 1804     

State of Connecticut ss in Greenwich, This may certify that 
application has been made to us the Subscriber Justices of the peace and in
for Fairfield County by Mr. Nathaniel Mead of said Greenwich 
expressing his desire to emancipate and make free his negro servant
girl called Peg, and according to the Statute Law of this State in such 
case made and provided. We have enquired, examined and find the 
said Peg to be a healthy person, between twenty five and 
forty five years of age. We also find by actual examination of said Peg 
that she is desirous of being emancipated and made free as aforesaid. 
We do therefore hereby certify that the said Peg is a proper person to be 
made free according to said Statute law as witness our hands and tests of
office the twenty eighth day of November AD 1804.
                                                         Jabez Fitch
                                                                                       Justices of peace
                                                         Gilbert Close


Know all men by these presents that on receiving the above cert-
ificate I Nathaniel Mead of Greenwich in the County of Fairfield 
and State of Connecticut  Do hereby give, grant, emancipate and make 
free and set at liberty my negro woman Peg, free and clear from 
me, my heirs, executors and administrators forever and free and clear 
from any other person or persons claiming from by or under me. And
I also hereby covenant with the said Peg that from the date hereof she 
may go for herself, transact her own business and be a slave to no
person. As witness my hand and seal the 28th day of November AD 1804. 
                                                                            Nathaniel Mead    L.S.
In presence of
Jonathan Close                                     Rec'd to record Dec. ye 22d, AD 1804
Gilbert Close                                        and recorded by me Jabez Fitch  Register




Emancipation of Morris by Amos Mead and Richard Mead (1802)

Volume 15, Page 392
by Amos Mead and Richard Mead
Signed: November 23, 1802
Recorded: November 23, 1802     

State of Connecticut Fairfield County ss In Greenwich 
This may certify that application has been made to us the Subscribing Justices 
of the peace in and for Fairfield County by Amos Mead Esquire and
Richard Mead of said Greenwich expressing their desire to emancipate their negro 
man Morris, and according to to the Statute Law of this State entitled an Act 
in addition to and alteration of an act concerning Indian, Mollato and negro 
servants and slaves. We have enquired, examined and find the said Morris to 
be a healthy person and between the age of twenty five and forty five years of age and 
have personally examined the said Morris who wishes to be made free and
emancipated agreeably to said Statute Law. Given under Our hands and 
test of office the 23d day of November 1802.
.                                                                   Jabez Mead
                                                                                                Justices 
                                                                                                of peace
                                                                    Gilbert Close


Know all men by these presents that on receiving the above certifi-
cate We the Subscribers Amos Mead and Richard Mead of Greenwich 
in Fairfield County and State of Connecticut  Do give, grant, emancipate 
and make free and set at liberty our said negro man Morris from
and after the date hereof free and clear from us and our heirs and every  
other person or persons claiming him for or under us or them and from &
after the date hereof he the said Morris is permitted to go for himself and 
be a slave to no person and to transact his own business. In witness whereof 
we have hereunto set my hands and seals the 23d day of November 1802

Jabez Fitch                                                   Amos Mead    L.S.
                          Witnesses   
Gilbert Close                                                Richard Mead  L.S.