Clara Freeman vs. Samuel Freeman Divorce Case Collection
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 3:16:10 PM
Added description
Description
Clara Freeman vs. Samuel Freeman Divorce Case Collection
Overview
This is a digitized collection of primary court documents from the New Haven County Superior Court, filed in 1850. The collection contains scanned images (JPEG and TIFF) of the petition for divorce, the order of notice, the final court decree, and related ancillary documents. All items are in English and are part of the Connecticut State Library’s New Haven County Superior Court (NHSC) digitization program, specifically the Black, African American, and Indigenous (BAAI) subset.Background
The case was initiated by Clara Freeman on August 24, 1850, alleging desertion, adultery, and breach of marital duties by her husband, Samuel Freeman. The petition was served by Sheriff’s Deputy David F.C. Carr on September 12, 1850, and the court held the proceeding on October 25, 1850. The court granted the divorce, issuing a decree that released Clara from marital obligations. The documents were originally produced in New Haven, Connecticut, and preserved in the county’s superior court archives before being digitized for public access.Contents
- Petition for Divorce (filed 24 Aug 1850) – includes the petitioner’s statement, allegations of desertion and adultery, and a request for dissolution.
- Order of Notice – a notice served to Samuel Freeman, published in the local press, and a copy delivered by the sheriff’s deputy.
- Court Decree – the final judgment, dated 25 Oct 1850, granting the divorce and declaring Clara single.
- Ancillary materials – court clerk’s certification, fee receipts, and a copy of the petition’s citation.
Scope
The collection covers a single civil proceeding (divorce) in the New Haven County Superior Court during 1850. It includes all extant primary documents related to the case, but does not contain any subsequent appeals, related civil or criminal actions, or personal correspondence of the parties. The collection is relevant to researchers of 19th‑century Connecticut family law, gender studies, and local legal history.Entities
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Entity Relationships
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Raw Cheimarros Data
@file_pinax:file {title: "Clara Freeman vs. Samuel Freeman Divorce Case Collection", type: "Collection", creator: ["Clara Freeman", "Samuel Freeman"], institution: @connecticut_state_library, created: @date_1850, language: "en", subjects: [@divorce, @adultery, @desertion, @legal_documents, @new_haven_county_superior_court], description: "Collection of legal documents and images related to the divorce case of Clara Freeman vs. Samuel Freeman, filed in New Haven County Superior Court in 1850. The documents include the petition for divorce, notices, and court orders.", place: [@new_haven, @new_haven_county]}
@divorce:concept {description: "Legal dissolution of marriage"}
@adultery:concept {description: "Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than their spouse"}
@desertion:concept {description: "Abandonment of marital duties by a spouse"}
@legal_documents:concept {description: "Official written records pertaining to legal proceedings"}
@new_haven_county_superior_court:organization {type: "Superior Court", jurisdiction: @new_haven_county, location: @new_haven}
@new_haven:place {state: @connecticut, country: @united_states}
@new_haven_county:place {state: @connecticut, country: @united_states}
@connecticut:place {country: @united_states}
@connecticut_state_library:organization {type: "State Library", location: @connecticut}
@clara_freeman:person {full_name: "Clara Freeman", role: "Petitioner"}
@samuel_freeman:person {full_name: "Samuel Freeman", role: "Respondent"}
@charles_nettleton:person {full_name: "Charles Nettleton", role: "Justice of the Peace"}
@hester_nettleton:person {full_name: "Hester Nettleton", role: "Attorney"}
@hester_nettleton_firm:organization {type: "Law Firm", members: [@hester_nettleton]}
@crosswell_jewett:organization {type: "Business", description: "Seller of the petition document", location: @new_haven}
@david_f_c_carr:person {full_name: "David F.C. Carr", role: "Sheriff's Deputy"}
@clerk_superior_court:person {role: "Clerk of the Superior Court"}
@petition_freeman_divorce:document {title: "Petition for Divorce", creator: @clara_freeman, date: @date_1850_08_24, filed_in: @new_haven_county_superior_court, subject: [@divorce, @adultery, @desertion]}
@order_of_notice_freeman:document {title: "Order of Notice", date: @date_1850, related_case: @freeman_divorce_case}
@freeman_divorce_case:event {type: "Divorce", parties: [@clara_freeman, @samuel_freeman], court: @new_haven_county_superior_court, filing_date: @date_1850, decision_date: @date_1850_10_25, outcome: "Divorce granted"}
@date_1850 {year: 1850}
@date_1850_08_24 {year: 1850, month: 8, day: 24}
@date_1850_09_12 {year: 1850, month: 9, day: 12}
@date_1850_10_25 {year: 1850, month: 10, day: 25}
@date_1840_06_15 {year: 1840, month: 6, day: 15}
@date_1844_01_07 {year: 1844, month: 1, day: 7}
@file_pinax -> contains -> @freeman_divorce_case
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanclarasamuel_001_jpg -> depicts -> @petition_freeman_divorce
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanclarasamuel_002_jpg -> depicts -> @order_of_notice_freeman
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanclarasamuel_003_jpg -> depicts -> @freeman_divorce_case
@file_rg003_nhsc_baai_ps_divorce_freemanclarasamuel_004_jpg -> depicts -> @freeman_divorce_case
@petition_freeman_divorce -> filed by -> @clara_freeman {when: @date_1850_08_24, where: @new_haven_county_superior_court}
@petition_freeman_divorce -> served by -> @david_f_c_carr {when: @date_1850_09_12, where: @new_haven}
@order_of_notice_freeman -> issued by -> @charles_nettleton {when: @date_1850, where: @new_haven_county_superior_court}
@freeman_divorce_case -> decided by -> @new_haven_county_superior_court {when: @date_1850_10_25}
@freeman_divorce_case -> outcome -> "Divorce granted"
@freeman_divorce_case -> recorded by -> @clerk_superior_court {when: @date_1850_10_25, where: @new_haven_county_superior_court}
@clara_freeman -> married on -> @date_1840_06_15 {to: @samuel_freeman, where: @new_haven}
@samuel_freeman -> deserted on -> @date_1844_01_07 {from: @clara_freeman, where: @new_haven}
@petition_freeman_divorce -> subject -> [@divorce, @adultery, @desertion]
@file_pinax -> held at -> @connecticut_state_library
@file_pinax -> subject terms -> [@divorce, @adultery, @desertion, @legal_documents, @new_haven_county_superior_court]Metadata
Files (8)
OCR Text
Petition for Divorce. Sold by Crosswell & Jewett, No. 2 Street's Building, New Haven. To the Hon. Superior Court to be held at New Haven in and for New Haven County on the 25th Tuesday of October A.D. 1850 The Petition of Clara Freeman of the Town of New Haven in New Haven County, humbly showeth that on or about the 15th day of June A.D. 1840, your petitioner was lawfully married to Samuel Freeman of said Town of New Haven with whom your petitioner lived in the performance of all the duties of the marriage covenant on her part to be performed, until on or about the 7th day of January A.D. 1844 when the said Respondent willfully deserted your petitioner, and has continued his said desertion with total neglect of all the duties of the marriage covenant on his part to be performed, from thence hitherto, and for a period of more than three years last past. And your petitioner further shows that the said Respondent has at diverse times during said period, on or about the 1st of each month, committed adultery with and with diverse other lewd persons to your petitioner unknown. Wherefore your petitioner prays the Court to inquire into the truth of the allegations aforesaid, and on finding them true, to grant her a divorce pursuant to the statute in such cases provided. Dated at New Haven this 24th day of August A.D. 1850 Clara Freeman (Signature) Hester & Nettleton, Lds Attys To the Sheriff of New Haven County, his Deputy, or either Constable of New Haven in said County—GREETING: BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT you are hereby commanded to summon said Samuel Freeman to appear before the Superior Court to be held at New Haven in and for New Haven county, on the 25th Tuesday of October A.D. 1860, then and there to show cause if any he have why the prayer of the foregoing petition should not be granted. Hereof fail not, &c. Dated at New Haven this 24th day of August A.D. 1850 Charles Nettleton Justice of Peace vs. ORDER OF NOTICE. State of Connecticut, ss. COUNTY. A.D. 184 Upon the petition of said praying for reasons therein set forth for a divorce, now pending before the Superior Court in and for County, to be holden on the Tuesday of A.D. 184 It appearing to, and being found by, the subscribing authority, that the said Respondent, is residing in and absent from this State—Gone to parts unknown Therefore, ordered, that notice of the pendency of said petition be given said respondent by publishing this order in the weeks successively commencing on or before the day of A.D. 184 by leaving a copy of said petition, citation, and order of notice with the respondent on or before the day of A.D. 184, by depositing a copy of said petition, citation, and order of notice in the Post Office, postage paid, at respondent, at day of A.D. 184 directed to said on or before the Judge of Court.
OCR Text
New Haven County, P. New Haven September 12th, 1850, I then placed in the hands of Samuel Freeman (the Respondent) a true and attested copy of this Petition, and Citation, which I at the same time read to said defendant. Attest, David F.C. Carr, Sheriff's Deputy. Fees: Panel 2 miles .10 Copy Septuagint .37 .47
OCR Text
At a Superior Court held at New Haven, in and for the County of New Haven, on the Second Tuesday of October A.D. 1850 Upon the Petition of Clara Freeman of New Haven in said County SHEWING that on or about the 15th day of June A.D. 1840 she was lawfully married to Samuel Freeman of said town with whom the petitioner lived, in the performance of all the duties of the marriage covenant, on her part to be performed, until on or about the 1st day of January A.D. 1844 when the said respondent wilfully deserted the petitioner, and has continued said desertion, with total neglect of all the duties of the marriage covenant, on her part to be performed, from thence hitherto, for a period of more than three years last past. And farther shewing that the said respondent has at divers times during said period, viz. on or about the day of committed adultery with and with divers lewd persons, to the Petitioner unknown. PRAYING for a Divorce as by said petition on file, dated the 27th day of August A.D. 1850 more fully appears. This petition came to the present term of this Court. The Court find that said petition has been duly served on the respondent, pursuant to an order of notice made therein by one of the officers return and served thereon against said respondent. And now the petitioner appeared to prosecute said petition; and the respondent being called, appeared not. WHEREUPON, the allegations in said petition having been proved and found true, it is adjudged, ordered, and decreed, by this Court, that the said Clara Freeman be, and she is hereby divorced from the said Samuel Freeman and discharged from all the duties and covenants to him by reason of the marriage aforesaid. And the said Clara Freeman is hereby declared to be single and unmarried. I, Clerk of the Superior Court within and for said County, hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of record. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this day of A.D. 18— Clerk.
OCR Text
Clara Freeman vs. Samuel Freeman Deere
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 3:16:10 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/4/2025, 2:36:28 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/4/2025, 6:38:07 AM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/4/2025, 6:27:43 AM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Reference_Files"
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