Of particular interest in this collection of Connecticut's laws in 1784 is "An Act Concerning indian, Molatto and Negro Servants and Slaves" (pgs. 233-235). In 1784, "gradual emancipation" was passed in Connecticut (and Rhode Island). This law was intended to slowly "phase out" slavery, and would become the primary mechanism of abolition throughout New England. In Connecticut, it worked like this: All enslaved persons born on or after March 1, 1784, remained bonded while children, but were released upon reaching a certain age (first 25, later reduced to 21). All enslaved persons born before 1784 remained enslaved for life. This allowed slavery to slowly disappear.
http://www.yaleslavery.org/Resources/timeline.html#t2
http://connecticuthistory.org/gradual-emancipation-reflected-the-struggle-of-some-to-envision-black-freedom/
Collation: Title (verso blank) Charter, 3-8 p. Articles of Confederation, 6 p. Catalogue of the several acts, 2 p. Acts and laws, 265 p. Act and laws ... May ... 1784, pp. 267-307 Act and laws ... October ... 1784, pp. 309-315 Act and laws ... May ... 1785, pp. 317-328 Act and laws ... October ... 1785, pp. 329-336 Act and laws ... May ... 1786, pp. 337-346
Inscribed: Samuel Bull's Book, 1789. This book was for ... Mr. George Nichols of Middletown Connecticut. Nichols' was married to Martha Bull. "The residences of the lane were primarily employed at the riverfront as sea captains or merchant investors in trade with the West Indies. Samuel Bull, who lived at the corner on Main and for whom the lane was named, was a merchant, selling goods imported from throughout the world." (http://patch.com/connecticut/middletown-ct/vital-piece-of-middletown-history-is-on-the-auction-block)
