West Hartford in Capitol Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Jude
| | Witness Stone | |
Photographed by Conrad Ward, March 12, 2025
1. Jude Witness Stone
Farmer
Enslaved here
by Stephen Sedgwick
Ran away 1774
Erected 2018 by Witness Stones Project. (Marker Number CT4.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Agriculture • Colonial Era. A significant historical year for this entry is 1774.
Location. 41° 45.869′ N, 72° 44.52′ W. Marker is in West Hartford in Capitol Region, Connecticut. It is on North Main Street north of Loomis Drive, on the right when traveling north. Located in Old Center Burying Yard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 30 N Main St, West Hartford CT 06107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Connecticut River Valley, in Greater Hartford, and in the Knowledge Corridor. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Hartford County and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Jude - Witness Stones Project.
It is not known where Jude was born. We know he was born circa 1753. In the runaway notice in the Connecticut Courant from 1774, Jude is described as a mulatto, meaning he is of mixed race. During this time period it can be inferred that Jude had a white father and a mother of African descent. It is possible, as was often the case with enslaved people, that his white master had relations with his mother. In many cases, a master would force himself on his enslaved women, resulting in the birth of mixed-race children.(Submitted on January 2, 2026.)
2. West Hartford Slaves Will Not Be Forgotten Thanks to Witness Stones.
In the West Hartford of today a community(Submitted on January 2, 2026.)with a diverse population, where more than 70 primary languages are spoken in the public schools, a place where human rights are celebrated it seems inconceivable that slavery ever existed, but in fact some of the towns most prominent families were once slaveowners.Photographed by Conrad Ward2. Witness Stones installations in Old Center Burying Yard(Jude is the closest Witness Stone, top row, far left, first of two)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2026, by Conrad Ward of Guilford, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 51 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 2, 2026, by Conrad Ward of Guilford, Connecticut. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
