THE HAZARD PAPERS 41 accounts and memorandums, of past generations appeared, all the documents pertaining to the things of this life, once lived so much as we live, the husks and externals left behind by the "spirits of just men made perfect." It is from these papers, stained with damp, and cracking in the folds, that we can gather some conception of the life that Thomas Hazard son of Robert lived, of his farming, of his buying and selling, of his relations to his family, and of his place in Meeting, and glean inspiration for ourselves from the way he served his day and generation. CHAPTER III. Thomas Hazard's Awakening to the Evils of Slavery. The Teaching of Dean Berkeley on the Subject. Collision with his Father. AN interesting story of the manner in which Thomas Hazard became awakened to the evils of slavery was told by all of his grandsons. I have heard it repeatedly from the lips of my grandfather, substantially as his older brother, Isaac Peace Hazard, has related it in the "History of the Narragansett Church." About the time of his marriage, his father wished to establish him upon a farm of suitable size, and give him. enough slaves to work it properly. In stocking the farm, young Thomas Hazard was sent into Connecticut, to an old deacon living near New London, in North Stonington, to buy cattle. He arrived Saturday afternoon, and knowing the strictness of the Connecticut Sunday laws, proposed to stay at an inn. But his father's friend, happen 1 Pages 322-25. A MEMORABLE SUNDAY 43 ing to come to the village, insisted upon taking him home with him for the Sabbath. They naturally fell into the religious discussion so common in that day, especially as Connecticut gave Rhode Island very little credit for having any religion at all. At this point my grandfather used to interpolate a story of later date of a small boy who was taken from his Rhode Island home to visit relatives in Connecticut, and put through his catechism by the head of the house. "How many Gods are there?" he was solemnly asked. "There ain't e'er a one in Rhode Island!" he promptly replied. In contrast with this, the story of the visiting Connecticut boy was told, who was asked the question, "What state do you live in?" "State of sin and misery, sir," the meek and immediate answer. With such illustrations of the feeling prevalent between the two sections of country, and knowing the controversial spirit of the times, we can imagine the long talks of that Sunday ever memorable in the life of Thomas Hazard. Finally after discussing various sects, Quakerism was mentioned, on which the Deacon exclaimed, "Quakers they are not Christian People." As Thomas Hazard was lately from college, and was remarkable for his argumentative powers, and had given some study to the subject, he thought himself able to answer all the usual objections to the Society of Friends. But instead of advancing these, to his surprise the deacon said, “They hold their fellow-men in slavery." He was completely silenced, and from that moment began to turn his thoughts toward the abolition of slavery. He informed his father upon his return of his change of views, and his intention of cultivating his farm by free labor. King's County-now Washington — had, about 1730, a thousand slaves,1 who were divided among the great farmers. Robert Hazard is said to have been one of the largest slave-owners in New England, and saw that his son's views if carried out would ruin himself and his neighbors. He endeavored to dissuade him from them, and finally threatened to disinherit him. Fully expecting this, Thomas Hazard persisted in what he believed to be his duty, and began to cultivate his farm with free labor. They were indeed revolutionary ideas 1 Updike, p. 174. SLAVES IN NARRAGANSETT 45 His which the young man advanced. aged grandfather was still living, who had thought it no sin to own slaves, and the whole prosperity of the country was founded on slave labor. All the friends and neighbors held slaves, and two connections even imported them. Updike mentions Colonel Thomas Hazard, a cousin of Robert Hazard's, and Rowland Robinson, College Tom's brother-in-law, as importing them. On the arrival of the ship at the South Ferry, Rowland Robinson was overcome by seeing the distress of the poor creatures as they landed. He is said to have wept bitterly, and taken home all of his share of the venture, twentyeight poor souls, treating them with great kindness, and refusing to sell any of them. One woman of great strength of character called Abigail, afterward at her own request went back to Guinea, and brought over her son, Mr. Robinson being at the expense of the voyage. It is evident that the evils of slavery were as light as possible, and that some attempts at freeing individual slaves were made quite early. In 1729 an act was passed relating to the freeing of mulatto and negro slaves, which sets forth that great charge, trouble, and inconveniences |