Aaron Dwight Stevens, born in Lisbon on March 15, 1831, and raised in Norwich, was well known throughout the country in March 1860 when he was hanged.

Dwight had been tried in Virginia for aiding slaves to rebel during the John Brown raid on Harper’s Ferry, Virginia.

At his four-day trial in February 1860, Dwight was accused of murder, treason, and several counts of aiding and abetting slaves to rebel. John Brown and four other raiders had already been hanged for their part in the raid.

Dwight had been shot in the chest and throat area with a shotgun during the raid while he was holding a white flag of truce.

His trial had been delayed until Stevens was able to recover enough to attend and defend himself. Of course, the outcome of the trial was never in doubt, and Stevens was declared guilty after the jury met for 15 minutes.

He was declared not guilty of murder or treason, of which he had also been charged. He was found guilty only of helping the slaves to rebel – something Stevens and the other raiders would never contest because that is exactly why they were at Harpers Ferry.

Stevens turned 29 years old on March 15, 1860, and was hanged the following day.

Edwin C. Bearss, one of the foremost Civil War historians America has ever had, said the following concerning the raid in which Aaron Dwight Stevens was a huge and central part: “It is my belief that the Brown Raid… is the vital catalyst that leads to secession, the Civil War, and the liberation of four million black Americans.”

Stevens loved his country, and he was proud that his great grandfather fought in Swift’s Regiment in the Revolutionary War, and his grandfather fought in the War of 1812.

His father was the choir director at the First Congregational Church at the Norwichtown Green. It was here in Norwich where Stevens learned to despise slavery, from his family, his church, and his city.

Stevens’ short but dynamic and significant life was one adventure after another. He left home at 16 years old to join the 1st Massachusetts Regiment in Boston, to fight in Mexico. After coming home following the war, he joined the Dragoons in New Mexico. Later he would fight with the 2nd Kansas Militia, against pro-slavery forces during the period known as “Bloody Kansas.”

It was during the fighting in Kansas that John Brown and Aaron Dwight Stevens met and formed a strong bond to fight the practice of slavery.

Stevens always loved his country and was proud that he and his relatives fought for freedom, however, he chose to fight against his country when it came to slavery – which he considered the worst evil on earth. There is a likeness of Aaron Dwight Stevens on the new mural in Downtown Norwich created by Public Art for Racial Justice Education.

Vic Butch served on the Board of Directors of the Norwich Historical Society for many years and gives Civil War cemetery tours of the historic Yantic Cemetery periodically.

Historically Speaking is a monthly column provided by the Norwich Historical Society.