Titus Gay
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Titus Gay (1787-1837), also known as Old Ti, was born into slavery in the town of Suffield, Connecticut, USA. Because of the Gradual Emancipation Act passed in 1784,[1] Gay was freed in 1812 after reaching 25 years of age. He was buried in the northeastern corner of the cemetery behind the Congregational church in Suffield, CT.
Early life[edit]
Gay was born in 1787 and lived nearly his entire life in Suffield, CT. He was enslaved by the town minister, Reverend Ebenezer Gay Jr., at the time of his manumission. Because Ebenezer enslaved his mother, Titus was born enslaved. His father, Titus Kent, was enslaved by Samuel Kent, who then bequeathed him to his son, Elihu Kent, a leader during the American Revolutionary War and a member of the Kent family, an original land-granted family from the town's settlement. Titus Kent also fought in the war.
Family life[edit]
According to Judge Smith's "Old Slave Days in Connecticut",[2] Titus loved an enslaved woman, Phill, who died shortly after attempting to escape her enslaver. According to Smith, Phill died while fleeing, a victim of a brutally cold Connecticut winter. Although Gay and Phill were never married (she died before they had the chance), this is the closest known instance in which Titus had a partner. Gay was allegedly buried next to Phill. Gay never had any children. He was dedicated to his community and church; once he became a free man, Titus would work in the church to make ends meet. Both of Titus's parents were enslaved. Rose Gay, his mother, served Reverend Ebenezer Gay of Suffield, CT. Titus Kent, his father, was owned by Elihu Kent, also of Suffield. Elihu Kent and Titus Kent served in the Connecticut Militia.[3] After Titus Gay was manumitted in 1812 by Reverend Ebenezer Gay Jr. he lived in Suffield as a free man.
Free man[edit]
Titus was emancipated at age twenty-five by the Gradual Emancipation Act passed in 1784. Even though Reverend Gay no longer enslaved Titus, he was still very much involved in the town. One of Titus's most coveted jobs was working as a tythingman. This job consisted of assisting the pastor with funerals. Gay ensured church operations ran smoothly. Titus also worked as a sexton, gravedigger, church custodian, and bell ringer. He was very much involved in the community. In the 1820s, there was a day once a year called training day. The training day was when the town celebrated their local militia with a parade. Titus was in charge of keeping the little boys of the town out of trouble. The parents trusted him with their children.