Rethinking the Historical Approach: Using Genealogy to Tell the Story of a Veteran of Color, Pvt. Sharp Liberty, Connecticut Continental Line

Rethinking the Approach

In recent years, scholars of Connecticut history have begun to grapple with the prior discussions of the participation of Connecticut soldiers of color in the American Revolution. As one historiographical study notes, the easy accessibility of two problematic texts on the subject online poses potential issues to future research. The author describes them as “false foundation to the historigraphical record.” While this effort is leading to greater awareness of the soldiers among public and academic historians, it’s unclear if that awareness translates to true awareness of the role these soldiers played in the general public’s image of the American Revolution. Introducing genealogical methodologies into the discussion may change that.

Genealogy and History have long had a somewhat contentious relationship. In a 2015 blog series, the National Council on Public History invited scholars to address the role of genealogy in the sphere of public history. In her response, Dr. Regina Poertner argued: “Genealogy needs to be seen in the context of practices of ancestor worship, attitudes towards death, codes of conduct defining family shame and honour, and occasionally a belief in the continuing spiritual presence of the deceased amongst the living.” Yet, even in the midst of such arguments, there have been calls for collaboration.

Such calls are slowly leading into joint projects, most often in the field of campus history. The GU272 Memory Project, for example, delves into the history of the individuals enslaved by Georgetown University sold by the University in 1828. Yet, in such projects, genealogists are most often being restricted to “traditional” roles of tracing ancestry and descendants.

Yet, there is a potential for a much greater collaboration. First, on a research level. Although rarely cast as such, genealogy is an extreme form of microhistory. Genealogists tend to approach the study of a single ancestor as a jumping off point for a greater understanding of their family tree or even themselves. Yet, their approach could be equally well applied to an understanding of a historical period, practice or more. The depth of source knowledge of a genealogist is often much deeper than that of the average history. A combination of source knowledge with training in historical analysis would be a powerful one. Second, on public appeal. In a 2018 opinion piece, historian John Sedgewick noted that genealogy’s basic appeal is in personal connection to the past. In a 2020 interview, historian Tiya Miles noted that the “key trait” of public history “is an engagement of history beyond the walls of the campus or classroom.” If the goal of Public History is engagement, and it is known that genealogical methodologies tend to produce that engagement, why not take advantage of “what works” in genealogy to further deepen the historical approach?

Private Sharp Liberty

Private Sharp Liberty has been the subject of previous study, but only in a limited way. In 2014, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History produced a student discussion guide on a pay warrant issued to Liberty. In that guide, they noted: “Before the war, he had been enslaved in Wallingford, Connecticut. In 1777, he enlisted in the army, served in the 6th Connecticut and 4th Connecticut, and was manumitted for the end of the war for his service.” In 2020, Christine Pittsley pulled together several references to Liberty in an effort to support the much needed restoration of Hillside Cemetery in Cheshire. Her 2011 PowerPoint on the same subject can be found here. A closer look at Pvt. Liberty’s life provides the ability to contextualize discussions about slavery, manumission, and the challenges of researching the African American community in Connecticut in the period of the American Revolution.

The affidavit offered by Lucy Mix, the “former widow” of Sharp Liberty, included in her application for a widow’s pension provides a significant amount of detail on his life. According to that affidavit, Liberty’s first enlistment was under Captain Sloper of Stonington. The two married in Middlefield in 1780 by Rev. Abner Benedict. Sharp Liberty died on 29 January 1809. Lucy remarried to Sharp Mix of Wallingford. She further noted “that at the commencement of said war he was held as a slave, but in consequence of his faithful services through the whole of the Revolutionary War he was at its close emancipated[…]”

Sharp Liberty enlisted from Wallingford on 3 March 1778. At the time, the unit was part of the 6th Connecticut. Details of his service can be found in his Compiled Military Service Records, which have been digitized by FamilySearch. The last note in the file indicates that he deserted from the 4th Connecticut in 1781.

Liberty was apparently paid a bounty in 1780, of which the town of Cheshire demanded repayment in 1782, apparently well aware of his desertion. The timing suggests that he reenlisted under the Bounty Act of 1780. As Liberty had married the same year, it’s possible his desertion was a response to discovering his wife was pregnant and may have desperately needed his support at home.

The marriage records from Middlefield are not among the surviving records digitized by FamilySearch. Yet, the minister named in the pension affidavit did serve in Middlefield at that point – and was noted as an abolitionist. It is possible that the couple chose to marry in Middlefield, where they apparently never lived, due to that fact.

Sharp Liberty’s story, even in this brief overview, raises several points of historical importance which could be further examined as well as one genealogical point. The first is the participation of veterans of color in the Revolutionary War and the implications of that service for discussions of citizenship and emancipation. The second, similar discussions on the state level that would lead the couple to chose to marry in Middlefield. Finally, a methodological gap: although sources suggest Liberty was enslaved prior to his enlistment, there is not a good way to begin to search for the name of his enslaver. If a manumission was filed, it may be in either Cheshire or Wallingford records – or it may never have been recorded.

5 Crucial Dates in 17th Century Colonial Connecticut History That May Impact Your Genealogy

The records of your ancestors are shaped by what was happening around them. Sometimes that was changes in law; sometimes changes in politics; sometimes warfare; something else.

Here are five crucial dates in the history of 17th century colonial Connecticut that may impact your genealogy research:

What else was happening in this period? King Philip’s War, to start!

5 Tips for Researching a Connecticut Ancestor’s Civil War Service

  1. Pay attention to the unit designation. It will tell you where to find the records (and will be needed for ordering copies). Most Connecticut units will be labelled as “CV” or Connecticut Volunteers. Connecticut Volunteers were raised and staffed in state, and as such will have state level records of management. However, the 30th Connecticut, as it was not fully staffed, became part of the 31st USCT. The USCT or United States Colored Troops were Federal units. They were raised and staffed by the US Government and most likely will have few state level records of management. These soldiers were still part of their communities and should be represented accordingly.
  2. Know that the bulk of digitized records for Connecticut soldiers are federal. Because CV units were directed as part of the Union Army, duplicate records of muster rolls and more were kept by the federal government. These musters have been abstracted as part of the Compiled Military Service Records (CMSR), and the abstracts can be obtained from the National Archives. Some are digitized on Fold3. Pension files for Civil War soldiers were only issued by the federal government. Again, some have been digitized by Fold3. Others will need to be requested.
  3. Yet, be aware there are numerous manuscript records held by the Connecticut State Library. See here for a finding aid. These sources may allow you to complete a deeper dive. For example, the State Library holds the records of Fitch’s Home for Soldiers, the precursor to the State Veterans Home.
  4. If you’re simply trying to confirm service, there was a state produced reference text: Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States during the War of the Rebellion.
  5. Don’t forget to look local! There may be additional records available on the town level, including town level monuments and memorials; manuscripts and letters; records of the Grand Army of the Republic chapter (Union veterans association) and more.

Veteran’s Death Index

A project of the Connecticut State Library, the Veteran’s Death Index can be helpful for documenting service or veteran burial locations through the early 1980s. Cards may include the veteran’s name, war, age, death and burial location, service information, and source of the information. Cards may cover both in state burials and out of state burials of Connecticut veterans. Information about the index, along with direct links to images of the cards can be found on the State Library website.

FamilySearch recently added the cards to their collection. If you’d prefer to browse, you can do so through the link on the State Library page. Cards are key word searchable in FamilySearch AI.

Land Records: Key Part of Colonial Connecticut Research

Land records are often the last record a genealogist checks. They can be challenging to navigate, and there’s a significant chance they do not indicate relationships. Yet, especially in colonial Connecticut, they are a must check document for one simple reason: land was key to a family’s survival.

In an agrarian society, land was a family’s most valuable position. That’s how they earned their income and how they passed wealth to the next generation. Because land was so important, families were careful to record any changes in title, even when they skipped other records.

For information on how to access land records, click on the link below.

How to Access Land Records

Land records vary in their contents.Some list as little as the names of the buyer and seller and the property description. Others include multiple family relationships. You won’t know the level of detail without checking!

This land record explains that the seller is selling land that “was given by will from my Grandfather Fitch unto my mother Anna Stark.” That short sentence identifies the mother’s full name as Anna (Fitch) Stark.

Happy hunting!

What is coverture, and why does it matter?

Coverture or coverture is a legal principle of English common law that was commonly applied in colonial America: it essentially made a married woman a part of her husband’s legal entity. Connecticut did not begin to chip away at the principle until the mid-19th century.

Prior to that point, a married woman was subject to the principles of coverture. That meant that she could not own or inherit land or make wills in her own right (with exceptions). Those restrictions can impact your research.

Here are some conditions you might see:

  • Property inherited from the woman’s father being sold by the daughter and her husband.
  • A woman disappearing from records after her husband’s death (as she owned no property in her own right).
  • Children selling the mother’s dower right (life use on 1/3rd of the property).
  • No will for the mother.

The specific impact of coverture will vary based on the time period and family, but it’s crucial to know that the principle is in play when researching an ancestor.

Resources for researching the history of your Connecticut Home

Historic homes were witnesses to Connecticut’s history. Connecticut’s oldest known home dates to 1639. Other buildings saw the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and more. Telling the history of your home can help place it in the context of your community. It may even earn you tax credits!

Land Records:

Architectural Resources

Tax Credit Programs:

What sources do you need to check to answer a question about an ancestor in colonial Connecticut?

If you’ve done genealogy for long enough, you’ve probably heard mention of the “Genealogical Proof Standard” and the idea of “reasonably exhaustive research.” That standard is designed to help genealogists ensure that their conclusions are well reasoned and based on an accurate reading of the evidence. Reasonably exhaustive research means that you’ve checked all of the sources reasonably likely to answer a question.

What does that actually mean when you’re researching an ancestor from colonial Connecticut? There are some common sources you should consider when you’re trying to answer a research question.

Date and place of birth:

Reasonably Exhaustive:

  • Town vital records. This is one of the few sources likely to list a full date of birth.
  • Church baptismal records. Anglican records may list a full birth date; Congregational records are likely just to indicate if the person was still a child.
  • Gravestone: The age at death can often be used to calculate a birth.

Worth Checking:

  • Freeman’s Oath: Only “of age” white males were eligible, so it provides a good starting point.
  • Guardianship: If the parent died when the child was a minor, they could choose their own guardian at 14.

Marriage Record:

Reasonably exhaustive:

  • Town marriage records
  • Church marriage records
  • Parental probate
  • Interfamily land transfer

Death:

Reasonably Exhaustive:

  • Town death records
  • Gravestone
  • Church burial records
  • Probate files

Worth checking: Land sales

Military Service:

Reasonably exhaustive:

  • Public Records of the Colony and Public Records of the State: These transcriptions of the records of the state’s government will note military appointments.
  • Connecticut Archives: These records include militia appointments.
  • Connecticut Men in the Revolution: A list of state level military service

Starting Your Holiday Shopping? Favorite Connecticut Genealogy Database Providers…

Database subscriptions are always a popular gift for genealogists. So which ones do I use most?

Actually, my favorite site for Connecticut research is free! FamilySearch requires registration but does not charge. The site hosts older land records, images of church records, pre-1900 vital records, probate files, and more.

Ancestry is great for Connecticut’s probate estate papers (they’re on FamilySearch as well, but they’re easier to search on Ancestry) and the Connecticut Church Record Abstracts (this is a searchable index to the original records available on FamilySearch ). FYI to Connecticut based researchers – you can access these collections for free from home here, using your local library card number. Click on “Connecticut State Library Ancestry.com” to log in.

And finally, American Ancestors offers access to local genealogy journals so that you can review prior research on your ancestors. (It’s also wonderful for research on early settlements through the Great Migration Study Project.)

What was the 1780 quota act – and why does it matter?

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the several towns within this State shall forthwith choose a committee who shall divide all the inhabitants thereof, who give in a list or are included in any militia roll, either of the trainband, alarm list or companies of horse, into as many classes according to their list as such town shall be deficient in number of men,and each of said classes shall on or before the first day of February next procure a good able-bodied effective recruit to serve during the war or for three years[…]

Military Obligation: The American Tradition, Special Monograph No. 1, Volume II, Part 2, Connecticut Enactments (N.P.: The Selective Service System, 1948), 174-175; digital images, Google Books (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Military_Obligation_Connecticut_Enactmen/YpxHAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22An%20act%20for%20filling%20up%20this%20state’s%20quota%20of%20the%20Continental%20Army.%22&pg=PA238&printsec=frontcover)

By 1780, the Continental Army was short handed. A request was sent to the states to supply a certain number of men. In response, Connecticut instituted what might be described as an early version of the draft. Each town was assigned a certain number of men to provide. The 1780 quota act offered a method for filling the positions.

The act’s impact was especially significant for Connecticut’s men of color. The act permitted the engagement of substitutes in order to meet the quota. Individuals held in slavery were not subject to the state’s militia laws, and therefore, were not already required to serve. Connecticut’s units were integrated, so men of color could serve. “Hiring” an enslaved individual to serve as a substitute became a common practice.

If your ancestor enlisted in the Continental Army about 1780, the quota system was likely the reason why.