Hebron’s Connections to Slavery, Abolitionism and Freedmen’s Assistance
For a small, rural Connecticut town, Hebron has played a surprisingly significant role in both the movement to abolish slavery in America and the movement to help freed slaves adapt to their changed circumstances after the Civil War.
Hebron’s involvement in the abolition movement centers around an episode in 1787, in which two slaves, Cesar and Lowis Peters and their children were abducted from their Hebron home and then rescued by their white neighbors, who out-maneuvered the slavers with a fake arrest warrant. This event is the earliest documented abolitionist movement in New England.
The Hebron connection to abolition continued through the efforts of Josephine (White) Griffing, a Hebron native who later became a nationally recognized speaker for abolition and women’s rights in the years before the Civil War. After the war, Josephine was a leader in establishing job training programs through the Freedmen’s Bureau to help former slaves adapt to the new industrial economy.
For more information about Hebron’s connections to slavery, abolition and freedmen’s assistance, click on the following links:
1787: The Abduction and Rescue of Cesar
In 1787, Hebron residents rallied to free a local man and his family from slave traders. For those who think the story of Cesar is folklore, review the original documents regarding his rescue, still on file at the Hebron Town Clerk’s office.
- 1787: The Abduction and Rescue of Cesar – by Donna McCalla
- Cesar and Lowis: The Rest of the Story
- The Abduction, Rescue and Emancipation of Cesar and Lowis Peters. A brief synopsis written for Yale University’s Gilder Lehrman Center’s educational program Citizens All: African Americans in Connecticut 1700-1850.
Testimonies of a Quiet New England Town: the Film
Matthew Troy – Director/Writer
Born and raised in Hebron, Connecticut, Matthew Troy has been producing films since 1999. Sole proprietor of Patio Productions, his production company, Matthew works both in the creative and consumer world producing films that range from commercial promotional videos to 35mm narratives. Matthew is a May 2009 graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a focus on cinematography and film direction. He is also a volunteer Firefighter/EMT in his hometown.
Born and raised in Hebron, Connecticut, Matthew Troy has been producing films since 1999. Sole proprietor of Patio Productions, his production company, Matthew works both in the creative and consumer world producing films that range from commercial promotional videos to 35mm narratives. Matthew is a May 2009 graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a focus on cinematography and film direction. He is also a volunteer Firefighter/EMT in his hometown.Sponsors
