Heading: (African American, 1779)
Author: Ruggles, Samuel; Noble Fine, Jeremiah Boardman, et al
Title: Statement of reimbursed expenses paid in May 1780 to Ruggles, Constable of New Milford for transporting a Mulatto girl to Dover
Place Published: New Milford, Connecticut colony
Publisher:
Date Published: December 9 -31, 1779, and January 20, 1780
Description:

Manuscript Document Signed, 2pp. 7x12".

Colonel Samuel Canfield, local commander of the Continental Army, and seven men of New Milford, transported a mixed race young woman "to the care" of the Constable of New Fairfield, at the New York border - "with the special assistance of Amos Lewis, "a negro Man of this town". Such documents of the Revolutionary War period relating to slaves in the northern colonies are scarce.

There is no explanation of why so much care and expense was spent on caring for a mixed race woman, not only at the height of the winter, but while battles of the revolution still raged on the New York side of the border. Nor is it made clear if the young woman was enslaved or free. Existing records indicate that 12 New Milford families, notably including the Canfields and Boardmans, owned some 25 slaves, some of whom they emancipated, during and after the War. Most interesting is the note that just before the Revolution began, one slave-owner liberated a Black woman named Sibyl, "on her marriage to Amos Lewis, a negro man" - the same man, undoubtedly a free Black, who was last entrusted with the safety of the young woman on her perilous travels westward.

**UPDATE Atlas contains 20 engraved plates (of 26), on 13 leaves**Some stains, edgewear and weakness at folds; good overall.