Seth Kaller, Inc.

The volume begins with the Royal Charter granted by King Charles II in 1662, followed by the Articles of Confederation, and then a compilation of the governing acts for Connecticut through 1786, including key legislation that ultimately ended slavery in the state.

Unlike the other states, which replaced their royal charters soon after the Declaration of Independence, Connecticut did not adopt a new state constitution until 1818. Bound with this signed book, which includes the Articles of Confederation and a compilation of the governing acts for Connecticut through 1784, are three separately printed sections of the Acts from 1784, 1785, and 1786. The volume has dozens of manuscript annotations noting changes to the acts–particularly which laws had been repealed or replaced.

[CONNECTICUT]. SAMUEL HUNTINGTON. Signed Copy of Acts and Laws of the State of Connecticut, in America. New London, Connecticut: Timothy Green, 1784. The front free endpaper is inscribed “Sam. Huntington Statute Law Book” in his own hand, to which someone later added “(former Governor of the State).” The first section, through page 265, issued with a separate title page, is the second edition of the 1784 text and may have been printed in 1785 or later, according to Evans. The final three sections are the first and official editions of Acts and Laws, for sessions begun in May 1784 (Hartford: Hudson and Goodwin, pp 266-315 plus blank); May 1785 (New Haven: Thomas and Samuel Green, pp 316-336); and May 1786 (Hartford: Hudson and Goodwin, pp 337-346). A subsequent owner has inscribed it, “John Turner Waite June 24. 1837. Norwich Conn.” Waite was a prominent attorney from Norwich who served as a Republican representative in Congress from 1876 to 1887. 7¼ x 11¾ in.

Inventory #26251.01       Price: $18,000

Excerpts
“Whereas by the several Navigations, Discoveries, and Successful Plantations of divers of Our loving Subjects of this Our Realm of England, several lands, Islands, Places, Colonies, and Plantations have been obtained and settled in that Part of the Continent of America called New-England, and thereby the Trade and Commerce there, hath been of late Years much increased: And whereas We have been informed … that the same Colony, or the greatest part thereof, was Purchased and obtained for great and valuable Considerations, and some other Part thereof gained by Conquest.... Now Know YE, That…We have ordained, constituted and declared…that they…shall be admitted, and made Free of the Company and Society of Our Colony of Connecticut, in America....”(p3)

“And whereas the increase of Slaves in this State is injurious to the Poor, and inconvenient:

“Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Indian, Negro, or Molatto Slave, shall at any Time hereafter, be brought or imported into this State, by Sea or Land, from any Place or Places whatsoever, to be disposed of, left or sold within this State.” (p234)

“And whereas sound Policy requires that the Abolition of Slavery should be effected as soon as may be, consistent with the Rights of Individuals, and the public Safety and Welfare. Therefore,

“Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Negro or Molatto Child, that shall, after the first Day of March, One thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, be born within this State, shall be held in Servitude, longer than until they arrive to the Age of twenty-five Years, notwithstanding the Mother or Parent of such Child was held in Servitude at the Time of its Birth; but such Child, at the Age aforesaid, shall be free; any Law, Usage or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.” (p235)

The volume concludes with an act “for confirming the Laws of this State, as revised and amended; and for repealing such as are not contained in the foregoing Code,” passed on January 8, 1784. It was the first major revision and compilation of Connecticut’s laws since 1750. (p265)

Historical Background on Slavery in Connecticut
In 1784, the Connecticut legislature passed “An Act Concerning Indian, Molatto, and Negro Servants and Slaves,” which instituted a system of “gradual emancipation” in the state, which would slowly “phase out” the institution. This approach became the primary mechanism for abolition throughout New England.

The act provided that all slaves born after March 1, 1784, remained bonded while children but became free when they reached the age of 25 (reduced to 21 in 1797). All slaves born before March 1, 1784, remained slaves for life unless otherwise emancipated. As a result, the institution of slavery persisted in Connecticut until 1848. In 1790, 2,500 free blacks and 2,764 slaves lived in Connecticut; by 1800, the number of free blacks in the state had grown to more than 5,000, while the number of slaves had dropped to 951. By 1830, the federal census counted only 25 slaves in Connecticut.

Samuel Huntington (1731-1796) taught himself enough law to pass the bar, and at 34, was appointed King’s attorney for Connecticut. He resigned to join the Revolutionary cause, and in 1775, represented his state in the Continental Congress. Huntington signed the Declaration of Independence, and in 1779, members elected him as the 7^th president of the Continental Congress (1779-1781). During his term, the states ratified the Articles of Confederation. Afterwards, Huntington briefly retired from public life, hoping to revive his law practice and fortune. In 1784, voters elected him as lieutenant governor, which also made him Chief Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court. Elected governor in 1786, Huntington served until 1796. Although he favored strengthening the powers of the national government and ratifying the Constitution, he also jealously guarded the rights to his states’ western lands based on its colonial charter. During his administration, Connecticut gave up its claim to the northern third of Pennsylvania and most of the Northwest Territory but achieved recognition of its preemptive land rights in the “Western Reserve” (now northeastern Ohio). Connecticut’s ability to sell western lands strengthened its fiscal status, and Huntington, while governor, ensured that his state was well-represented at treaty councils with Native Americans of the Ohio territory.

References
Evans 18410, 18413, 18414, 18964, 18967, 19568.  Johnson 1143.
Larry Gerlach, Connecticut Congressman: Samuel Huntington, 1731-1796 (Hartford, 1976).

Condition: front cover once detached; professionally restored.  Contemporary sheep. sheep scuffed and worn. Minor marginal worming in first two leaves, not affecting images or text, light scattered foxing, contents otherwise very good. Early 19th-century inscriptions on front endpapers. 

The 1785 Acts has “Norwich” inscribed in pen at top, likely in Huntington’s hand. The 1786 Acts is addressed in pen to “His Excellency Governor Huntington.”