Leverett Beman Historic District

The Beman family was involved in the anti-slavery movement. Leverett’s father, Jehiel, was the first pastor of the Cross Street A.M.E. Zion Church which was originally located in the neighborhood and it was under his direction that it became known as the Freedom Church. Clarissa Beman founded the Middletown Colored Female Anti-Slavery Society in 1834. Leverett’s brother, Amos Beman, was the pastor of the Temple Street Congregational Church in New Haven and often represented Connecticut at national anti-slavery conventions. Today, most of the properties are owned by Wesleyan University.