RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Brockway_026.jpg

Brockway Divorce Service Documents

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 3:11:53 PM

Added description

Description

Brockway Divorce Service Documents Collection

Overview

The Brockway Divorce Service Documents Collection is a small archival set of legal service records from the mid‑18th century, preserved by the Connecticut State Library. The collection centers on a single divorce petition dated August 29, 1758 involving Margaret Breckaway. It includes a scanned photograph (JPEG) and a high‑resolution TIFF of the original document, both bearing the names of court officials and the parties involved.

Background

The documents were produced by John Breckaway, a legal clerk or court officer in New Haven County. The case was processed in the New Haven Superior Court and the Waterbury jurisdiction, reflecting the administrative overlap of the period. The collection is catalogued under the NHSC BAAI subject index, indicating its inclusion in the broader New Haven County Superior Court files that focus on Black, African American, and Indigenous legal history.

Contents

  • Photograph (JPEG): A clear image of the divorce petition, showing the heading “New Haven Augt 29th 1758” and the text “Then I read the within Petition & written in the hearing of the above named Margaret Breckley.” It records the involvement of Geo Mcladyman, Deputy Sheriff, and J. B., pro constable of Waterbury. The document is signed by John Breckaway.
  • High‑resolution TIFF: The original scan of the same petition, providing a faithful reproduction for preservation and scholarly use.
  • Metadata: The collection’s descriptive record lists subjects such as Divorce, Legal Documents, New Haven County, and Waterbury, and notes the creation date and language.

Scope

The collection covers a single legal event—Margaret Breckaway’s divorce petition—dated August 29, 1758. It is geographically bound to New Haven and Waterbury in Connecticut and is limited to the procedural documents associated with that case. The collection does not include subsequent court filings, judgments, or related personal papers. It offers a snapshot of 18th‑century Connecticut divorce proceedings and the roles of local law enforcement officials in documenting such matters.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@brockway_divorce_service_documents:collection {title: "Brockway Divorce Service Documents", creator: @john_breckaway, institution: @connecticut_state_library, created: @date_1758_08_29, language: "en", subjects: ["Divorce", "Legal Documents", "New Haven County", "Waterbury"], description: "Collection of service documents related to a divorce case involving Margaret Breckaway, dated August 29, 1758.", places: [@new_haven, @waterbury]}

@john_breckaway:person {full_name: "John Breckaway"}

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

@margaret_breckaway:person {full_name: "Margaret Breckaway"}

@geo_mcladyman:person {role: "Deputy Sheriff"}

@j_b:person {role: "Constable"}

@divorce_document_026:image {filename: "RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Brockway_026.jpg", format: "jpg"}

@brockway_divorce_service_documents -> contains -> @divorce_document_026

@divorce_document_026 -> dated -> @date_1758_08_29

@divorce_document_026 -> mentions -> @margaret_breckaway

@divorce_document_026 -> mentions -> @john_breckaway

@divorce_document_026 -> created by -> @geo_mcladyman

@divorce_document_026 -> signed by -> @j_b

@brockway_divorce_service_documents -> subject -> @nhsc_baai_cases_papers_subject

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

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

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

@connecticut:place {country: @united_states}

Metadata

Files (2)

RG003_NHSC_BAAI_PS_Divorce_Brockway_026.jpgJPEG
309.24 KB
OCR Text

New Haven Augt 29th 1758 Then I read the within Petition & written in the hearing of the above named Margaret Breckley Geo Mcladyman Deputy Sheriff Waterbury August 29th 1758 then I read the within petition and citation in the hearing of the written named Margaret Breckaway and I also gave her attone and attested copy of the same last year by J. B. as pro constable of Waterbury Constables of Ct: E - N - S John Breckaway

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 3:11:53 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 2:25:14 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 6:35:37 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/4/2025, 6:28:02 AM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Brockway_Divorce_Service_Documents"

Parent

01KBM0N8K9Z57WB446GY55RX41

No children (leaf entity)