Jane was enslaved for over forty years by two generations of the Thomas Church family. In 1743, Thomas Sr. gave her the choice to be sold or to remain with his family. Jane chose to stay. When British troops burned down Thomas Jr.’s home on Sakonnet Point in Little Compton, the entire household of 21 people escaped to Dighton. There, Jane married her longtime partner Prince Bailey, a newly freed man. Cesar, their 19-year-old son, enlisted in exchange for his freedom and died in service. As a resident of Massachusetts, Jane became emancipated around 1783, and probably settled in Newport with Prince.
Biography and image provided by Marjory O'Toole, Little Compton Historical Society
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