Gradual Emancipation of Slaves in Connecticut

Northeastern states gradually adopted laws abolishing slavery or leading toward emancipation. In 1784, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a bill for the gradual emancipation of slaves — all slaves born after March 1, 1784, would be free at age 25. In 1848, Connecticut became the last state in New England to abolish slavery — but even then the law did not apply to slaves 64 years and older. In 1800, a census counted 951 slaves in Connecticut; in 1830, the number had fallen to 25.