In 1839 a group of abducted Africans revolted and took command of the slave ship Amistad. As the ship traveled north from the Caribbean it was seized by the U.S. brig Washington off the coast of Long Island New York. The Amistad was brought to New London Connecticut and all on board were imprisoned. Although the original remaining crew were allowed to post bail and leave the United States, the group of Africans were imprisoned on murder charges and remained in confinement as the case went to trial. The circuit court in Hartford dropped the murder charges, but other property claims remained, and the case fell under the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court. Contributions came in from abolitionists throughout the country and a high-profile legal team was assembled for the defense of the abducted Africans. This included former President John Quincy Adams who was a strong opponent of slavery. Ultimately, the case went to the Supreme Court, and it ruled in favor of the Africans. The court ruled that when they were abducted the group were acting as free men in international waters and their actions were justified. This landmark case was considered a significant victory for the cause of abolition. After their trial local abolitionist supporters arranged for the group to stay in Farmington Connecticut until they could return to their African homeland in 1842. The objects in this collection are from the Connecticut Historical Society. A search of the subject term “Abolition in Connecticut” will bring up additional research material on Lincoln in Hartford, the Wide Awakes and other notable individuals of Connecticut history like Harriet Beecher Stowe and Prudence Crandall.
