Robin Starr and New Guinea
New Guinea (also known as Guinea Town) is the location of a community of formerly enslaved families that settled in 18th century Cornwall Bridge, CT. Robin Starr, a formerly enslaved man originally from Guinea Africa, established the community with other African decedents, thus the name. Robin was first enslaved to Josiah Starr in Danbury, CT. On June 2, 1777, Robin enlisted with the 7th Connecticut Regiment under Colonel Herman Swift. For his six years of faithful service, Robin was awarded the Badge of Merit from George Washington, one of only three of these awards given by the General. Upon his return, Robin completed the purchase of his freedom from the Starr family.
Around 1791, Robin married a woman named Lilly and settled in New Guinea. When they passed, their home was inherited by their son, Abel Starr, who fought in the war of 1812. Upon his own death, the home was passed down to Abel’s son, Josiah Starr, who continued the family tradition of military service as a member of the 29th Connecticut Colored Regiment during the Civil War. The family’s generational ties to the area are testament to the resilience and tenaciousness of its progenitor, for whom the site is named.
Research for this project was completed in partnership with the students at Cornwall Consolidated School, who developed their own methodology for research, completed the research, testified in front of the Connecticut Freedom Trail committee to defend the application, and helped shepherd it to listing.
The Cornwall Historical Society is a partner and the site representative for this site.