Connecticut's Black Governors

Starting sometime around 1750, Connecticut’s enslaved Africans began a tradition of electing their own Governor. In later years, the newly elected black Governor would ride through the street leading a celebratory parade.

The title of Governor is specific to the New England colonies. Some accounts indicate that they were referred to as Kings “in remembrance of their Kings of Guinea,” while other accounts indicate that both a Governor and a King were elected. In African American Connecticut Explored, Katherine J. Harris wrote that Kings were elected in areas of the colony that had stronger ties to the British Crown.

The annual elections continued to be held long after slavery ended in Connecticut, continuing in the Naugatuck Valley until about 1856. I have found one reference indicating that at least one election was held in Waterbury during the 1800s. It also appears that the African American community in Waterbury was closely connected to those throughout the Naugatuck Valley south to Derby.

Nelson Weston, originally from Humphreysville in Seymour, was the second person to run a barbershop in Waterbury and the first black barber here, from 1846 until sometime in the 1850s. While he was living and working in Waterbury, he was elected as Connecticut’s black Governor, in 1850. He was one of three Weston men to serve as Connecticut's black Governor.


Nelson's brother, Wilson, was elected in either 1855 or 1856 and is believed to be the last black Governor. Nelson and Wilson's father, Juba Weston, was elected the black Governor in 1825.  There was also a King elected in 1825, William Lamson of New Haven (Katherine J. Harris, "In Remembrance of Their Kings of Guinea" and "Black Governors 1780-1856" in African American Connecticut Explored, 2014). Wilson and Juba lived in Seymour, but there is reason to believe that African Americans living in Waterbury would have participated in their elections.

Detail of Map of Seymour, 1852. The homes of Juba and Wilson Weston are circled.
Nelson Weston is presumed to still be living in Waterbury at this time.
Whiteford, R, and A Budington. Map of the county of New Haven, Connecticut. [S.l, 1852] Map.
Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/2001620488/

One interesting side note: Nelson Weston's son Horace, who spent much of his childhood in Waterbury, would grow up to become a world-renowned banjo player.

Horace Weston, whose father, uncle, and grandfather were black Governors of Connecticut.
Photo taken during the 1880s, when Horace Weston was regarded as the world's best banjo player. His musical training started in Waterbury when he was seven years old.
Harvard Theatre Collection, Harvard University

The elections, and particularly the parade, were sometimes at risk of interference from certain young white men. Orville Platt referred to a parade in Woodbridge at which “white boys and young men” shouted taunts, including the n-word, at the parade and attempted to assault the newly elected Governor, resulting in a large fight (Orville H. Platt, “Negro Governors,” in Papers of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, Volume XI, p. 333).

The elections also happened in other colonies. In a history of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, it was noted that “They annually elected a King and Counselors, and celebrated the event with a procession.” (Thomas Bailey Aldrich, An Old Town By the Sea, 1894, p. 78)

In Rhode Island, the custom was described as follows:

…the negroes held an annual election on the third Saturday in June, when they elected their governor. When the slaves were numerous each town held its election. The annual festivity was looked for with great anxiety. Party spirit was as violent and acrimonious with them as among the whites. … The horses of the wealthy landholders were on this day all surrendered to the use of the slaves, and with cues, … mounted on the best Narragnasett pacers… they pranced to election, which commenced generally at 10 o’clock. The canvass for votes soon commenced, the tables with refreshments were spread and all friends of the respective candidates were solicited to partake, and as much anxiety would manifest itself, and as much family pride and influence was exercised and interest created, as in other elections, and was preceded by weeks of “parmateering” (parliamenteering). About one o’clock the vote would be taken by ranging the friends of the respective candidates in two lines under the direction of a chief marshal with assistants. … There was generally a tumultuous crisis until the count commenced, when silence was proclaimed, and after that no man could change sides or go from one rank to the other. The chief marshal announced the number of votes for each candidate and in an audible voice proclaimed the name of the governor elected for the ensuing year. 
(Wilkins Updike, A History of the Episcopal Church in Narragansett, Rhode Island, 1847, pp. 177-179) 

An account published in 1853 in Hartford in the Olden Time claimed:

The person they selected for the office in question was usually one of much note among themselves, of imposing presence, strength, firmness and volubility, who was quick to decide, ready to command, and able to flog. … it was necessary that he be an honest negro, and be, or appear to be, “wise above his fellows.” … His parade days were marked by much that was showy…. A troop of blacks, sometimes an hundred in number, marching two and two on foot, sometimes mounted in true military style and dress on horseback, escorted him through the streets, with drums beating, colors flying, and fifes, fiddles, clarionets, and every “sonorous metal” that could be found, “uttering martial sound.” After marching to their content, they would retire to some large room which they would engage for the purpose, for refreshments and deliberation. 

The election process was said to include a “test of wind and muscle, the most successful candidate being he who first climbed a steep and almost unscalable sand bank. Eben Tobias, decked with feathers and flying ribbons, won that day…” (Jane De Forest Shelton, “The New England Negro, A Remnant,” in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, March 1894, p. 536).

An account of the election process in Derby, Oxford, Waterbury, and Humphreysville is as follows:

The people assembled at Derby, Oxford, Waterbury, or Humphreysville, as was ordered, the Governor and his escort in uniforms—anything but uniform—that were hired or borrowed, or improvised for the occasion, according to fancy or ability. Mounted on such steeds as could be impressed into the service—remnants of their former selves—they mustered outside the village, and with all the majesty and glitter of feathers and streaming ribbons and uniform, with fife and drum, made their way by the main thoroughfares, sometimes stopping to fire a salute before a squire’s house, to the tavern which was to be the center of festivity. Then the Governor, dismounting, delivered his speech from the porch, and the troops “trained.” Then the clams gathered with more and more enthusiasm for the election ball. Families went entire, a babe in arms being no drawback, as the tavern-keeper set apart a room and provided a caretaker for them. Sometimes more than a dozen little woolly-heads would be under surveillance, while the light-hearted mothers shuffled and tripped to the sound of the fiddle. New Haven and Hartford, as well as intervening towns, were represented. Supper was served for fifty cents each, and they danced and feasted with a delight the more sedate white man can hardly appreciate, spinning out the night and often far into the next day. To their credit, it must be recorded, that although they were not strict prohibitionists, their indulgence was limited. 
(Shelton, “The New England Negro, A Remnant,” p. 537) 

Ebenezer D. Bassett, the son of one of the black Governors, wrote the following about his father, Eben Tobias:

     My father was the great-grandson of an African prince. His father Tobias, or Tobiah, was “raised” in the family of Capt. Wooster of Derby, fought in the war of independence, and was recognized as a man of tact, courage and unusual intelligence for a person of his time and condition. 
     My father was a mulatto, born in the family of Squire Bassett of Derby, the day of the battle of Trafalger, October 21st, 1805. 
     He inherited somewhat more than his father’s natural intelligence, and was of the very finest physical mould, being over six feet tall and admirably proportioned. He was besides, ready of speech and considered quite witty. Indeed, his witty sayings were rife all over the region where he was known; they are even still quoted, and within two years I have heard them used by speakers at the reunions of our Republican League in New Haven. He died in 1869. 
     Under the circumstances herein referred to, it was altogether natural that he should be, as he actually was, brought forward and “elected” one of the so-called “Negro Governors” of Connecticut. I remember that he held the office two or three terms, and I remember, too, how Sundays and nights he used to pore over books on military tactics and study up the politics of the State. 
     At first the “Negro Governor” was chosen for the whole State. But in my day that “official” was elected for different localities. I think that then the election was by viva voce vote and caucus, than by ballot. The affair was always accompanied with farcical military display, a big dinner and a ball. It generally ran through two days. These features certainly existed much later than 1836-1837, for I was born in 1838. 
(Platt, “Negro Governors,” pp. 331-332)

Ebenezer D. Bassett, whose father was a black Governor
Photo from CCSU's online biography of E. D. Bassett

The history of Connecticut's black Governors is scattered throughout various texts. A complete study has yet to be done and there are still many questions open for debate. Some authorities believe that the black Governors were used by white authorities to control the African American community, while others see the elections as originating with the people who had been forcibly brought here as a way to build and retain their own community.

It is fascinating that the New England colonies allowed the elections to take place. The southern colonies had strictly enforced laws prohibiting any gatherings of African Americans and paid white volunteers to "suppress" gatherings. There is much more to learn about this time period. Thanks to the internet and online databases, more information is being uncovered. It's a story that is still waiting to be fully told.