Amid the hot and humid days of late July, scientists, historians and many FOSA volunteers were at the East Haddam First United Congregational Church's cemetery to uncover the remains of Venture Smith. In uncovering the remains, it was hoped to find enough genetic evidence to glean facts about Venture's size, strength and health, and his country of origin.

An intriguing aspect of Venture Smith is that he dictated an autobiography which was published in 1798 when he was an old man. This autobiography is considered one of the earliest of the so-called slave narratives and one of the most reliable.

By his own account,* Venture - his birth name was Broteer - was born in 1729, the son of an African king or prince. Kidnapped by enemy tribes when he was 6½ years old, he was taken to the Cape Coast Castle, the principal British slave trade factory. With about 260 other slaves, Broteer was removed to a vessel bound for America. Broteer was bought on board by Robert Mumford, the steward of the vessel, for four gallons of rum and a piece of calico, and renamed Venture.

Upon reaching America, Smith became a house slave for a Long Island businessman and, as a young man, took part in a failed escape attempt with other slaves and indentured servants. He was later sold several times. In 1760, at age 31, Venture was sold to Col. O. Smith from Stonington, CT - from whom he subsequently took his last name - for 56 pounds. Following his purchase by Col. Smith, Venture requested the chance to redeem himself and following that agreement, Venture bought his freedom on a "time payment" arrangement. The purchase of his freedom was completed in 1765.

While enslaved, Smith saved money that he earned working for others. After he became a free man, he moved back to Long Island, where he made his living primarily by chopping and cording wood. Over the next 10 years he purchased the freedom of his wife, Meg, and his three children. In 1776 he sold all of his property on Long Island and returned to Connecticut, moving to East Haddam. Through continued frugal living he was able to set money aside, and over time acquired a hundred acres of land, three houses and twenty sailing vessels. These sailing vessels were engaged in fishing and trading on the Connecticut River.

Venture Smith died in 1805 and is buried in the East Haddam cemetery along with his wife and other family members. Many tales are told of the remarkable physical prowess of Smith, who was said to be more than six feet tall and so broad that he had to turn sidewise to enter the average doorway. It is also said that he could carry a barrel of molasses on each shoulder, and that once he cut 400 cords of wood within a few weeks.

Efforts to uncover bone material from Venture Smith's grave were unsuccessful. Time and the acidic nature of the surrounding soil eroded away all genetic material from his 200-year-old gravesite, making it impossible to salvage his DNA. However, even though Smith's remains were fully decomposed, scientists were able to recover genetic material from the grave of Smith's wife, Meg, along with funeral artifacts from Smith's grave, including hardware from his coffin. "This was not a poor man's coffin, from what I've seen of it," said state archaeologist Nick Bellantoni, who advised on the dig, "And the size of the coffin indicated it belonged to someone who was tall." Many FOSA members participated in this project.

The excitement generated by the recovery effort is not likely to die down soon. A closing celebration at the grave site was held the first Saturday in August, analysis of the remains found will continue for many months, and the BBC will release a documentary filmed by correspondents during the week of excavation.

* A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, A Native of Africa: Related by himself, Printed by C. Holt, at the Bee-Office 1798