ENSLAVEMENT & THE US CIVIL WAR
TEXTILES & SLAVERY:
VENTURE & CALICO

VENTURE SMITH HEADSTONE – DAVID C. NELSON
One of Connecticut’s documented slaves was Broteer or Venture Smith (1729-1805). Venture was sold into slavery for 4 gallons of rum and a piece of calico cloth. He was stolen away at age 6 in Africa. While he was enslaved in CT for different masters, he worked extremely hard and long hours and in later life bought his freedom and that of his family. He is buried in a marked grave in East Haddam. Venture was sold for 4 gallons of rum and a piece of calico. Calico is cotton fabric woven in plain weave and may be dyed or printed. It gets its name from Calicut India where in the 17th and 18th centuries calico cotton was a desired trading commodity between India and Europe. Four gallons of rum and a piece of calico.
LOCAL
ENSLAVED PEOPLE

JOSIAH MANNING HEADSTONE – CAITLIN HOPKINS