New Haven County Superior Court Execution Records: Platt vs. Lanson Case

Version: 11 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 3:24:28 PM

Added description

Description

Platt vs. Lanson Execution Records Collection – New Haven County Superior Court, 1841

Overview

This collection comprises the full set of court‑issued documents that governed the execution of a debt judgment against William Lanson in the 1841 case Platt vs. Lanson. It is held by the Connecticut State Library as part of the New Haven County Superior Court (NHSC) series, specifically within the “Black, African American, and Indigenous History” (BAAI) subject index. The materials include the original execution writ, property‑levy notices, auction postings, and settlement records, all digitized in JPEG and TIFF formats with accompanying OCR text.

Background

The case arose from a judgment of $94.19 owed by Lanson to creditor Esther M. Platt. The writ, drafted by Assistant Clerk James H. Townsend on March 23, 1841, authorized the Sheriff of New Haven County to levy Lanson’s personal property. Property‑levy notices dated March 10–11, 1841 listed the items seized—beds, tables, wagons, and other household goods—and announced an auction to be held 21 days later. The settlement record, prepared by constable Joseph Kneival and overseen by attorney Jonathan Stoddard, documents the sale proceeds ($76.30) and their distribution to the creditor and court officials. These documents illustrate 19th‑century Connecticut debt‑collection practices and the court’s enforcement mechanisms.

Contents

  • Execution Writ (March 23, 1841) – court order, signatures, and sheriff’s instructions.
  • Property‑Levy Notices (March 10–11, 1841) – list of seized items and auction announcement.
  • Auction Notice – public posting of sale date and terms.
  • Settlement Record (April 8, 1841) – summary of sale proceeds, fees, and distribution.
  • Digital Assets – JPEG and TIFF scans of each page, OCR‑derived text files, and metadata linking to the NHSC BAAI subject index.

Scope

The collection covers a single execution proceeding in New Haven County, Connecticut, dated 1841. It is relevant to scholars of 19th‑century legal history, debt enforcement, and African American social history. The collection does not include subsequent court filings, debtor correspondence, or related property records. All materials are in the public domain and available for research through the Connecticut State Library’s digital portal.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@execution_writ:concept {description: "Legal document ordering the enforcement of a judgment, specifically for execution of property levy"}

@debt_collection:concept {description: "Process of recovering unpaid debts through legal means"}

@property_levy:concept {description: "Legal seizure of property to satisfy a judgment"}

@nineteenth_century_law:concept {description: "Legal practices and statutes in the 19th century United States"}

@african_american_history:concept {description: "Historical records concerning African American individuals and communities"}

@file_pinax:document {title: "New Haven County Superior Court Execution Records: Platt vs. Lanson Case", type: "Collection", created: @date_1841, language: "en", description: "Collection of documents related to the execution of property levy and auction settlement in the case of Platt vs. Lanson in New Haven County, Connecticut, 1841. Includes execution writ, property levy documents, and auction settlement records.", access_url: "PLACEHOLDER", rights: "Public domain (assuming pre-1929 US government document)"}

@file_pinax -> created by -> [@james_h_townsend, @new_haven_county_superior_court, @joseph_kneival, @jesse_kneival]

@file_pinax -> subject -> @execution_writ

@file_pinax -> subject -> @debt_collection

@file_pinax -> subject -> @property_levy

@file_pinax -> subject -> @auction

@file_pinax -> subject -> @settlement

@file_pinax -> subject -> @legal_documents

@file_pinax -> subject -> @new_haven_county

@file_pinax -> subject -> @black_african_american_and_indigenous_history

@file_pinax -> subject -> @african_american_history

@file_pinax -> subject -> @nineteenth_century_law

@file_pinax -> place -> [@new_haven, @orange, @new_haven_ct, @connecticut]

@file_pinax -> contains -> @platt_vs_lanson:case

@file_pinax -> documents -> @execution_writ_platt_vs_lanson

@platt_vs_lanson -> includes -> @execution_writ_platt_vs_lanson

@platt_vs_lanson -> includes -> @execution_document

@platt_vs_lanson -> subject index -> @nhsc_baai_cases_papers_subject

Metadata

Title
New Haven County Superior Court Execution Records: Platt vs. Lanson Case
Type
Collection
Creator
James H. Townsend, Assistant ClerkNew Haven County Superior CourtJoseph KneivalJesse Kneival
Institution
Connecticut State Library
Created
1841
Language
en
Subjects
Execution writ, Debt collection, Legal documents, Property levy, Auction, Settlement, 19th century law, African American history, Black, African American, and Indigenous History, New Haven County
Rights
Public domain (assuming pre-1929 US government document)
Place
New Haven, Orange, New Haven County, Connecticut
Source
PINAX

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v11 (current) · 12/4/2025, 3:24:28 PM
    "Added description"
  • v10 · 12/4/2025, 3:03:01 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v9 · 12/4/2025, 6:43:40 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v8 · 12/4/2025, 6:30:59 AM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 3 groups"
  • v7 · 12/4/2025, 6:30:58 AM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KBM0X26MD6WMYFAZ8JWA1HXM"
  • v6 · 12/4/2025, 6:30:57 AM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KBM0X0X0YHGD4KA73XB0C3EH"
  • v5 · 12/4/2025, 6:30:55 AM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KBM0WZKBC8B75PXK6WD6B3CD"
  • v4 · 12/4/2025, 6:20:59 AM · View this version
    "Added OCR to 5 files"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 6:20:48 AM · View this version
    "Added OCR to 1 file"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 6:14:46 AM · View this version
    "Set parent to 01KBKZYT0E29FBBG0R8Z4RQWC2"

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

Files were grouped into three distinct categories based on their content and role in the execution process: (1) The original court writ initiating the execution, (2) Documentation of the property seizure and inventory, and (3) Records of the auction settlement and payment distribution. Each group maintains the original file formats (JPG/TIFF with their JSON metadata files) while organizing them by their procedural function in the legal execution case. This approach reflects the natural progression of the court-ordered execution from legal command to property seizure to financial settlement.

## Groups Created

- **Execution_Writ_Platt_vs_Lanson**: Files containing the original execution writ and legal command for the Platt vs. Lanson case, including the court order and instructions to the constable.
- **Property_Levy_Documents**: Documents detailing the property levied from William Lanson, including inventories and descriptions of seized goods.
- **Auction_Settlement_Records**: Records of the auction sale proceeds, fees, and final settlement amounts paid to Esther Platt.

Parent

↑ 01KBKZYT0E29FBBG0R8Z4RQWC2

Children (3)