A Witness Stone was installed at the Deacon John Grave House in Madison earlier this month, thanks to the efforts of the Witness Stone Project (WSP), the Grave Museum, and St. Andrew’s Church. The stone honored Cate, who, according to research conducted by the WSP, was enslaved at the home sometime in the early 1700s.

The WSP is an organization created and initiated by Connecticut residents and researchers that seeks to “restore the history and honor the humanity of the enslaved individuals who helped build our communities.”

Though she did not conduct the research in this particular project to help bring Cate’s story to the historical record, St. Andrew’s parishioner and genealogist Laura Downes said it is extremely tedious to uncover information and reveal the history of individuals who were intentionally marginalized.

“The Witness Stones Project people undertook this effort and did all of the leg work and teach us what they found, but being familiar with this process, it is very difficult researching enslaved individuals,” said Downes. “Sometimes there are not even names, and if there are, it is only first names. It can be difficult to separate those who were enslaved and their slave owners. Their history is so entwined. It is unlike any other family research.”

Downes said the church became involved in Witness Stone efforts as part of an overall program to understand the community from a “social justice standpoint.”

“Our efforts are ongoing. It’s not over. There’s more to do, and there’s more to learn,” said Downes.

The Deacon John Grave House is located at 581 Boston Post Road, Madison. For more information, visit www.deaconjohngrave.org.