Patience was enslaved in Danbury for much of her life by two generations of the Taylor family.  She gained her freedom in 1793 when Joseph Taylor III wrote the following in his will: “And to my Negro servant Patience who is now somewhat advanced in years and hath been both to me and my parents before me a good kind & faithful servant I will give & bequeath to her out of the money due to me from Mr. John McLean the sum of one hundred pounds and the interest of that sum from the time of my death to be hers & at her dispose.” Taylor did put some conditions on the one hundred pounds, however, writing; “But my will is that my Executor Shall keep sd money on interest for her and to hand it out to her at discretion for her comfortable support.” If there was money left over at the time of Patience’s death, Taylor said it should “be paid to her heirs.” Taylor also gave Patience his household furniture.