RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_FreemanEbenezerAlmira_001.jpg

Freeman v. Freeman Divorce Petition Documents

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 3:16:07 PM

Added description

Description

Freeman v. Freeman Divorce Petition Documents (1828)

Overview

This is a digitized collection of legal documents from the New Haven County Superior Court, filed on 19 July 1828. The collection contains the original petition for divorce, the court summons, and the proof of service, all rendered in English and preserved as high‑resolution JPEG and TIFF scans. It is part of the Connecticut State Library’s “New Haven County Superior Court – Black, African American, and Indigenous History” (NHSC BAAI) database.

Background

Ebenezer Freeman of Guilford filed a petition against his wife, Almira Brown (later Freeman), alleging adultery with Prime Wright and Harvey C. Shelley. The case was heard at the Superior Court in New Haven and was overseen by Judge William Hood O’Conner. The summons was issued to Maria Frumoy of Guilford and served by Deputy Sheriff Reuben Stone. The documents illustrate the legal procedures for divorce by adultery in early‑19th‑century Connecticut and are significant for studies of African‑American and Indigenous legal history in the region.

Contents

  • Petition for Divorce (filed 19 July 1828) – details the marriage, alleged adultery, and request for dissolution.
  • Court Summons (issued 2 August 1828) – commands Maria Frumoy to appear before the court.
  • Proof of Service (dated 31 July 1828) – records the delivery of the summons and the return of service.
Each document is represented by three JPEG images and three accompanying TIFF scans, providing both a viewable and a high‑resolution archival format.

Scope

The collection covers a single case in 1828, involving the New Haven County Superior Court and the towns of Guilford, Branford, and New Haven. It includes key individuals—Ebenezer Freeman, Almira Freeman (née Brown), Prime Wright, Harvey C. Shelley, Maria Frumoy, Judge Hood O’Conner, and Deputy Sheriff Reuben Stone—and reflects the legal context of divorce by adultery. The collection is part of the NHSC BAAI Cases Papers subject index, making it a resource for researchers exploring Black, African‑American, and Indigenous legal history in Connecticut.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@freeman_ebenezer:person {full_name: "Ebenezer Freeman"}

@freeman_almira:person {full_name: "Almira Freeman", maiden_name: "Brown"}

@prime_wright:person {full_name: "Prime Wright"}

@harvey_c_shelley:person {full_name: "Harvey C. Shelley"}

@maria_frumoy:person {full_name: "Maria Frumoy"}

@judge_hood_oconnor:person {full_name: "William Hood O'Conner", title: "Judge"}

@reuben_stone:person {full_name: "Reuben Stone", role: "Deputy Sheriff"}

@sheriff_new_haven:person {title: "Sheriff of New Haven County"}

@guilford:place {state: "Connecticut", country: "United States"}

@branford:place {state: "Connecticut", country: "United States"}

@new_haven:place {state: "Connecticut", country: "United States"}

@new_haven_county:place {state: "Connecticut", country: "United States"}

@new_haven_county_superior_court:organization {type: "Superior Court", jurisdiction: @new_haven_county}

@connecticut_state_library:organization {type: "State Library"}

@date_1828_07_19

@date_1828_08_02

@date_1820_04_17

@date_1828_01_01

@nhsc_baai_cases_papers_subject:concept {description: "Subject index field for New Haven County Superior Court Files – Black, African American, and Indigenous cases and papers"}

@nhsc_baai_cases_papers:concept {description: "Database of New Haven County Superior Court case files involving Black, African American, and Indigenous individuals"}

@freeman_divorce_collection:document {title: "Freeman v. Freeman Divorce Petition Documents", creator: @freeman_ebenezer, institution: @connecticut_state_library, created: @date_1828_07_19, language: "en", subjects: ["Divorce", "Adultery", "Legal documents", "New Haven County Superior Court", "Black, African American, and Indigenous History"], places: [@guilford, @branford, @new_haven]}

@divorce_petition:document {title: "Petition for Divorce of Ebenezer Freeman", date_filed: @date_1828_07_19, petitioner: @freeman_ebenezer, respondent: @freeman_almira}

@court_summons:document {title: "Citation to Maria Frumoy"}

@marriage_1820:event {participants: [@freeman_ebenezer, @freeman_almira], date: @date_1820_04_17, location: @branford}

@adultery_incident_1:event {participants: [@freeman_almira, @prime_wright], type: "adultery", date: @date_1828_01_01, location: @guilford}

@adultery_incident_2:event {participants: [@freeman_almira, @harvey_c_shelley], type: "adultery", date: @date_1828_01_01, location: @guilford}

@file_pinax:file {type: "metadata", format: "PINAX", title: "Freeman v. Freeman Divorce Petition Documents"}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanebenezeralmira_001_jpg:file {type: "image", format: "jpg", ocr: true}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanebenezeralmira_002_jpg:file {type: "image", format: "jpg", ocr: true}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanebenezeralmira_003_jpg:file {type: "image", format: "jpg", ocr: true}

@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanebenezeralmira_001_tif:file {type: "image", format: "tif", ocr: false}

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@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanebenezeralmira_003_tif:file {type: "image", format: "tif", ocr: false}


@freeman_divorce_collection -> includes -> @file_pinax:file

@freeman_divorce_collection -> includes -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanebenezeralmira_001_jpg:file

@freeman_divorce_collection -> includes -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanebenezeralmira_002_jpg:file

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@freeman_divorce_collection -> includes -> @file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanebenezeralmira_003_tif:file


@divorce_petition -> filed by -> @freeman_ebenezer {when: @date_1828_07_19, where: @new_haven_county_superior_court}

@divorce_petition -> respondent -> @freeman_almira

@court_summons -> summons -> @maria_frumoy {when: @date_1828_08_02, where: @new_haven_county_superior_court}

@court_summons -> issued by -> @new_haven_county_superior_court

@court_summons -> signed by -> @judge_hood_oconnor

@court_summons -> delivered by -> @sheriff_new_haven


@marriage_1820 -> participants -> [@freeman_ebenezer, @freeman_almira] {date: @date_1820_04_17, location: @branford}

@adultery_incident_1 -> participants -> [@freeman_almira, @prime_wright] {type: "adultery", date: @date_1828_01_01, location: @guilford}

@adultery_incident_2 -> participants -> [@freeman_almira, @harvey_c_shelley] {type: "adultery", date: @date_1828_01_01, location: @guilford}


@freeman_divorce_collection -> part of -> @nhsc_baai_cases_papers:concept

@freeman_divorce_collection -> indexed by -> @nhsc_baai_cases_papers_subject:concept

Metadata

Files (6)

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_FreemanEbenezerAlmira_001.jpgJPEG
289.17 KB
OCR Text

To the Hon'ble Superior Court to be holden at New Haven within & for the County of New Haven on the 2d Tuesday of August A.D. 1828 The Petition of Ebenezer Freeman of Guilford in said County humbly sheweth That on the 17th day of April 1820 he was lawfully married to Almira Brown then of Branford with whom he lived in the due performance of all the duties of the marriage covenant on his part until about the 1st day of January 1828 when the said Almira did commit the crime of adultery with Prime Wright of said Guilford, & hath at various other times since the said marriage of the petitioner committed the crime of adultery with the said Prime Wright, & with Harvey C Shelley of said Guilford. Wherefor the petitioner prays your Honor to take his case into your own consideration, & on finding the facts aforesaid to be true to grant him a bill of divorce, & thence by to free release & discharge him from the said Almira & from all the obligations & duties he is under to her by law & nature of the marriage covenant aforesaid, & he as in duty bound will ever pray— Dated at Guilford this 19th day of July A.D. 1828 Ebenezer Freeman by Woodard his Atty

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_FreemanEbenezerAlmira_002.jpgJPEG
268.35 KB
OCR Text

To the Sheriff of the County of New Haven or his Deputy or either of the Constables of the Town of Guilford in said County Greeting— By authority of the State of Connecticut you are hereby commanded to summon Maria Frumoy of said Guilford to appear before the Honorable Superior Court at the holder at New Haven within & for the County of New Haven on the 2d Tuesday of August AD 1828 there & then to show reasons if any she have why the prayer of the foregoing Petition should not be granted—& you are to leave a true & authentic copy of the foregoing Petition & of this Citation with the said Maria Frumoy & at her last usual place of abode at least ten days before said 2d Tuesday of August—Hence fail not so if this Petition & citation make due service & return according to Law—Dated at Guilford this 16 day of July AD 1828 Rate duty of one dollar is paid Wm. Hood Judge O'Conner

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_FreemanEbenezerAlmira_003.jpgJPEG
178.58 KB
OCR Text

New Haven County & Branford July 31st, 1828 Then I left a true & attached copy of this petition & citation & at the usual place of abode of the within named respondent— Attest Reuben Stone Sheriff Deputy Travel to serve & return 17 miles $0.85 To copy 50 $1.35

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 3:16:07 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 2:37:52 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 6:38:08 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/4/2025, 6:27:43 AM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Divorce_Petition_Documents"

Parent

01KBKZY6G6XM4KSAZQ9J0Q3YGG

No children (leaf entity)