The Oliver Smith House, on Main Street in Stonington Borough, perhaps the oldest surviving house in town, was built in the early 1760s (after 1761). Smith, a merchant and one of the defenders of Stonington during the American Revolution, was the last owner of Venture Smith. Born under the name Broteer Furro, Venture was an African prince enslaved at the age of six and brought to America. Eventually buying his freedom when in his 30s from Oliver Smith, Venture went on to purchase land and became prosperous by farming, fishing and shipping goods. In the 1790s, Venture Smith dictated his life story to a schoolteacher named Elisha Niles. This autobiography was then published as A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa but Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America, Related by Himself (1798).
The Documenting Venture Smith Project has found that Venture was at the least ten and probably eleven years old when captured and enslaved. This is based on a careful read of his Narrative and comparing it with the dates on his tombstone and the documented date of the voyage from Africa to North America.
I’m a producer on a PBS historical series with a connection to Oliver Smith. Would this photo be available in Higher res and if so, could we obtain permission to possibly use this?
can anyone tell me if the house has been altered on the exterior since the early 50s? I have a painting that looks almost exactly like this house but my painting has now dormers upstairs. The oil painting is by someone named HURD and was purchased by my Dad to give to my Mom when they lived in New London
Susan, there was an addition put on the back maybe 80’/90’s but i think the front of the house always looked like this. Not sure when my moms parents bought the house 50’s/60’s?, then my parents sold it ~1980. Not sure if they are dated, but we have other pics of the house and some old video in the backyard. Your post is 5 yrs old, but feel free to contact me if you see this. Rick, canobeach01@yahoo.com