Deacon Thomas Clark, who lived in the house his uncle built in the 17th century,
was the owner of one of Waterbury’s earliest slaves, Mingo. Mingo was brought
to Waterbury as a boy sometime around 1730. He helped work Clark’s farm
and was at times hired out to other Waterbury residents.
Following Deacon Clark’s death in 1767, Mingo had chosen to remain in the
family home with Clark’s son Thomas, but when the home became a tavern,
Mingo moved to the Town Plot section of Waterbury, to live with the Deacon’s
other son, Timothy.