Witness Stones for enslaved people Cato, Jin Cole and Titus at Historic Deerfield, Massachusetts
These three markers are "Witness Stones" commemorating three enslaved people who lived in Old Deerfield in the late 1700s and early 1800s. They were three of more than 25 enslaved people owned by residents of the town during that time. For a long time Historic Deerfield did not acknowledge, or barely acknowledged, the existence of slavery at Old Deerfield. There are now (October 2022) nineteen markers like these on the old Main Street of Deerfield, with more to follow.
For more about the Witness Stones Project, see https://witnessstonesproject.org
Transcript:
Cato
c. 1737 - 1825
Son of Jin Cole
Enslaved as a child in this house
Jin Cole
c. 1723 - 1808
Captured in Africa at age 12
Enslaved in this house
Titus
1751
Enslaved in this house
Submitted by Evan Romer