Society, a tract on Slavery in Connecticut, which estimated that in 1755 there were nearly four thousand slaves in the state, with 226 in New Haven County. She said, "Many of the ministers of the New Haven Jurisdiction during this and the succeeding century were slave owners, as were deacons in their churches and other leading citizens . . . It is said that slaves belonging to the ministers were distinguished for their piety . . . As for the ministers it was a fine arrangement. The slaves could do the work on the farms owned by practically all the ministers. Slavery in Connecticut was almost a patriarchal institution, and slaves were generally well treated and often almost as members of the family."
    It should be noted in connection to the reference above to the farms of ministers, that Mansfield had nine acres, provided for his use by the Derby parish. With his busy schedule visiting all the families within his large territory, it is not surprising he would have required some sort of assistance in the farming endeavors.
    One of the less well known of Mansfield's accomplishments was the introduction of the black walnut tree which was so fashionable in his age. He brought the tree into the Derby area when he returned from his 1748 trip to England for his ordination.
     As a clergyman, Mansfield was a tireless worker and reported in 1749, after a year's work in his district that he had in Derby and Waterbury alone one hundred and forty-six communicants, notwithstanding his people had been sharers in the great oppressions arising from the system of taxation." In 1758 the church in Waterbury was taken over by the Rev. James Scovill, due to the continuing increase in the size of that church. At this time the church in Derby and Oxford was receiving many new members.
    As the time of the American Revolution approached, the Episcopal clergy faced a new problem - to cope with the sentiments of the Americans seeking liberty. Because of their association with the Church of England, the Episcopal clergy were considered highly suspect by those who supported the American Revolution. Not only were their associations suspect, but the ordination rites of these clergy had included an oath of allegiance to the king. The growing strife between England and her colonies put the Episcopal clergy into a difficult position.