Soak beans overnight. Drain and rinse beans well. Place beans in a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot with 6 cups water and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer 1 1/2 to 2 hours until tender. Add more water during cooking if necessary, using just enough to make a gravylike sauce. You can cook this in the crockpot if you like, on high for 4-5 hours, checking occasionally(remember you still want at the end a gravylike consistency).