- Joined
- Aug 6, 2016
Connecticut Freedom Trail
Connecticut History.org
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 made it a crime punishable by arrest if you were caught helping escaped slaves so anyone helping fugitive slaves were forced into secrecy. Eventually routes north were established as the “underground railroad” became active, providing a network of safe havens for fugitive slaves leading north towards their freedom.
As you drive north on Route 2 from the small southeast town of Pawcatuck, Connecticut, you will pass into the town of North Stonington. When fugitive slaves came through the underground railroad on their way north they came by foot, horse, or boat and those that came in through the southeast corner of the state either in New London, Connecticut or in near-by Westerly, Rhode Island, they would head to a location that is on (present day) Route 2 in the town of North Stonington.
The John Randall House
John Randall House
North Stonington, CT
Photo - Connecticut History
The John Randall house was built in the early 1720’s. (There are conflicting Dates on the building of this house. The land came into the family in the 1680’s.) During the 1830’s Reverend John Denison Baldwin {born in North Stonington 1809}, was a Congregational pastor and future United States Representative from Massachusetts (1863-1869). He was a graduate of theology from Yale Divinity School and in the 1830’s was serving churches in the state of Connecticut. It is thought with his knowledge of the area and his strong view against the institution of slavery, he was one of the leaders in establishing a network to help fleeing slaves. This house became one of the stops.
Today the house still stands, although it is currently inhabited. In the kitchen is the “hole” that leads to the cellar where the slaves would hide during the day until they could travel safely by night to points north; either into northeast corners of Connecticut, Worcester Massachusetts or to Montreal Canada. Each step along with way taking them a closer to freedom.
William Randall
Emancipated papers on file at the town hall in Stonington, Connecticut state - - -
On March 24, 1808, William Randall “emancipated and made free a Negro man named Jabe Slave being 29 years of age well and healthy.”
On March 11, 1807, William Randall freed “Rose, a 26-year-old Negro slave, who was well and healthy.” {2}
Darius H. Randall
I found this interesting history regarding Darius H. Randall’s civil war service and it lends credit to the family home was part of the freedom trail.
“The 1685* John Randall (1666-1720) House, according to tradition, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Supporting evidence exists to lend credibility to this tale. Darius H. Randall (b. 1823) lived in the house at the time and possibly shared abolitionist sentiment. Randall was drafted during the Civil War and he served in the Union Army, despite his prosperity with which he could have paid for a substitute. Outraged at the treatment of black troops, he transferred to U.S. Colored Troop Regiment and served as a 2nd Lieutenant for the duration of the war. Given this demonstration of concern for the troops, it is possible that he assisted slaves on the route to freedom as well. A trap door to a small root cellar below the kitchen may have been a hiding spot. This house is privately owned and not open to the public.” {3}
My family was one of the early settlers (1680) of what was then the town of Stonington, and during the 1800’s when North Stonington was incorporated as its’ own town breaking away from Stonington. There are several locations where family cemeteries are located. While searching I came across connections that led me to discover the history of the John Randall house and the location of another family cemetery residing on the property. It's especially interesting when I see this side of the paternal line of my family and then look to my maternal line where my 2x great-grandfather from Kentucky fought with Morgan.
Sources
1. https://mystoningtonancestors.wordpress.com/tag/randall-brown-cemetery/
2. https://mystoningtonancestors.wordpress.com/2011/08/13/randalls-ordinary-underground-railroad/
3. http://www.ctfreedomtrail.org/trail/underground-railroad/sites/#!/john-randall-house/