RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Brockway_021.jpg

Brockway Divorce Depositions Collection

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 3:11:55 PM

Added description

Description

Brockway Divorce Depositions Collection

Overview

The Brockway Divorce Depositions Collection is a set of scanned legal depositions and a court opinion from the New Haven County Superior Court, created in 1759. The materials are held by the Connecticut State Library and are part of the NHSC BAAI subject index, which catalogs New Haven County Superior Court files related to Black, African American, and Indigenous cases. The collection is presented in English and consists of photographic reproductions (JPEG and TIFF) of the original documents.

Background

The depositions were taken in Farmington, New Haven County, Connecticut, during February 1759, as part of the divorce proceedings involving Samuel Brockway. The New Haven Superior Court administered the depositions, with Hezekiah Gerity and Hezekiah Gridly serving as witnesses. The case was documented by court clerk Joseph Robinson, who authored the court opinion dated February 3, 1759. The collection reflects the court’s procedural practices and societal attitudes toward marital dissolution and mental health in the late 18th century.

Contents

  • Deposition 021 (February 12, 1759): Testimony by Moses Foot, Abel Curtis, Henry Cook, Joshua Graves, Steven Curtis, and Nathaniel Barnes. The deposition describes the wife’s mental state as “cross, turbulent, and sometimes disgusted,” noting her capacity to answer rationally except when upset.
  • Deposition 023 (February 24, 1759): Testimony by Rachel Bets, detailing her observations of the wife’s behavior and her justification of Brockway’s conduct.
  • Court Opinion (February 3, 1759): Written by Joseph Robinson, summarizing the court’s findings and legal conclusions regarding the divorce.
  • Photographic Reproductions: High‑resolution JPEG and TIFF images of the depositions and court opinion, preserved for research and reference.

Scope

The collection covers the specific legal depositions and court opinion related to the Brockway divorce case, focusing on testimonies concerning the wife’s mental health and marital conduct. It is limited to the February 1759 depositions and the accompanying court opinion; it does not include the full case file, supporting exhibits, or subsequent proceedings. The materials provide a window into 18th‑century divorce law, community testimony, and contemporary conceptions of mental illness within New Haven County, Connecticut.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@brockway_divorce_depositions:document {title: "Brockway Divorce Depositions Collection", type: "Collection", creator: @new_haven_county_superior_court, institution: @connecticut_state_library, created: @date_1759, language: "en", subjects: ["Divorce","Legal Depositions","Marriage","Mental Health","18th Century"], description: "Collection of legal depositions related to the divorce case of Samuel Brockway in 1759, including testimonies from neighbors and family members regarding the mental state and behavior of Brockway's wife.", place: [@farmington, @new_haven_county, @connecticut]}

@farmington:place {state: @connecticut, county: @new_haven_county, country: @united_states}

@new_haven_county:place {state: @connecticut, country: @united_states}

@connecticut:place {country: @united_states}

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

@connecticut_state_library:organization {type: "State Library", location: @connecticut}

@brockway_divorce_case:event {type: "Divorce case", plaintiff: @samuel_brockway, year: @date_1759, location: @farmington}

@samuel_brockway:person {full_name: "Samuel Brockway"}

@brockway_wife:person {relation: "spouse of @samuel_brockway"}

@moses_foot:person {full_name: "Moses Foot"}

@abel_curits:person {full_name: "Abel Curtis"}

@henry_cook:person {full_name: "Henry Cook"}

@joshua_graves:person {full_name: "Joshua Graves"}

@steven_curits:person {full_name: "Steven Curtis"}

@nathaniel_barnes:person {full_name: "Nathaniel Barnes"}

@rachel_bets:person {full_name: "Rachel Bets"}

@hezekiah_gerity:person {title: "Justice"}

@hezekiah_gridly:person {title: "Esquire"}

@joseph_robinson:person {role: "Clerk", court: @new_haven_county_superior_court}

@deposition_021:document {type: "Deposition", date: @date_1759_02_12, location: @farmington, deponents: [@moses_foot, @abel_curits, @henry_cook, @joshua_graves, @steven_curits, @nathaniel_barnes], witness: @hezekiah_gerity, content_summary: "Testimony that Brockway's wife is generally capable of rational answer except when disgusted, described as cross, turbulent, etc."}

@deposition_023:document {type: "Deposition", date: @date_1759_02_24, location: @farmington, deponent: @rachel_bets, witness: @hezekiah_gridly, content_summary: "Testimony about Brockway's wife's behavior being cross and turbulent, justification of his behavior."}

@court_opinion_feb3_1759:document {type: "Court Opinion", date: @date_1759_02_03, author: @joseph_robinson, court: @new_haven_county_superior_court, subject: @brockway_divorce_case}

@brockway_divorce_depositions -> includes -> [@deposition_021, @deposition_023, @court_opinion_feb3_1759]

@deposition_021 -> pertains to -> @brockway_divorce_case

@deposition_023 -> pertains to -> @brockway_divorce_case

@moses_foot -> testified in -> @deposition_021

@abel_curits -> testified in -> @deposition_021

@henry_cook -> testified in -> @deposition_021

@joshua_graves -> testified in -> @deposition_021

@steven_curits -> testified in -> @deposition_021

@nathaniel_barnes -> testified in -> @deposition_021

@rachel_bets -> testified in -> @deposition_023

@hezekiah_gerity -> administered -> @deposition_021

@hezekiah_gridly -> administered -> @deposition_023

@joseph_robinson -> authored -> @court_opinion_feb3_1759

@new_haven_county_superior_court -> created -> @brockway_divorce_depositions

@connecticut_state_library -> holds -> @brockway_divorce_depositions

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

Metadata

Files (4)

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Brockway_021.jpgJPEG
369.03 KB
OCR Text

FARMINGTON FEBRUARY 12TH 1759 The Deposition of Moses Foot & Abel Curtis & Henry Cook & Joshua Graves & Steven Curtis & Nathaniel Barnes & all being of lawful age as followeth we believe Brockway's wife cannot be termed a distracted person we generally find her capable of giving a rational answer except when disgusted but then very cross, turbulent & more: her will we suppose redeth her fragmenting I have heard those that are opposite to Samuel Brockway's prayer say—That they believe he ought to be discharged from his wife but they would have him held fast till he & Brockway will give bond for her mainenance we also being Neighbors by all wise Ti. Brock has behaved well towards his wife ye above deposition sworn to before me— Hezekiah Gerity Jus. Peace

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Brockway_023.jpgJPEG
373.34 KB
OCR Text

Farmington Feb 24th A. 1759 The Depoition of Rachel Bets of Lawful age is as followeth: I heard of mother of Samuel Brockway's wife say that said Brockway his wife behaved cross & turbulently towards him & that she justified his behavior towards his wife. She living in the same house with them when they were first married, space of two or three years of about two months before me. Hezekiah Gridly Esq. Peace New Haven Supr. Court Feb. 3, 1759 Opinion in Court by Joseph Robinson Clerk

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 3:11:55 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 2:25:06 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 6:35:39 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/4/2025, 6:27:58 AM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Brockway_Divorce_Depositions_1759"

Parent

01KBM0N8K9Z57WB446GY55RX41

No children (leaf entity)