Collaborating with the greater New London community, a group of Williams juniors partnered with the Witness Stones Project to help memorialize two enslaved people, Nell and Rose. They were enslaved by Samuel Seabury, the first American Episcopal bishop and third rector of St. James Episcopal Church in New London, Connecticut.
Williams became involved with the organization last year after completing a project about an enslaved person from the Hempstead House. This year, Williams alumna Mary Lycan ’64 participated in a project to commemorate the church’s 300-year history. While working on that project, she uncovered aspects of Seabury’s background and reached out to Williams, who then connected her with the Witness Stones Project, bringing the new initiative to life.
Over the past year, students in Mrs. Marvel’s Advanced U.S. History course at Williams conducted research on Nell and Rose, culminating in a memorial service held on May 5, during which each student gave a speech highlighting various aspects of the women’s lives.
The collaboration between the Witness Stones Project and Williams offers students a meaningful opportunity to learn historical research skills. Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning Jane Hannon shared, “The Witness Stones Project enables our students to engage as historians as they work with primary source documents to tell the story of enslaved people,” she said. “Our students’ research contributes to the stories of people along New London’s Black Heritage Trail.”
Throughout the research process, students explored many aspects of slavery, including its legal frameworks. “The most compelling thing I found was how there was a law in place to release children born into slavery at the age of 25, and there’s no clear evidence Rose was ever freed,” Claire McGuiness ’26 said. “Nell, Rose’s mom, was never freed and was of a higher value due to her age. This was impactful, as dehumanization is clearly a driving force in slavery in the 18th century.”
Students also reflected on the hidden aspects of history and its impact. “Despite the unpredictability of their ever-changing world and enslaver, Bishop Samuel Seabury, these two women found ways to survive through their reliance on one another,” Sydney Caplan ’26 said. “Nell, by passing on her textile abilities, took action to prepare her daughter and did her best to ensure the safest future for her despite the state of their world.”
The official installation of the stones is set to take place during the church’s 300th anniversary celebration on June 7.
More about this project can be found here.
